BlueSox gear up for this summer
The Minions are coming.
So are Babe the BlueSox Ox, a bobblehead night and a local manager running the team.
The Butler BlueSox open their ninth season in the Prospect League May 30 at Kelly Automotive Park and put on the franchise's first-ever pep rally to a packed house Thursday night at the 11th Frame Bar and Grille.
“I'm impressed by this,” recently hired manager Cody Herald, a Butler graduate and former BlueSox player, said. “I love the turnout and the enthusiasm.
“Every player I've talked to ... Everyone is so excited to be coming in. I haven't sensed this level of excitement with this team before. I love the support we're getting.”
Herald said he's still seeking four pitchers to round out the roster.
Babe the BlueSox Ox is back as the team's primary mascot and the Minions were introduced Thursday night as his “mascot buddies.” The BlueSox will also be featuring the Diamond Girls, a group of Butler High School students from the Center of Performing Arts in town, at various home games.
Butler's Marlisa Miller, Miss Teen Pennsylvania, also took part in the pep rally and said she will be attending games.
“It's all about putting a fun product together that people want to see,” said Roger Snodgrass, one of the BlueSox owners. “We don't have an Andrew McCutchen or Gerrit Cole for people to see.
“We have to have a product that's fun and entertaining — and family affordable. A family of four can attend a game here for less than it costs to park your car in Pittsburgh.”
Thursday's pep rally was sponsored and put together by the Butler BlueSox Boosters. That membership stood at 57 last season and increased by more than 20 Thursday night.
“We've never done a pep rally before or anything to drum up a whole lot of interest through a preseason event like this,” Snodgrass said.
“This gets the name out there, tickets for sale, new merchandise available ... It's all here. And people are having a good time.”
Larry Sassone is president of the BlueSox Boosters and said Thursday's preseason event “is something we can build on.”
The BlueSox Boosters feed the team after 12 or 13 games during the season. They also operate the host family program as 13 local families host BlueSox players during the season.
“Some take in as many as two or three players,” Sassone said.
The mission statement of the BlueSox Boosters is “to support the Butler BlueSox team, players, coaches and trainer in a non-monetary capacity” and to “act as ambassadors to foster goodwill between the BlueSox fans and the community through public awareness.”
The BlueSox will play the 500th game in franchise history in July and will have a Babe the BlueSox Ox Bobblehead Night to commemorate that milestone. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive the bobblehead that evening.
Jim and Bonnie Fiel of Meridian were among the fans attending the pep rally. They have been BlueSox season ticket holders for three years.
“It's a good hometown thing,” Mr. Friel said. “We don't have to drive far to get there and it's a friendly atmosphere.”
His wife agreed.
“You get a chance to meet the players and see the game up close. It doesn''t cost anything to park and the games are fun.
“I mean ... Why not go?”
