Why is Altoona, Pennsylvania the only place in the world where you’ll be able to watch nine grown men, dressed up as brook trout, running around a field?
On the weekend of June 25-27, the Altoona Curve (AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates) will be taking the diamond as the state fish of Pennsylvania. For a series against the Harrisburg Senators, they’ll rebrand themselves as the Altoona Brookies. Along with the new name, caps, and jerseys, the club will be promoting a number of local conservation organizations.
Add in all of the normal, minor league fun that comes with a night at the ballpark and you have an excellent opportunity for the family to have a great night out – especially outdoors enthusiasts and anglers.
“Brookies Weekend” was originally planned for the 2020 season. The pandemic and the resultant shutdown forced the entire minor league season to be cancelled. Even still, the merchandise that had been produced in anticipation for the event sold out online. People in Western Pennsylvania and the wider region responded with great enthusiasm to the promotion. The area has strong ties to natural resources, fishing, and brook trout. Bringing back the Brookies for 2021 was an easy decision for the Curve.
Before and during the game, fans will be able to browse displays and visit with representatives from organizations such as:
- Trout Unlimited
- Blair Co. Conservation District
- Western PA Conservancy
- PA Fish & Boat Commission
- Little Juniata River Association
The traditional MiLB activities will also be happening, albeit with a brook trout twist. Free t-shirts, fireworks, concerts, and giveaways will take place throughout the weekend. There will be a meet and greet… with fish. As the series wraps up, there will be an auction for the field-worn, trout-patterned jerseys. All proceeds will benefit the American Rescue Workers, an area nonprofit that ministers to the homeless.
It is also worth mentioning that the matchup for the weekend is quite appropriate. For years, an alternate logo used by the Harrisburg Senators has been a baseball bat-wielding mayfly.
Learn more, buy tickets, and purchase Brookies gear at the website of the Altoona Curve.