Storm Wins 'Gorilla' Marketing Award

The “Golden Bobblehead” awards may not have speeches that include, “I’d like to thank the Academy." But...

In Minor League Baseball, the Golden Bobblehead awards are revered. This weekend, the Lake Elsinore Storm was honored with a golden bobblehead for the Best In-Game Promotion, honoring the club’s Grounds Crew Gorilla.

If you’ve never seen this overgrown primate go “ape” on the turf, just know that it has been called the most chaotic 80 seconds in all of Minor League Baseball. He definitely kicks up more dirt than he tamps down.

The awards are broken up into four categories -- Best Theme Night, Best Charity Promotion, Best In-Game Promotion, and Best Non-Game Day Promotion -- and the winners are chosen by a vote of Minor League Promotional Seminar attendees. The 2011 winners were announced on Sunday at Myrtle Beach's BB&T Coastal Field, site of the seminar's annual Ballpark Outing.

Others taking honors included:

The Best Theme Night as well as Best Overall was the Fort Wayne TinCaps' "Opening Night in 3D." On Opening Night at Fort Wayne's Parkview Field, the TinCaps presented portions of the videoboard entertainment in 3D.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs took home the honor for "Best Non-Game Day Event" as their "Nite Lites" cocktail reception/silent auction/dinner/dancing extravaganza raised a staggering $1.5 million for a local hospital.

Meanwhile, the Eugene Emeralds' "Cut-Off For A Cause" received the nod for "Best Charity Promotion." The Northwest League entity set up denim donation stations around the ballpark, with the resulting haul being used to create housing insulation for low-income families.

Fans can vote in the next round of the “Golden Bobbleheads,” by casting their ballots for “Promo of the Year.” Voting is underway now at MiLB.com.