A few weeks back, the Morning Call ran a letter to the editor from a person who felt very insulted by the Ironpig’s organization marketing the Pig more than the Iron.
The entire letter can be read on the Morning Call’s website by clicking here.
What makes me wonder, really wonder… is that this person took time out of their schedule to publically proclaim (yes, I agree 100% she has a right to free speech) that she was personally insulted by the baseball team being called the Pigs for short, when their full name is CLEARLY Ironpigs. Insulted by a baseball team’s name.
Where have we heard this before. Uber-politically correctness. I was under the impression that the NCAA had the market on that area?
Well the writer goes on to say how much distaste she has for the word “Oink” and called the team “swine” and even suggested that the Lehigh Valley might be crowned the “Pork Capital of Pennsylvania.” Oh the horror, think of the children!
So after my initial disbelief of this letter, I started laughing. Man, what will the Lehigh Valley come up with next to complain about. A bigger concern to me is will the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs move away from all the pig related promotions and fun? Single complaints have brought a lot of changes to Coca Cola Park…
My question is to the author of that letter.. how many games have you attended? You can always choose to look away and ignore what you don’t like.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
heh, yeah. I thought the same thing when that letter was published. I wasn’t a big fan of the name when it was chosen, but I didn’t like any of the alternatives any better, and it does allow for some nice marketing stuff. For the first year I didn’t buy any of the pig-head caps, only LV–but I got over it.
Plus, you know, minor league baseball does have a tradition of goofy names (and if they’re taking hens and putting them in mud just to make mudhens, then that might be cruel to the hens and also disrespectful to the nice folks from Toledo, but I digress).
BTW, are we playing the Chiefs today? or the SkyChiefs? 😉
I could really go for some of that pulled pork you promised me…
I’m heading out to Reading tonight to see their opener. Hoping to get a “fleece blanket with sleeves” giveaway. It’s my nephew’s birthday and he likes the big chicken that throws hot dogs. I’ll probably make some pork for the tailgate on the 17th…. you know they should add Special K cereal to the food stands.. I hear it has a lot of Iron.
“bar bell” giveaway sponsored by Gold’s Gym, for pumping iron.
Iron City beer on tap.
“Mini Iron” giveaway sponsored by American Drycleaners.
I could go on and on…
A Parade of cavemen named “Ron” wearing a shirt with a big “I” on it! Sponsored by Geico!
The Battle of the Barnyard, i.e., IronPigs and MudHens is a marketeer’s dream.
IronPigs?
It could have been a lot worse.
In the lobby where the elevators are at Coca-Cola Park, there is a placard which names the eight finalists for the AAA Lehigh Valley franchise team name.
Gobblers and Vulcans are two of the eight finalists I can remember that are listed.
Talk about marketing for 8-year-olds!
At least IronPigs DOES have a measure of historical connection with the area.
You know, I was a little preplexed when the nickname came out, but after about 20 seconds I said, ” what a typical catchy minor league name”, then I accepted it. I like the name and all the marketing potential. So I have one thing to say to that person who wrote that letter is “lighten up!!”
My first thought was that it is someone who wanted to see their name in the newspaper by opposing a widely popular new activity in the area.
If someone is unique, the press will like them, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they are useful.