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SL1 Montgomery Biscuits

Fans Name Biscuits' Newest Live Animal Mascot

April 9, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Montgomery Biscuits News Release


MONTGOMERY, Ala. - After ten years with a biscuit-loving-beast named Big Mo as their only mascot, the Montgomery Biscuits baseball team has added a real live micro-mini pot belly tea cup piglet as their newest mascot. The Biscuits went to the fans to find a name, and the "Name the Pig Contest" was an overwhelming success with over 4,100 entries in just nine days from a variety of ways to enter, including all social media platforms. The result of the contest "dubbed" the new animal mascot "Gravy."

After a decade as the lone-mascot, Big Mo yearned for a companion at Riverwalk Stadium. Thanks to the Biscuits in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries it was decided a pig would be the appropriate companion. Poultry and livestock is an important part of Alabama, representing over 85% of the agriculture industry in the state. Four out of every ten residents in the state make their living in the agriculture industry. The official vet, Dr. Brad Fields, a member of the department, has been very involved in the selection process along with Big Mo who has been in anticipation.

Very few affiliated minor league teams have a live animal mascot, and until the Biscuits - The Tampa Bay Rays double-A team - were named in 2003, there had never been a team with a food name.

"Our goal has always been to listen to the fans and include what's important to the community" said Sherrie Myers, owner of the Biscuits.

"We believe it's hard to get more Southern than Biscuits and Gravy," said Commission John McMillian of the Department of Agriculture and Industries.

The names submitted ranged from "Bacon" to "Rosa Porks" but all names were considered. The most popular submission was Gravy by an overwhelming 15%.

The Biscuits unveiled Gravy during their game on Saturday. Big Mo gave his newest friend flowers and presented her to the fans at Riverwalk in a moment reminiscent of Simba from the Lion King.

"In the past week, we've had a lot of interest from national media at the way we approached the contest and given the notoriety already of our team name," said Scott Trible, Assistant-GM of the Biscuits.

Now, eleven years after the team's inaugural season, "Biscuits" merchandise is some of the most popular in the country. Esquire chose the Biscuits hat as one of the "most stylish baseball hats of all time" to go alongside other iconic hats like the original New York Mets and the Brooklyn Dodgers hat from the Jackie Robinson Era to name a few. USA Today selected Biscuits as the second most popular name in all of minor league baseball. Now with the new merchandise line of Gravy coming who knows what is next.

With the minor league spirit of embracing a ballpark's full entertainment value plus the "good-ole" country south of Montgomery, the name for the team's newest mascot could not be more fitting. After all, how could you have Biscuits without a little Gravy?

The Biscuits will be "hammin' it up" with Gravy during most games on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Riverwalk Stadium.

The Montgomery Biscuits, class AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays is a Minor League Baseball member of the Southern League. 2014 will be the Biscuit's eleventh season of operation at Riverwalk Stadium, the centerpiece of Downtown Montgomery, AL located at 200 Coosa Street. The muti-purpose facility hosts all 70 home games in addition to other events through the entire calendar year. For tickets or more information, please call 334-323-2255 or visit the Biscuits online at BiscuitsBaseball.com.

Check out the Montgomery Biscuits Statistics



Southern League Stories from April 9, 2014


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