51s target fans with bobbleheads, beer

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 | 10:04 a.m.

SCHEDULE

A look at the 51s' best-of-5 playoff series against the Edmonton Trappers (All times PDT, x-if necessary):

Will free bobbleheads and $1 beers attract more fans to Cashman Field to watch the 51s host Edmonton in the first round of the Pacific Coast League playoffs?

The 51s' front office sure hopes so.

So the first 1,000 patrons for tonight's 7:10 game will receive a Shawn Green bobblehead doll while Thursday night's contest will feature $1 beers in the concession stands.

The reason for the giveaways and discounts? Playoff attendance in previous years has been abysmal.

"Hopefully we'll get a few more people come in," said Bob Blum, assistant to team president/general manager Don Logan. "Nobody seems to know why they haven't drawn that well for the playoffs.

"I think the promotions could help. Minor league baseball depends on promotions. As I recall, we haven't done it in the past for the playoffs."

The 51s host the first two games of the five-game series then head to Edmonton Friday for the rest of the series.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 2,450 tickets had been sold for tonight's game and 2,285 for Thursday. The seating capacity at Cashman Field is 9,334.

Blum speculated that the start of the football season and September call-ups could be reasons for declining interest in the playoffs.

"But we still have a pretty good ball club and our guys think they can win it anyway," he said.

When the franchise won the PCL title in 1986 and 1988, Blum said attendance was better for the championship series than it was for the first round of the playoffs.

"If, in fact, we were playing for the championship, we may draw a little better," he said. "I see no reasons why we shouldn't draw well at home and try to get a big jump on it and go to Edmonton 2-0."