If only Mookie Betts hadn’t torn apart Eastern League pitching, the Sea Dogs could have used him for an unusual promotion next month.
To celebrate Star Wars Night for their Aug. 16 game against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Sea Dogs will don specially designed jerseys reminiscent of the Chewbacca character.
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Just imagine: Wookie Betts.
Oh sure. Laugh it up, fuzz ball.
Chris Cameron, the team’s director of media relations, posted mock-ups of the hirsute-looking suits (complete with over-the-shoulder bandolier) on the team’s Facebook page Tuesday and “it sort of blew up,” he said. “This received one of the biggest responses I’ve seen.”
Umm, the jerseys aren’t really furry, are they?
“They are not, no,” Cameron said.
The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Cameron said he’s also working with a few dozen re-enactors who will be wearing movie-quality costumes for the game.
“There’s all kinds of Star Wars groups out there who want to dress up and do this,” he said. “We’re also encouraging fans to dress up as their favorite character and we’ll have a parade around the field before the game and some sort of costume contest.”
The Sea Dogs have held Star Wars promotions in the past, but those mainly revolved around encouraging fans to go Solo, and Leia, and Obi-Wan.
Next month it will be the players out in force.
“This year we’re taking it several steps forward,” said Cameron, who said the team is working with Lucasfilm on the uniforms. The front office chose Chewbacca jerseys over such options as R2D2 and Stormtroopers.
“We didn’t want the Evil Empire,” he said. “Being a Red Sox affiliate, that wouldn’t work.”
And how do the players feel about this particular promotion? Cameron has yet to broach the subject with them.
“I’m sure they’ll enjoy it,” he said.
No word on whether the home plate arbiter will seek retribution for a mask-rattling, foul-tipped fastball off the bat of a Wookie-looking batter.
Ready are you? The umpire strikes back.
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