THE VEECKIES!

In the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, we pay tribute to the spirit of the late, great MLB owner and showman Bill Veeck with our annual Veeckie Awards. We honored six minor-league promotions in the pages of The Mag, but there were plenty of others that deserved honorable mention:

BEST USE OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES
Winner: Auburn (N.Y.) Doubledays (Class-A, Blue Jays)
Promo: Abner's Plan
The mascot of the Doubledays presented fans with his plan to combat global warming by harnessing reusable energy sources such as wind. First staff handed out pinwheels. To provide the wind, vendors served baked beans, and staff led fans in the wave.
Acceptance Speech: "We were stocked up on beans," says Carl Gutilius. "It could have been a disturbing night, but I love beans."

BEST USE OF COMFORT FOOD
Winner: Huntsville (Ala.) Stars (Class-AA, Brewers)
Promo: Meatloaf Night
Citizens of Huntsville showed up in droves to taste and judge eight different meatloaves. The authors of the winning recipe received a prize package containing a blue ribbon, a bottle of ketchup, a Meat Loaf's greatest Hits CD and 2009 Stars season tickets.
Acceptance Speech: "It's America's favorite leftover, so we kind of promoted it as such," says Director of Promotions Matt Price.

BEST SENSE OF CIVIC DUTY
Winner: Lake Elsinore (Calif.) Storm (Class-A, Padres)
Promo: Intern Election
In honor of the upcoming Presidential election, six summer interns campaigned (and mud slinged) throughout the season. The intern who carried the fan vote, held Labor Day weekend, won a full-time job with benefits.
Acceptance Speech: "It was as entertaining for our front office as it was for the fans," says Matt Dompe, director of game operations. "The winner got an endorsement from one of the concession stands. They would give out a ballot with each hot dog and tell the fans who to vote for."

BEST NON-ARACHNID-THEMED EVENT BASED ON A STAFFER NAMED "SPYDER"
Winner: Everett (Wash.) AquaSox (Class-A, Mariners)
Promo: Win Spyder Webb's Car
A local dealer didn't want to take back the gas-guzzling, 1995 Chevy Blazer it loaned to AquaSox trainer Spyder Webb, so the club decided to give it away to the fan who dug up the SUV's keys buried on the team's warning track.
Acceptance Speech: "I heard from a few of our season ticket holders who threatened to bring in metal detectors," says GM Brian Sloan.

BEST REBRANDING OPPORTUNITY
Winner: Quad Cities (Iowa) River Bandits (Class-A, Cardinals)
Promo: Lose Your Blues Night
When the Quad Cities Swing changed their name to the River Bandits, the club hosted a communal trashing of the old blue-and-orange paraphernalia. Fans received new Bandit gear of their choice.
Acceptance Speech: "People really hated the old uniforms," says GM Kirk Goodman. "To this day, when we see someone in a Swing hat, we'll give them a new hat for free."

BEST COMMEMORATION OF JOHN HUGHES
Winner: Wilmington (Del.) Blue Rocks (Class-A, Royals)
Promo: Tribute to the Brat Pack
The Rocks played spoofs of 80s classics, and replaced players' photos with headshots of Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy and Anthony Michael Hall.
Acceptance Speech: "Some of our older fans actually thought it was Rat Pack night," says Mark Vanderhaar, director of marketing. "We had to explain that no, this wasn't Sammy Davis Jr. night."

BEST HIGH-BROW EVENT
Winner: West Michigan Whitecaps (Class-A, Tigers)
Promo: British Humor Night
Clips from Monty Python and the UK version of The Office appeared on the big screen. The on-field host dressed like King Arthur and was followed by a guy clanging coconuts together.
Acceptance Speech: "Next year, maybe we'll do a German Humor Night," says Marketing Manager Mickey Graham. "Nobody will be allowed to laugh."

BEST BLASPHEMY
Winner: Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs (Class-A, Yankees)
Promo: Pope on a Rope Night
To commemorate the first visit of Pope Benedict to the US, the RiverDogs distributed holy soap ropes to fans.
Acceptance Speech: "Unfortunately, the Pope could not make it to Charleston," laments Assistant GM Jim Pfander.

BEST HOMAGE TO THE TABLOIDS
Winner: Grand Prairie (Tex.) AirHogs (Independent)
Promo: A-Rod and Madonna Night
With the gossip rags a'twitter, the AirHogs allowed fans claiming to "share an agent" in at a discount, delivered "A-Rod" and "Cynthia" to the park in separate limos and held simulated in-game divorce mediation.
Acceptance Speech: "We answered all the big questions: Who gets the Coral Gables penthouse, who gets "stuck" with the New York penthouse? Who gets three luxury cars, who gets two? And most importantly, who gets the frequent flier miles?" says Asst. GM of Operations Tim Savona.

BEST ODE TO A PITCHER'S FACIAL HAIR
Winner: South Bend (Ind.) SilverHawks (Class-A, Diamondbacks)
Promo: Josh Collmenter Moustache Night
In honor of their mustachioed pitcher, the SilverHawks held a best 'stache contest among players and staff, gave free tickets to 'stache bearing fans and gave away fake lip dusters, too.
Acceptance Speech: "It was a big night," said SilverHawks Marketing Manager Jeff Scholfield. "The American Moustache Institute even did a video piece for us."

BEST CONTRADICTING PROMOTIONS
Winner: Lowell (Mass.) Spinners (Class-A, Red Sox)
Promo: Politically Correct/Politically Incorrect Nights
On successive home dates, the Spinners tweaked both ends of the spectrum. Shortstops became "vertically-challenged stops," the bat boy was a "bat person" and carpooling and recycling were encouraged. But the next night, gas guzzlers were needlessly driven between innings, "Men Only" entrances were created and female fans received pink pot holders to use while cooking dinner for their husbands.
Acceptance Speech: "I was prepared to hear complaints from our female fans," said Jon Boswell, Media Relations Manager of the sexist PInC giveaway. "However, the only ones were from men upset that they weren't getting them."

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