The Hammer One Step Away from Moniker Madness Title
August 23, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, MASS. - Yohan Flande, Brooks Belter, Brett Butts and Rougned Odor have been no match for Lowell Spinners outfielder Seth "The Hammer" Schwindenhammer, as the 2011 New York-Penn League All-Star sees just Dusty Harvard in his way from claiming the title in Minor League Baseball's fifth annual "Minors Moniker Madness," a competition to find the best, most unique name in Minor League Baseball.
"The Hammer," who currently leads the Spinners and ranks second in the league with nine home runs, is making a return to the very finals where he came up just short in 2010, losing the title to Rowdy Hardy, then a Kansas City Royals farm hand.
This summer Hammer has nailed down the opposition, both on the field and online in the brackets. Hammer is batting nearly .500 when he makes contact at the plate and won the All-Star Skills Competition, hosted at the Spinners' LeLacheur Park, on a last-swing home run. In the contest, Hammer has faired just as well, receiving an overwhelming percentage of votes thus far on his road to redemption.
"2011 has certainly been the summer of 'The Hammer' at LeLacheur Park," said Spinners Director of Media Relations Jon Boswell. "The voting has shown not only the power of Seth's great name, but also the strong support shown by Spinners and Schwindenhammer fans in the voting. We hope fans continue to show their support in crowing 'The Hammer' with the title he so deserves."
Schwindenhammer's 15-letter last name would be the longest in the Major Leagues, one letter longer than potential future teammate Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Known as Hammer in the clubhouse, his teammates have got behind the slugger's cause, getting out the vote with campaign video on YouTube.
A recent campaign featured Spinners' infielder Roberto Ramos getting the message out in Spanish, while teammate Swen Huijer narrated a "Vote for Hammer" speech to the Dutch faithful.
"A vote for Hammer is a vote for mankind," said Hammer Campaign Manager Matt Steinberg. "Besides, with Yale graduate and former Spinner Ryan Lavarnway recently making his Major League Debut, this is no time to be supporting Harvard."
Schwindenhammer, a native of Peoria, Ill. who attended the same high school as recent 600 home run hitter Jim Thome, was a fifth round pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. In 49 games, Hammer is batting .211 with 9 home runs and 29 RBI, batting .448 when he makes contact with the baseball, striking fear into opposing New York-Penn League pitchers.
Voting in the Finals of the contest is underway and runs through August 25. Fans can vote as often as they'd like by visiting http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/madness and selecting Seth Schwindenhammer to win.
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