Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

IronPigs Win "Bacon vs. Tacos" Challenge

Fresno to Wear "Fighting Bacon" Cap on June 22nd
May 31, 2017

In a vote that may have ramifications for years to come, Team Bacon soundly defeated Team Tacos by receiving 53% of the vote from the national electorate at BaconvsTacos.com. 

In a vote that may have ramifications for years to come, Team Bacon soundly defeated Team Tacos by receiving 53% of the vote from the national electorate at BaconvsTacos.com

By virtue of this referendum, the Fresno Grizzlies (aka "Tacos") must now wear the IronPigs' "Fighting Bacon" cap on-field during their upcoming home game against the Sacramento River Cats on Thursday, June 22 at 10:05 p.m. (EST) at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, Calif. This will mark the first time in professional baseball history that an entire team has worn another team's cap on-field.
"The people have spoken in a decisive, definitive manner," remarked Lehigh Valley IronPigs President and General Manager, Kurt Landes. "The vote proves inarguably that there is absolutely no substitute for bacon. Period. We look forward to seeing the Fresno Grizzlies look as good as ever by donning our 'Fighting Bacon' caps on-field."
Both team's ran a fierce campaign, with the IronPigs even banning the sale of Tacos from Coca-Cola Park during last Saturday's "Bacon vs. Tacos" promotion in an effort to drum up enthusiasm and votes for Team Bacon. The stunt worked, with Lehigh Valley capturing a majority of the votes cast nationwide. In total, nearly 20,000 fans visited BaconvsTacos.com during the last eight weeks. The taco ban at Coca-Cola Park has now been lifted as the club looks to quickly heal the divide between bacon and taco lovers.
Fans seeking to celebrate the victory are encouraged to pick up the remaining "Fighting Bacon" merchandise at BaconvsTacos.com or by visiting the Majestic Clubhouse Store during normal business hours (Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.).
While the feud between Lehigh Valley and Fresno is years in the making, we should remind you that it was the IronPigs who first received national and international acclaim in 2014 for their "Smell the Change" rebrand that included the introduction of their now iconic bacon strip on-field cap and bacon-themed uniform. The IronPigs have doubled-down on bacon recently, embracing the "Bacon, USA" theme by doubling the amount of bacon sold at all games. The original bacon cap remains one of the top-selling lids in the history of Minor League Baseball. With widespread interest and publicity, the bacon logo quickly sold to each of the 50 states as well as Australia, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom.
It wasn't until a year later in 2015 that the Fresno Grizzlies announced a one-game name change to "Tacos" (we don't get it either) hoping to garner similar attention while claiming the Central Valley of California as the "Taco Capital of the World."
Regardless of your favorite team or food, there's little argument that these two clubs have distinguished themselves promotionally throughout Minor League Baseball and professional sports. In fact, the IronPigs have been awarded the most Golden Bobbleheads in the history of the award, honoring promotional excellence in Minor League Baseball across various categories. Recently, Fresno captured the top prize in 2015 and Lehigh Valley in 2016. The winner of this contest will have a leg up in the race for the 2017 Golden Bobblehead award.
Single-game tickets, Bacon, USA, membership packages and group tickets for all IronPigs home games are on sale now and can be purchased at the Coca-Cola Park Ticket Office, online at www.ironpigsbaseball.com/tickets or by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447). 
The 2017 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.