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James E. McGreevey |
William D. Watley |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Karen Wolfe - 609.292.2523 |
| New Jersey Minor
League Baseball Teams Trenton (March 24, 2004)—Fans can "ooh and aah" at fireworks, dress up like Harry Potter, dig in the dirt for a diamond, or even name a cow at minor league baseball stadiums in New Jersey this season. “New Jersey is 'big' on minor league baseball," said Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism. "Residents and visitors alike can enjoy America's Favorite Pastime as an affordable family outing." One of many ball clubs hosting fireworks displays this year is the Atlantic City Surf. There will be 18 displays, including back-to-back shows on July 3 and 4 and September 4 and 5. The Surf will also offer a special on Father’s Day, June 20, with a barbecue apron giveaway; a birthday celebration for its mascot, Splash, the “seasurfent” on June 24, with special guest Philly Phanatic; a reggae festival on July 11; games for school students at 11:05 a.m. on May 13, 27 and June 8 and for summer campers on July 6, 21 and Aug.2; and a July 24 Christmas in July celebration with a giveaway of an ornament with a Surf logo. There will also be a Diamond Dig on Aug. 15, when women are invited to dig up the field in search of a diamond. Giveaways will include a bobblehead doll with the likeness of Greg Luzinski, former Philadelphia Phillies slugger. For more information, visit www.acsurf.com or call (609) 344-SURF. The Trenton Thunder will have a pre-season celebration at their annual Welcome North Dinner on April 7. Opening night on April 8 will include one of the season’s 17 fireworks shows. On April 14, one lucky fan will win an Amtrak trip and student athletes will be honored on the field. On April 29, there will be a college fair night and student athletic night. On May 17 fans can win a trip for two on US Airways anywhere in the continental United States. On Aug. 14 a fan will win a trip for two to spring training in Florida in 2005. For more information, visit www.trentonthunder.com or call (609) 394-3300. The Lakewood Blue Claws are offering fans who buy certain ticket packages a chance to win $10,000. Fans will pick 15 specific games and, if the Claws win all of those games, the jackpot could go to at least one lucky fan. Should multiple fans select all 15 winning games, they will evenly split the grand prize. The Claws will have more giveaway dates, including five bobblehead doll dates. Those giveaways include a doll with the face of a fan given away on Aug. 2. The season will also offer 12 fireworks shows and a Grandparents Day on May 15. On that day, one grandparent wins free tickets for them and their grandchildren and the grandparent throws the ceremonial first pitch. For more information, visit www.lakewoodblueclaws.com or call (732) 901-7000. The Somerset Patriots already hosted the Big Apple Circus on March 13, the first day individual tickets were sold. On April 3, there will be a Fan Fest with open team tryouts, clowns, face painters, contests, and opportunities to meet players. There will be a Harry Potter Night on June 11, including
a Harry Potter look-alike contest and free tickets to the next Harry Potter
movie, and an Education Day on June 8, with interactive activities. There
will also be 12 nights of fireworks and visitors will have a chance to
get players’ autographs before the Sunday games and to run bases
afterwards. The New Jersey Cardinals will again have a live cow as its mascot, except this year it will be a new, bigger cow. This year the team is asking fans to name the cow as part of a contest. The cow, like last year’s “Rally Cow,” will parade around the field during the middle of the sixth inning to the tune of “Who Let the Cows Out.” Players will pet the cow for good luck. There will also be fireworks after all Friday night games; mini-baseball training camps for kids; two sleepovers and numerous giveaways at the stadium in Augusta, Sussex County. For more information, visit www.njcards.com or call (973) 579-7500. The Newark Bears will have a Mother’s Day celebration on May 9; an Armed Forces Night on May 28; a Firefighter Night on June 10, when members of various area fire houses will compete in a chili cook-off; a Classic Car Night on July 12; a birthday party for mascot Rip ‘N Ruppert on Aug. 15; a Wiffleball Appreciation Day on July 17; numerous giveaways and six nights of fireworks during the season. For more information, visit www.newarkbears.com or call (973) 483-6900. The New Jersey Jackals, playing at Yogi Berra Stadium, Little Falls, will have a free exhibition game on May 20. On June 30, the first 300 fans will get a Yogi Berra autograph. If the Jackals win that night, fans get free chicken wings at Hooters. The Jackals season will also include Senior Citizen Days, school days, fireworks and a Mardi Gras celebration on Aug. 6. The Jackals will host Dogs Days of Summer on Aug. 15 when visitors can bring their dogs before the game for a pet parade. Dogs can perform tricks between innings and veterinarians and pet stores will have information booths set up on the concourse. For more information, visit www.jackals.com or call (973) 746-7434. The Camden Riversharks open the season on May 6 with bobblehead dolls to the first 1,500 kids. The dolls will bear the likeness of Finley, the team mascot. The team offers fireworks at every Friday night game. Kids can run bases after all the Saturday night games and there are free ice cream sundaes after every Sunday game. There will be a Diamond Dig on May 8; a Mother’s Day celebration on May 9 and a Nurses Night on June 17, when all nurses will get in free with discounted admission prices for their families. Prizes during the season include various Rivershark items plus a 2004 Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader Calendar, autographed by the cheerleaders. For more information, visit www.riversharks.com or call 1-866-742-7579. For further information and a 2004 New Jersey Travel Guide, contact the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism, at 800-VISITNJ (847-4865); or check the website at www.visitnj.org |
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