Mets’ Minor League Team Is Hosting ‘Seinfeld’ Night, Complete With Puffy Shirts and Cereal

The Wrap ^ | April 16, 2014 | Jordan Zakarin

[Scoutmaster]

Cereal eaters, terrible dancers, and latex salesmen will be especially welcome in Brooklyn in early July.

Jerry Seinfeld wore his Mets fandom on his sleeve during the long run of his eponymous sitcom, and now, one of the team's minor league affiliates is returning the favor. Quite literally, in fact.

The Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ short season single A team based in Coney Island, will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original airing of the “Seinfeld” pilot with a night filled with festivities about nothing, so to speak. On July 5, the team is transforming MCU Park into an arena of references to the classic sitcom, starting with renaming the ballpark itself Vandelay Industries Park for one night only. The foul poles in right and left field will be renamed the Festivus Poles, too.

Before the game, the Cyclones players — mostly guys in their very early 20's — will wear puffy shirts, just like the one Jerry wore on the “Today Show” during a classic 1993 episode.

The first 2,500 fans to show up to the game will get a Keith Hernandez bobblehead doll — the former Mets first baseman-turned-broadcaster famously appeared in a 1992 episode of the show — and for those that don't receive one of the coveted souvenirs, they can air their grievances at a specially designated table on the concourse. Any real latex salesman gets in free, to boot.

Mailmen (in honor of Newman, of course) will throw out the ceremonial first pitches, while there will be plenty of contests for glory, too, including a cereal eating competition, an Elaine dance-off, and a big game of Risk held on the concourse (the Ukraine is, indeed, weak).

Seinfeld, a long-time Mets fan, often called in to discuss the team with late night radio host Steve Somers, and made a guest appearance in the team's SNY television booth last year. Here's a list of Mets references in “Seinfeld” over its run.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Check out this link:

http://www.fanbase.com/Toledo-Mud-Hens-1988/roster

You might want to hold on to those cards for the garandkids. I appreciate the offer, sir.

Names of note:
Billy Bean (Oakland A’s manager of Hollywood note, “Money Ball”?
Ivan DeJesus
Scott Lusader
Ramon Pena (Call up to the Playoff Roster?)
Steve Searcy
Mike Trujillo
George Vukovich
Delwyn Young

None are HOF players but each, I believe, made it to the Tiger’s roster. Some might be associated with the “lean years” but big-leaguers none-the-less.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

THey had about a couple dozen guys who made the majors, but no big name. They did have Billy Beane of “Moneyball” fame, for what it’s worth, and oddly enough they also had a Bill Bean - what are the odds???

[Scoutmaster]

The offer still stands. If I have grandchildren, they can argue over guitars, Millard Fillmore memorabilia, Edison cylinder phonographs, and 1960s baseball cards.

I know Billy Bean is in the set. I didn't realize Billy Bean was Billy Bean. Tim Leiper is also in the set. I know this because Leiper has the goofiest grin ever pictured on a baseball card. He's as memorable as any Wally Moon card.

[Gamecock]

How did this escape the attention of the Seinfeld Ping List?

[Scoutmaster]

I'm a little late on this, but I decided to bring home Billy Bean from the office set of Toledo Mud Hens baseball cards (the set that's been opened). He's now been scanned for posterity, and here he is for your viewing pleasure.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Thanks.

He doesn’t look anything like Brad Pitt.

[Scoutmaster]

Yes, but he also doesn't look anything like Tim Leiper.

I didn't scan my Tim Leiper, but here's a newer Leiper card (his grin is not as goofy but his batting stance is still the same):

I may have mentioned in an earlier thread that there was a period of about a year when I would purchase donuts for the whole floor on Fridays. People would gather in and around my office and someone would be honored for something they did during the week (say, a copy center guy who stayed late on some big project). That person sat in a visitor's chair in my office and donned the Toledo Mud Hen baseball cap.

Then, presented with the card set, he or she would pick the Mudhen of the Week. I had a cheap wooden plaque, maybe 8x10, with a plastic slide-in holder for the card and a little brass engraved plaque engraved "Mudhen of the Week."

After a few months we had to call the Tim Leiper Rule - which meant you couldn't pick Tim Leiper. His card looked like the kid from Deliverance, but with a bat and not a banjo.

I think I have the plaque in a box in the basement and will post a photo if I find it.