I?ll bet you think that playing “Thank God I?m a Country Boy” during the seventh inning stretch was an Orioles? innovation. I mean, think about it: don?t the lyrics “Life on the farm is kinda laid back, ain?t nothin? an old country boy he can?t hack?” just scream Baltimore?
Actually, the Yankees played it first, back when Billy Martin was their skipper and he had opened a western wear shop in New York City.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays ? by the way, invest heavily in merchandise with that logo on it, which is due to change in 2008 ? have new management this year, and with it, some new marketing schemes well worth lifting. One of their better ideas is one that costs next to nothing and has no discernible downside.
The Rays? Public Relations Department, led by former Orioles? PR wizard Rick Vaughn, got in touch with the former D-Rays and ex-big leaguers who live in the Tampa Bay area, and invited them down to Tropicana Field.
“The previous ownership never saw the upside of reaching out to our former players,” said Vaughn, “but the new people were extremely receptive to the idea.” Here?s the deal: When a former player ? Devil Ray or not ? wants to see a game, the PR Department accommodates his ticket requests ? within reason, of course. In return, he makes himself available ? at his convenience ? to appear on the concourse and sign autographs and shake hands for an hour before a game.
The Rays? program was helped by their willingness to provide a small office at the ballpark for the Major League Baseball Player?s Alumni Association to use rent-free. So far, Vaughn says, the arrangement seems to be working well.
The Tampa Bay franchise has had more than their share of false starts and fan disconnect since they began play as an expansion team in 1998.
The Orioles? slide from contention coincides with the birth of the Rays, and both teams currently rest at the bottom of the AL East. Obviously, winning cures a lot of ills, particularly at the turnstiles. Until those days return, there are a number of ex-Orioles and other major leaguers in the region who might be receptive to the occasional appearance at Camden Yards. A baseball ticket doesn?t guarantee anyone a free autograph ? though it seemed to when Elrod Hendricks was alive.
If it works in St. Petersburg, Florida, why can?t it work in Baltimore? At the very least, isn?t it worth a try?
Listen to Phil Wood every Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN Radio 1300.
