AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Say Farewell to "Our Best Bud" with Unique Statue Giveaway

Published on August 20, 2010 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL,MN (August 20, 2010) - On Tuesday, August 24, the retiring Commissioner of Major League Baseball will be honored by a professional team with the unveiling of a statue commemorating his contributions to that organization. In a long and storied career, the Commissioner contributed to many memorable events for this particular team, both on and off the field.

We're not talking about the Milwaukee Brewers. We're talking about the St. Paul Saints.

The Saints will honor the Commissioner on a night dedicated to "Our Best Bud." After a season-long contest on the team's website to determine the type of statue, the team has settled on the Commissioner throwing his tie in the air, a la the Mary Tyler Moore statue in downtown Minneapolis which represents the image at the end of the opening credits to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." The first 2,500 fans attending Tuesday's game will receive the giveaway item on the same night that the Brewers unveil a statue of Bud Selig outside Miller Park.

The Commissioner has played a role in several significant Saints promotions. In 2002, the Saints gave away ties with the Commissioner's caricature the day after the big league All-Star Game ended in a 7-7 tie. That same season, during baseball labor negotiations, the Saints gave away seat cushions with the Commissioner's likeness on one side and that of the Union Chief on the reverse side (see attached photo).

In 2007, as baseball's steroids investigation was in full swing, fans risked being "suspendered" as they arrived at the ballpark for a game in July (see attached photo). Saints staff members passed out suspenders with a drawing of the Commissioner to Saints fans who refused to disclose their performance-enhancing history.

"We were searching for a fitting way to salute the Commissioner," saint Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Derek Sharrer. "The Brewers came up with the idea of the statue first, but we felt that in our own small way we should do something as well. In the end our fans get to add another item to their collection of giveaways featuring Our Best Bud."

The Brewers and their fans will remember Selig as the man that brought baseball back to the Cream City. At 1:00 p.m. on August 24 a seven-foot-tall statue of the Commissioner will be erected next to those of Hank Aaron and Robin Yount outside Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Selig changed Major League Baseball's economic landscape by instituting revenue sharing while at the same time changing the Saints economic landscape as people flooded the gates during Selig promotions. Also under Selig, MLB has enjoyed its longest period of labor piece while at the same time keeping many promotional product vendors in business who have helped create Saints Selig giveaways.

The Saints host Sioux City at 7:05 p.m. on August 24. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. For tickets to all remaining Saints home games contact the Saints box office at 651-644-6659 or visit saintsbaseball.com.

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