Pelicans Take Home Award: Team Adds to the List of Accolades

MYRTLE BEACH, SC - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans received recognition at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Anaheim, CA for their 1999 first half game program. The game program was named as "The Best of the Ballparks" among the 100 Class Single-A teams in Minor League Baseball. The past season was the Pelicans first.

The Pelicans game program featured full-page color advertisements. Also, the feature stories consisted of how baseball made its way back to Myrtle Beach, a tutorial of what is minor league baseball, player profiles, the Atlanta Braves affiliation with the Pelicans, a tribute to Bob Grissom (the former mayor of Myrtle Beach), and much more. The Pelicans Assistant General Manager/Director of Corporate Sales, Matt Harris, and the Pelicans Director of Media & Public Relations, Bryan Dolgin, were the co-editors of the program. In addition to Harris, the Pelicans General Manager, Steve Malliet, and Corporate Sales Executive, Leann Rothrock, sold the ad space. Dolgin wrote the majority of the feature stories. Bob Bestler, of The Sun News, and Tom Shieber, of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, were contributing writers. Paul Birling, of Appleton, WI, designed the cover's artwork. Multi-Ad Services of Peoria, IL printed the program. Dave Mateer was the Project Manager, and Todd Crull handled the Design & Layout. Multi-Ad sponsored the "The Best of the Ballparks" contest, but an independent panel of judges determined the Pelicans award.

Awards were available in all aspects of print: game programs, pocket schedules, corporate sales brochures, media guides, and other promotional materials. The "Best of the Ballparks" ranked the publications in Class Double-A and Triple-A, too. The Pelicans concluded their first season with the team being crowned champions of the Carolina League, merchandise sales ranking first in Minor League Baseball and the game program ranking first in Class Single-A. Also, the Pelicans Bill Butler was named Carolina League Groundskeeper of the Year, Pelicans second baseman Marcus Giles was the league's MVP and the Pelicans 232,619 paid attendance ranked 10th of 100 teams in Class Single-A.

The 1999 game programs are available with purchase at the Pelicans Pro Shop at Coastal Federal Field. Matt Harris, Pelicans Assistant GM/Dir. of Corporate Sales,said, "The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are appreciative of being recognized by those in the sports industry of having the highest quality printed piece in minor league baseball. We pride ourselves on being professional in all areas of our operation, and it is wonderful to be awarded this honor."