SAINTS RECEIVE ESPN THE MAGAZINE’S TOP PROMOTIONAL HONOR
ST. PAUL, MN (September 28, 2007) – One of the hardest things to do in business is to top yourself from year-to-year. The St. Paul Saints have found a way to do that for 15 years and 2007 was no different as they reached the promotional pinnacle when their "Being Jason Giambi" Night received the Veeckies Award as the top promotion in Minor League Baseball courtesy of ESPN the Magazine.
On July 7 fans had the choice of being "probed" by George Mitchell or being "suspener’d" by Bud Selig.
By making the choice Saints fans were able to feel what it was like to be "Jason Giambi." Fans were asked to make the same choice as Jason Giambi and those that decided to spill the beans and sit down with Mr. Mitchell were entered to win a 1991 Ford Probe. Those that didn’t want to be "probed" instead received a pair of Bud Selig Suspenders.
"We have to be very flexible during the season and some of our best promotions come from current events," said Saints Director of Promotions Jack Weatherman. "We had a lot of fun with the ‘Being Jason Giambi’ Night and our fans got a good laugh out of it. The best part was when the person who won the car realized it was a 1991 Ford Probe."
With more than 200 minor league baseball teams around the country the Saints had some tough competition. The Saints beat out the Portland Beavers Bob L. Head giveaway and the Bowie Baysox Bad Breath Night.
The Saints also had two other promotions during the season that received national attention. The iPig, a play on Apple’s iPhone, and the Michael Vick Chew Toy Giveaway where 1,500 lucky fans received a pig chew toy, with Vick’s name and number on the back, for their dogs.
The Veeckies are named after Bill Veeck, father of Saints owner and President Mike Veeck. Bill was known for many promotional innovations including sending the 3’7" Eddie Gaedel to the plate with the St. Louis Browns, orchestrating "Grandstand Day" where fans decided the managerial decisions and installing the first ever exploding scoreboard
