SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs to Host "Al Appreciation Night" Friday

Published on May 11, 2005 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, affectionately referred to as "The Joe," will become "The Al" when the Charleston RiverDogs host the Savannah Sand Gnats in a South Atlantic League baseball game Friday night.

"The Al" is part of the RiverDogs' salute to "Al Appreciation Night," where an "Al" was randomly selected from the Charleston telephone directory. The lucky "Al" for this promotion is Al Lincoln of Mt. Pleasant.

"At first I was skeptical," Al said this week. "My wife convinced me that (RiverDogs promotions director) Jim (Pfander) was for real."

Pfander, in his first year with the RiverDogs, simply opened the phone book one afternoon and started on the left side of the first column and found the first guy named "Al." He called the residence, and spoke with Al's wife, Rhonda.

She, too, didn't believe the call and needed to be persuaded by Pfander.

As part of "Al Appreciation Night," Al will throw the ceremonial first pitch and direct the between-innings promotions. He will assist public address announcer Ken Carrington and will be interviewed on the RiverDogs' radio broadcast by announcer Josh Maurer.

As a bonus, Al will be comfortably seated in a recliner in the reserved seat section behind home plate and have wait service at his side.

Additionally, Al will be prominently featured on the park's matrix board and RiverDogs staffers will wear t-shirts with Al's face emblazoned on them.

"This is Al's night," said Pfander. "He's in charge. He'll even dictate when to shoot off the post-game fireworks."

Al retired from the US Navy in 1992 and has lived in Charleston since 1984. He currently works for the US Postal Service in Mt. Pleasant.

"I go to about three or four RiverDogs games a year," he said. "I enjoy them."

Soft-spoken with a slight Boston twang, Al ironically grew up as a Red Sox fan as he's originally from Hingham, a Boston suburb. He said that he played baseball as a kid ("Who didn't?" he asked), and admits that he hasn't thrown a ball in more than a year.

"I got the neighbor's kid to warm me up," Al said of his throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

And what about the RiverDogs being a Yankees affiliate and Al being a lifelong Red Sox fan?

"Do I have to answer that?" he asked.

No, Al. You don't. It's your night, and you can do as you please.

"AL APPRECIATION NIGHT"

Who: Charleston RiverDogs vs. Savannah Sand Gnats

What: "Al Appreciation Night"

Where: "The Al" (aka Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park)

When: Friday, May 13, 7:05 p.m.

Why/How: Recognize "Al" as randomly selected from the Charleston telephone directory

"AL" LINCOLN PROFILE

Age: "Over 50"

Birthplace: Hingham, Mass.

Residence: Mt. Pleasant

Occupation: Retired, US Navy (1992)

Currently working for US Postal Service

Family: Wife, Rhonda; Daughter, Emily (recent graduate of Covenant College); Son, Nicholas (9th grader at Wando High School)

Favorite team: Boston Red Sox

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 11, 2005


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