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Major League Baseball 2013: bobbleheads and fireworks galore for fans

11. Other notable promotions and giveaways

  • By Ross Atkin Staff writer

• Bald eagle flights (Cincinnati): The bald eagle from the city’s zoo is released from a center field pavilion for a flight to the pitcher's mound during the singing of the national anthem.

• Harmonicas (St. Louis): To honor Cardinal great Stan “The Man” Musial, who was fond of playing a harmonica.

•  Set of 82 limited edition, specially produced Cubs trading cards (Chicago Cubs): Distributed in installments during four selected games.

• Miniature statue of three trailblazing Dodger greats – Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe (L.A. Dodgers): 40,000 of the miniature figures will be given out on Jackie Robinson Day (April 15) in celebration of the release of the movie “42” about Robinson’s experience breaking baseball’s color barrier.

• Braves Big Night Out (Atlanta): For $145 fans get a cooking demonstration by a celebrity chef, a luxury suite ticket with parking, and a meal featuring the local cuisine of the visiting team.

• Free Shirt Fridays (Pittsburgh): The Pirates offer the best collection of T-shirts in the majors, with a wide variety of designs.

• Cowbells (Tampa Bay): Considering that the Rays played in the enclosed Tropicana Field, the Aug. 24 game stands to be one of the noisiest in the majors this year.

• Tweeting Tuesdays (Toronto): The Blue Jays engage the Twitter-used crowd with an opportunity to interact and communicate with the Jays and other fans while watching the game.

• More out-of-ordinary giveaways:

-       wrestling mask  (Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks)

-       Mets Apple Clock (N.Y. Mets)

-       Snow globe (with confetti) of the World Series parade (San Francisco Giants)

-       Kids arm sleeves (Washington Nationals)

Seattle Mariners beard hat (Courtesy of the Seattle Mariners)

-       Beard hat, a combination knit hat and attached beard (Seattle Mariners)

-       Coco Crisp cereal bowl, named for the A’s player (Oakland A’s)

-       Utility belt (Tampa Bay Rays)

-       Pirate Parrot soap dispenser (Pittsburgh Pirates)

-       Puzzle cube (Chicago White Sox)

-       Beach chair (Los Angeles Dodgers)

-       Sombrero (San Francisco Giants)

-       Rally wig (Los Angeles Angels)

-       Texting gloves (Chicago Cubs)

-       Rain gauge (Minnesota Twins)

-       Pillowcase (Texas Rangers)

-       Cookbook (San Diego Padres)

-       Car air freshener (New York Yankees)

-       Pashima scarf (Kansas City Royals)

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11 of 11
Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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