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By ROB SULLIVAN The Bridgeport Bluefish havent exactly been tearing up the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball this season. Quite frankly they stink. After being swept in a recent four game series by the Lancaster Barnstormers at home in Bridgeport, the Bluefish had lost their sixth straight home game and fallen to a league worst overall record of 39-77, by far the worst in the Atlantic League. Yet, the Bridgeporters attracted 3,945 fans to The Ballpark at Harbor Yard Saturday night despite their woeful play. The Bluefish have lasted since 1998 and continue to attract fans to Harbor Yard. And when those fans boast addresses in New Canaan, Greenwich, Fairfield, Milford, Shelton or Weston, so much the better. One of the reasons we nearly hit 4,000 Saturday night was because of the fireworks after the game, explained Paul Herrmann, Bluefish Director of Public Relations and Baseball Operations. We host fireworks several weekends during the season and they are always very popular. Dont get me wrong; we want to put a great baseball product on the field and that is always our top priority, but we are also a business and we try to be innovative in trying to get fans through the gate. Herrmann and Bridgeport General Manager Ken Shepard have ably demonstrated how imaginative they can be when it comes to putting fannies in the seats at Harbor Yard. Perhaps their most famous stunt this season was hiring baseballs all-time hit leader Pete Rose to manage the team for a game earlier this year. Rose didnt disappoint either, as better than 4,300 fans strode through the ballparks turnstiles to see the tarnished all-time hit king. Rose didnt disappoint either. Among the topics he discussed was memorabilia store in Las Vegas and he also showed he must be taking in some Don Rickles shows out on the Vegas strip, by tossing out quite a few one-liners. He was a riot, said Herrmann. At the luncheon we had for him he said, Hey! Nobody ever would have heard of Ray Fosse if it wasnt for me. Fosse of course was the superb Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics catcher whose career Rose ruined by bowling over Fosse at home plate in the 1970 All Star game. Fosse developed chronic shoulder pain following the crash and was never again the same player, retiring at the age of 30 in 1977. The Bluefish also hired 41 actor Colin Buckingham to bat for the team on August 19th, to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of when 37 midget Eddie Gaedel pinch hit for the Saint Louis Browns in a stunt pulled off by the legendary Hall of Fame owner Bill Veeck. Herrmann will be the first to tell you that such promotions are not the norm in driving the stadiums attendance. The norm is hard work: getting out into the communities and spreading the word about the Bridgeport Bluefish. Most of it is hands on, he explained. Getting out into the towns, handing out fliers, advertising in local newspapers, participating in community events. Essentially just letting them know we are here we are and letting them know we are a great entertainment option. To that end, the teams community nights have been exceptionally popular. The Bluefish have featured a particular community several times during the season where local residents and businesses are honored, students recognized and members of the recognized community may throw out the first pitch or sing the national anthem. Among those communities that have been honored this season are Stratford, Milford, Fairfield and Monroe. Sunday at Harbor Yard was a prime example of a major promotion and some minor promotions working in tandem. Although baseball fans were treated to another Bluefish loss as they dropped an 8-5 decision to the Lancaster Barnstormers, Mets fans came to see Dwight Godden throw out the first pitch and conduct a question-and-answer session. And in section 7, there were about 25 members of the Fairfield county Chapter of the Fairfield Alumni Association who were on hand to cheer on the home team. Its great family fun, noted Joe Delaney, President of the Fairfield County Chapter. Its close by, its informal, and its just a great day out in the sunshine. Fairfield Alumni Association Janet Canepa was more succinct. Go Fish! Go Stags!, she said.
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