Saturdays and Sundays Are Family Time at The Joe

CHARLESTON, SC - Weekends are for family time and family time is quality time, and the Charleston RiverDogs keep that in mind every time the gates open to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

That is why the New York Yankees' Class A affiliate emphasizes the fun and relaxation that is RiverDogs Baseball every Saturday and Sunday.

Saturdays feature giveaways to the first 1,000 fans on selected dates and the RiverDogs this year have five dates in which they give away collectible items. Starting on April 12, the club will give away t-shirts that feature Director of Fun Bill Murray and on May 10, Charleston's favorite hawker - Tony the Peanut Man - will have his likeness on a bobblehead. A Jackie Robinson replica jersey that honors his time with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues will be given away on June 7.

Additionally, on July 19 the team will give away a Bill Veeck bobble in which the club pays homage to team president Mike Veeck's Hall of Fame father and his famous wooden leg. And for a giveaway that might appeal more to youngsters, the first 1,000 fans through the gates on August 17 will receive a Charlie's A-B-C coloring book.

But the big one will be on July 5 - the day after our spectacular Independence Day Celebration - when we will issue Ghostbusters bobbleheads featuring the resemblance of Harold Ramis, the recently deceased comedy legend and Ghostbusters actor. The Ramis bobblehead will also help commemorate the 30^th anniversary of the famous film's debut.

Saturdays this year will also feature Social Media Saturday as fans will have the chance to use social media to make requests of what they want to see/hear in the ball park that night. This plays off the RiverDogs' marketing mantra of "Be Your Own Fan" as the team listens to what our fans want.

Also, it doesn't matter where you live in the Lowcountry. Whether you call Summerville, Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston, Daniel Island, Goose Creek, Ravenel, Moncks Corner, or anywhere else home, there will again be a night for your neck of the woods. Community nights are back again this season with the specific dates for specific areas to be announced soon.

Following the action on the field on Saturday, all kids can stick around and run the bases and everyone is "safe."

Sundays, too, are special family times as they will be Kids Club Sundays presented by Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission and Crews Subaru., Sundays at Riley Park feature free parking and Kids Eat Free as all members of the RiverDogs Kids Club get a voucher for a free meal upon entering, courtesy of Pepsi. The RiverDogs Kids Club, known as the RiverPups, is free to join and open to all kids 12-under. But that's not all as the RiverDogs pull out all the stops to cater to families, offering a pregame catch on the field, reading with the RiverDogs and the popular postgame autograph session with the entire RiverDogs team and loveable mascots, Charlie T. RiverDog, Chelsea and Bark.

"We have always been about wholesome family entertainment, and our plans for Saturday and Sunday games reflect that," said General Manager Dave Echols. "We know that our fans love giveaways - who doesn't? - and our lineup this year is terrific."

Tickets are on sale for the RiverDogs 2014 season. The home portion of the schedule begins April 7 with a seven-game homestand that features the rival Greenville Drive and Augusta GreenJackets. For more information, please contact the Riley Park Box Office at 843/577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com.

--RIVERDOGS--