Oh, Snap! Guess What I Saw? Pelicans Promotion Has Got What I Need
If you’ve read my work over the last month or so, you know that I’m a huge fan of minor league baseball. And if you haven’t read my work, shame on you. Either way, there’s just something about the mix of a pure form of the game with unadulterated hucksterism that makes me happy. They’re not putting on airs and masking business as baseball, they are doing everything they can to appeal to a broad spectrum of fans.
That’s not to denigrate the quality of play either, just to say that minor league teams naturally must rely heavily on various promotions since the cachet of the players alone typically isn’t enough to putt sufficient butts in seats. Whether it’s Back to the Future Night or Sharknado Night, complete with themed jerseys, there’s always something wacky going on.
And, wouldn’t you know it, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans have got a great promo coming up when they will host Old School Hip Hop Night with Biz Markie on August 6th. From their release:
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, have teamed up with hip hop recording artist Biz Markie to host Old School Hip Hop Night on Thursday, August 6, at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.
Biz Markie, 51, whose full name is Marcel Theo Hall, will be in attendance for Old School Hip Hop Night at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. A native of Harlem, New York, Markie rose to fame in the late 1980s with a unique blend of beatboxing and comedy weaved into his music, and is perhaps best known for his 1989 Billboard Hot 100 top-10 hit “Just a Friend.” Throughout the 1990s he recorded guest spots on albums with The Beastie Boys, Will Smith, andThe Rolling Stones, among others. He also appeared in four episodes of “In Living Color” and numerous TV commercials and reality series. In 2002, he acted alongside Smith with Tommy Lee Jones in “Men in Black II.” Most recently, Hall has added a kid-friendly approach to his career, appearing in 43 episodes of the children’s show “Yo Gabba Gabba!” from 2007-2013, where he gained notoriety for his popular “Biz’s Beat of the Day.” He also voiced a character in the popular cartoon “Spongebob Squarepants.”
Hip hop music from the 1980s and 1990s, otherwise known as “old school hip hop,” will play throughout the ballpark for the event, and Pelicans staff will dress in typical 1980s and early 1990s fashions from the era. There will be a group of break dancers performing on the main concourse while the group Studio 8 will perform a pregame hip hop dance routine on the field. When players are introduced on the video board at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark, their headshots will resemble album covers from that era, as well.
Old School Hip Hop Night is also another Thirsty Thursday, presented by Celebrations Nitelife, 96.1 WKZQ, and WBTW News 13. Fans 21 years-old and older can enjoy $1.00 12-oz. Bud and Bud Light draughts, as well as $2.00 16-oz. cans from 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET.
Hmm, Biz Markie and cheap beer? That’s the kind of combination that could have you throwin’ bass at a girl named Blah-blah-blah. Sounds like college. I also take heart in knowing that after Biz gets busy with the chorus of “Just a Friend,” it’ll mean that I’m no longer the worst singer in the history of TicketReturn.com Field. Winning.
I’m not sure any of you will head to Myrtle Beach just for this, but with Allegiant adding more non-stop flights it could make for a pretty sweet long weekend. Andy Milovich and the rest of the Pelicans staff have always got something going on, but they’re not alone. So if you can’t make it to South Carolina, check out some other minor league parks and see what they’ve got in store.
If you don’t have an amazing time, I’ll buy you a beer and sing you a song the next time I see you.