Parney bobblehead doll "lowlights" 2008 Curve giveaway schedule
March 5, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA- The guy who once attempted to give away his own gall bladder as part of an Altoona Curve promotion will now be able to hand out his own bobblehead doll to fans at Blair County Ballpark. P opular Curve General Manager Todd "Parney" Parnell will have his likeness produced on 2,000 bobblehead dolls, which will given away to fans attending the Curve's home game on Wednesday, August 20th against the Portland Sea Dogs. As a fun sidebar to the giveaway, the promotion was cleverly hidden from Parney's knowledge by the entire Curve staff until it was announced in this press release.
"We've approached Parney several times over the past few years about having his own Bobblehead Doll giveaway at the ballpark, but being the humble, understated person he is (wink, wink) he's always been quick to shoot the idea down, so we decided to plan the giveaway behind his back and tell him about it only after it was too late for him to say 'no'," said Curve President & Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg. "But we know that deep down he is honored by this and is looking forward to the kidding he'll be receiving from family, friends and colleagues starting today."
The Parney Bobblehead Doll Giveaway is just one of nearly 30 great fan giveaway items as part of the Curve's 2008 promotional schedule, but it's not the only bobblehead doll giveaway planned. As part of "Adam Hyzdu Night" on Thursday, June 19th, the first 2,000 fans in attendance will take home an Adam Hyzdu Throwback Bobblehead Doll. The giveaway will feature Hyzdu, the Curve's 1999 and 2000 Most Valuable Player and the only player in club history to have his number retired (No. 16), wearing the Curve's brand-new Sunday throwback uniform. Hyzdu is scheduled to be in attendance for the June 19th game and will take part in a pre-game ceremony, toss out a ceremonial first pitch and sign autographs for fans.
Several of the Curve's 2008 fan giveaway items will have a Tenth Anniversary Theme to tie into the club's season-long celebration. Highlighting the Tenth Anniversary Series giveaways will be a series of six (6) collectable Photo Baseballs, which will each feature two members of the Curve's Tenth Anniversary Team. The club's ceremonial Tenth Anniversary Team will be announced on July 3rd and the six Tenth Anniversary Team Photo Balls will be handed out on July 19, July 23, August 2, August 19, August 23 and August 30. Other Tenth Anniversary Series giveaway items scheduled include Schedule Magnets (April 3 & 4), Pennants (April 6), Autograph Books (June 21) and Travel Mugs (August 21).
The Curve will also hold three nights in which one or more fans will win free getaway trips to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the "Golf Capital of the World". The first Myrtle Beach getaway, called "Pack Your Bags for Myrtle Beach Night", will take place on Wednesday, April 9th. 20 lucky fans in attendance for the 4:05 p.m. game vs. Trenton will each receive a bus trip for two to Myrtle Beach from April 23-26, hotel accommodations and tickets to watch the Curve's sister franchise, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. The second Myrtle Beach getaway giveaway will be held on Friday, June 6th at Blair County Ballpark. One lucky fan will win airfare and hotel accommodations for four (4) and will also receive four tickets to watch the 2008 California League vs. Carolina League All-Star Game, which will be hosted by the Pelicans on June 24th. The final Myrtle Beach vacation package, called "Myrtle Beach Future Pirates Trip" on July 20, will give one winning fan and three friends the opportunity to not enjoy a beach vacation compliments of the Curve, but also a chance to see the future Curve and Pirates in action as the Lynchburg Hillcats (Pirates' Class-A Affiliate) will be visiting the Pelicans August 1-3.
In addition to the traditional fan giveaway nights, the Curve will also hold several other fan giveaways with their own twists. In fact, the team's first two home games will feature truly unique giveaways. As part of the Home Opener at Blair County Ballpark on Thursday, April 3rd, the Curve will give away the kitchen sink... literally! The kitchen sink giveaway, which will go to one lucky fan, symbolizes the fact the Curve are, as the expression goes, "giving away the kitchen sink" as part of their 2008 promotional schedule. The following day, the Curve will make one lucky fan the winner of a brand-new refrigerator! Why? Well, the Curve will unveil the reason behind the refrigerator giveaway as part of Thursday's promotional release. Another unique fan giveaway will take place at the April 20th game, when the Curve will give its fans $5,000 in the form of $5 Curve gift cards that will be handed out to the first 1,000 fans, ages 15 & over.
The Curve's signature Theme Nights will also include interesting fan giveaways. The club's award-winning "Awful Night" series returns in 2008 and fans attending the July 7th game can expect to take home another "awful" giveaway, which in the past has included such items as bubble wrap and pictures of Parney's gall bladder. Five days earlier on July 2nd, the annual installment of "Irish Pat's Used Car Giveaway Night" will take place, giving fans in attendance the opportunity to drive away with "brand new" used cars.
The complete list of 2008 Altoona Curve fan giveaways is listed below:
- Thursday, April 3 (6:35 PM) - Schedule Magnet Giveaway PRESENTED BY AIG (First 5,000 Fans, All Ages) / Kitchen Sink Giveaway (1 Fan)
- Friday, April 4 (6:35 PM) - Schedule Magnet Giveaway PRESENTED BY AIG (First 3,000 Fans, All Ages) / Refrigerator Giveaway (1 Fan)
- Sunday, April 6 (3:05 PM) - 10th Anniversary Pennant Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Sunday, April 20 (3:05 PM) - $5 Curve Gift Card Giveaway (First 1,000 Fans, 15 & Over) / Curve Growth Chart (First 2,000 Fans, 14 & Under)
- Tuesday, April 22 (6:35 PM) - Re-Usable Grocery Bag Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Friday, May 2 (6:35 PM) - Purple Visor Giveaway PRESENTED BY SEIU HEALTHCARE (First 1,500 Women, All Ages)
- Sunday, May 4 (3:05 PM) - Youth Wooden Bat Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans, 14 & Under)
- Saturday, June 7 (7:05 PM) - Beanie Giveaway PRESENTED BY TEETER INSURANCE and EASTERN INSURANCE HOLDINGS (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Thursday, June 19 (7:05 PM) - Adam Hyzdu Throwback Bobblehead Doll Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Saturday, June 21 (7:05 PM) - 10th Anniversary Autograph Book Giveaway PRESENTED BY THE GALLIKER DAIRY COMPANY (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Monday, June 30 (7:05 PM) - Beach Towel Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Wednesday, July 2 (7:05 PM) - Irish Pat's Used Car Giveaway Night (Select "lucky" fans)
- Monday, July 7 (7:05 PM) - Awful Night Giveaway
- Saturday, July 19 (7:05 PM) - 10th Anniversary Team Photo Ball Giveaway #1 PRESENTED BY S&T BANK (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Wednesday, July 23 (7:05 PM) - 10th Anniversary Team Photo Ball Giveaway #2 (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Saturday, August 2 (7:05 PM) - 10th Anniversary Team Photo Ball Giveaway #3 (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Tuesday, August 5 (7:05 PM) - Bob The Baseball Dog Dish Giveaway (First 500 Dogs, All Breeds)
- Tuesday, August 19 (7:05 PM) - 10th Anniversary Team Photo Ball Giveaway #4 (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Wednesday, August 20 (7:05 PM) - Parney Bobblehead Doll Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Thursday, August 21 (7:05 PM) - Travel Mug Giveaway PRESENTED BY FORNEY FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Saturday, August 23 (7:05 PM) - 10th Anniversary Team Photo Ball Giveaway #5 (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
- Sunday, August 24 (7:05 PM) - Youth Soccer Ball Giveaway (First 1,000 Kids, 14 & Under)
- Saturday, August 30 (7:05 PM) - 10th Anniversary Team Photo Ball Giveaway #6 (First 2,000 Fans, All Ages)
Single-game tickets for the Curve's 2008 season will go on sale to the general public this Saturday, March 8th, beginning at 9 a.m. through the Curve Ticket Office and on-line at AltoonaCurve.com. To mark the first day of individual ticket sales, the Curve will hold their annual TicketPalooza event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Blair County Ballpark. This free event, which will be held on the ballpark's Upper Ticket Plaza, features free food and beverages, kids games and arts and crafts, visits from Curve mascots Steamer, Diesel Dawg and Bob the Baseball Dog, a petting zoo for kids, inflatable games, fan Q&A sessions with Curve management, ballpark tours, a Curve Job Fair, and several other fun activities. For complete information regarding Curve TicketPalooza 2008, as well as a complete list of activities, fans can visit AltoonaCurve.com.
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