Baseball season is right around the corner.
The Cleveland Guardians will be in action less than two months from now as regular season play begins with the team on the road in Oakland against the Athletics on March 28. The home season begins on April 8, the same day as the solar eclipse brings its path of totality to Cleveland.
On Tuesday morning, the team released the first version of its promotional schedule, highlighting the days with giveaways for fans, dollar hot dog nights, postgame fireworks and more. The list, of course, is subject to change throughout the year.
In April, the team plays just 12 home games. Opening Day is the only game that has a promotional attachment to it, as the team will be giving away a magnet schedule.
May sees things pick up, as there are 13 home dates. There will be a Jose Ramirez bobblehead giveaway on May 18, available to the first 12,500 fans in the gate on a night that doubles as a fireworks night. There are also two dates, May 17 and 31, that are Free Shirt Friday, Dollar Dogs and fireworks nights. Sunday, May 19, is the first Kids Fun Day of the year.
June has some of the biggest promotional events of the season, highlighted by a postgame concert on June 22 featuring DIESEL, which is the stage name of Shaquille O’Neal (yes, that Shaquille O’Neal). That night will also feature a Josh Naylor bobblehead for the first 15,000 fans. Elsewhere that month is a Steven Kwan jersey giveaway on June 1, a Guardians tote bag on June 19, a Free Shirt Friday on June 21 and two Kids Fun Days.
The calendar features quite a few events in July, including four fireworks dates. The team will be handing out Hawaiian shirts on July 3, Triston McKenzie bobbleheads on July 6, Bo Naylor jerseys on July 20 and beach towels on July 25.
In August, the team will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony early in the month. Aug. 3 will be a bobblehead with a person not yet named but currently tabbed as the Guardians Hall of Fame Bobblehead. On Aug. 14, there’s a belt bag giveaway and Aug. 31 features Andres Giminez jerseys being passed out. One of the team’s signature events of the summer, Rock ‘n’ Blast will take place Aug. 23 and 24.
As the regular season begins to close, there’s just one giveaway in September when the team will be giving away a lightweight hoodie on Sept. 14.
In total, the Guardians will have eight “Free Shirt Fridays,” 13 firework nights, 17 $2 pregame in the district parties, eight Kids Fun Days and nine Dollar Dog Nights throughout the 81-game home schedule.
