I noted in a recent post that independent league teams are always looking for that one promotion to top all the others promotions that are out there. In that same post, Pete Rose managed a game for the Independent Bridgeport Bluefish. These clubs have to find a way to fill those seats. There’s been a few rather creative ones that have hit this season.
Same goes for those minor league clubs that have a MLB affiliation, too.
Well, I may have come across one that does top all the others. At least in my book it does.
Now comes the Williamsport Crosscutters, the Philadelphia Phillies rep in the short-season New York-Penn league (A-). They have a promotion that rivals those of the Fresno Grizzles and their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles jerseys or any Star Wars themed jerseys ever created. There’s even a Fresh Prince inspired jersey from the State College Spikes, also of the New York-Penn League.
But how does the sight of ugly Christmas sweater jerseys grab you?
Check out the Ugly Christmas Sweater Jerseys players will be wearing tonight! #ugly pic.twitter.com/bmU2CBmE7L
— Williamsport Crosscutters (@crosscutters) June 25, 2014
The Crosscutters aren’t the first minor league franchise to implement this. Chris Creamer of sportslogos.net tells of a ECHL club, the Reading Royals, affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, having a rather dreadful looking Christmas sweater as well.
As part of the Crosscutters “Halfway to Christmas” promotion, anyone bringing a new, unwrapped toy to their box office will receive a free general admission ticket. All toys donated will go to the local Toys for Tots campaign. Also, fans will be able to bid on the game-worn jerseys with all proceeds also benefiting the local Toys for Tots.
Sweet move, but those jerseys…
And Williamsport should be a familiar city to you. South Williamsport, which sits across the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, serves as host to the Little League World Series.
Now that I think about it, this might have served as inspiration to the Crosscutters creative team…
Yep, that’s Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon. Eeesh…
Which is uglier: Papelbon’s or the Crosscutters?
(Call to Ryan Lawrence, Phillies beat writer for the Philadelphia Daily News)