Jumbo Shrimp, Shuckers, Blue Wahoos to begin Seafood Buffet Rivalry Series in 2019
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Three Southern League franchises are partnering for a round-robin competition throughout the 2019 season. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Biloxi Shuckers and Pensacola Blue Wahoos, who are all connected by Interstate 10, will vie for the Seafood Buffet Rivalry Series, bringing the winning team one pound of seafood from the each of the losing squads.
"We thought this was a fun and exciting way to put something on the line and bring some of the franchises with unique nicknames together in our league," said Jumbo Shrimp general manager Harold Craw. "We're hoping the Jumbo Shrimp can come through in the first year of this rivalry series so that our team in Jacksonville can enjoy some oysters and wahoo at the end of the season."
The Seafood Buffet Rivalry Series will track the number of wins each club achieves against the other two Southern League squads in the competition throughout the season. The series will begin when Jacksonville plays at Pensacola in a five-game series from April 10-14.
"We're lucky to have three great ball clubs with three great ballparks close to water in the Southern League," Pensacola president Jonathan Griffith said. "What better way to celebrate that than with a friendly competition to add a little extra excitement to our games against Biloxi and Jacksonville!"
Additional dates for the series throughout the season include April 15-19 (Pensacola at Biloxi), April 20-24 (Jacksonville at Biloxi), May 1-5 (Biloxi at Pensacola), May 11-15 (Biloxi at Jacksonville), June 2-6 (Jacksonville at Pensacola), June 7-11 (Pensacola at Biloxi), June 20-24 (Pensacola at Jacksonville), June 25-29 (Biloxi at Pensacola), July 22-26 (Biloxi at Jacksonville, July 27-31 (Pensacola at Jacksonville) and August 1-5 (Jacksonville at Biloxi).
In total, there will be 60 games between the three clubs over the series.
"We can't wait to get going with the Seafood Buffet Rivalry," said Biloxi general manager Hunter Reed. "It's an incredibly unique way for each of these three teams to bring even more excitement to these important division game. What could be better than team pride and good seafood on the line?"
Following their five-game series at Pensacola from April 10-14 that kicks off the Seafood Buffet Rivalry Series, the Jumbo Shrimp return to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville from April 15-19 to start a five-game series with the Birmingham Barons.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League's Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by General Manager Harold Craw. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.