Friends of the Program

Minor League baseball has long been known for its less than conventional promotions tactics in hopes of getting people to abandon the typical summer fair to come watch often mediocre versions of the grand game.  We at FOTP are suckers for such marketing tactics and thus we were able to pull ourselves away from our own personal past time, which may or may not involve leering at girls within eyestrain at our apartment complex’s pool, in order to enjoy our nation’s national past time…throw in a night centered around sexy facial hair, and you have our full and undivided attention.

Such was the scheme behind the State College Spikes, the Pirates’ Class A affiliate and their Salute to the Mustache.

The Spikes’ mascot rocks the ’stache.  His name, naturally, was Nookie.

We entered the stadium, only to be greeted by the above Cookie Monster rip-off, but before he could touch us inappropriately, we were ushered to our seat by the friendly attendant.

Coincidentally, this guy actually had a mustache under the fake one, which just seemed like he was trying too hard…an acceptable amount of flair there though.

We found our seat and began fiddling through the program while we waited for the beer vendor to make his way to our section.  We flipped to the roster, and low and behold, who do we see filling the role of hitting coach for the Spikes on this the night where mustaches get their time in the sun?… Yeah.

The game, the night, and its peripherals centered around all things mustachioed.  There were the player introductions, photoshopped for our viewing pleasure…

Billy D. WIlliams approves

The great mustache wearing heroes of our time were honored…

Some drunk got his picture on the video board…

And there were even fireworks to cap it all off…

All in all, a great night for baseball and a better night for Sal Fasano and his like minded brethren. Plus there was not one mention of Jason Giambi all night.  Suck it Big G.