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‘Twilight,’ Playboy nights planned
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2010
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The Mahoning Valley Scrappers kick off the 2010 season Friday. Manager Travis Fryman talks some baseball.
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Scrappers General Manager Dave Smith
By JOE SCALZO
NILES
This summer at Eastwood Field, the Scrappers have promotions for furry guys (Laser Hair Removal Night), burly guys (French Fry Night), Soap fans (an appearance by “Days of Our Lives” star Rafe Hernandez), Pope fans (Faith Night), teenage girls (“Twilight” Night), teenage boys (an appearance by Playboy model Lisa Neeld) and pretty much everyone in between.
So, how about Jim Traficant fans?
“Oh geez, that’s your first question?” chuckled Mahoning Valley General Manager Dave Smith, who decided to cancel a Traficant promotion last summer after fan complaints. “Um, we’re going to try and avoid any type of controversy this year.”
Instead, as they’ve done the past few years, the Scrappers are focusing on value.
Thursday Buck Nights are back, as are $2 Tuesdays. There’s also fireworks on Fridays, free admission for military members on Wednesday and $5 box seats on Sundays.
“We try to promote value and, oh by the way, there’s a baseball game going on,” said Smith, who has been with the team for 11 years and in minor league baseball for 15.
In addition to the weekly promotions, the Scrappers will hold a LeBron James rally night on July 1 (the first day of NBA free agency), a Grady Sizemore mini-”Fathead” giveaway (“That was obviously planned before he got injured,” Smith said), a visit by all of the Indians mascots (from Lake County to Cleveland), an Ed O’Neill night (with Polk High T-shirt giveway in honor of the Ursuline High graduate’s role on “Married with Children) and an appearance by wrestling great George “The Animal” Steele.
“There’s three things you think of when you talk about George ‘The Animal’ Steele,” Smith said. “Eating turnbuckles, a green tongue and Ms. Elizabeth.”
You also think of a very hairy back, which is why Steele’s appearance coincides with Laser Hair Removal Night.
That might not be as good as Traficant Night, but consider this: You’ll at least get to see someone who needs to lose his hair.