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So Long, Wally: Memorabilia for Warthogs fans dwindles
Journal Photo by Lauren Carroll
David Bottjen tries on a Warthogs jersey as he and his wife, Roxanna, shop for discounted merchandise at the gift shop at Ernie Shore Field.
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Published: August 30, 2008
Updated: 08/30/2008 01:20 am
Baseball fans are saying goodbye not only to the Winston-Salem Warthogs.
They are also saying goodbye to Warthogs memorabilia -- those baseballs, T-shirts, hats and other items that sport a picture of Wally the Warthog, the team's mascot, or the team's name.
In fact, those items are almost sold out at the team's store at Ernie Shore Field, Kurt Gehsmann, the team's chief financial officer, said yesterday. He could not immediately say how much revenue the team has received from the sales.
"We've depleted our store," he said.
A few items are still left, though.
Thursday night was the final regular-season game at Ernie Shore. More than 5,000 people showed up, and free baseballs with the team's logo on them were given away. On Wednesday, the ballpark crowd also got souvenirs, general manager Ryan Manuel, said. About 1,000 people came to that game.
The team is trying to get rid of its memorabilia because next year the Winston-Salem Warthogs will be no more. "We don't want to have a bunch of unused inventory lying around," Manuel said.
The team will start playing in a new $22.6 million ballpark being built on Peters Creek Parkway, just off Business 40. The team will have a new name, new sponsors and new professional management. The team's name hasn't been announced yet. Mandalay Baseball Properties, a Los Angeles company that either owns or operates six minor-league teams across the country, will manage the Winston-Salem team.
But, it's not easy to let go of the Warthogs.
"I've been here 10 years," Manuel said. "You're going to miss the team logo."
But he said he is excited about the change, and he's focused on closing one chapter and opening up another.
The team has had a 50 percent discount sale on memorabilia items at its merchandise store, and anything left over will be sold over the Internet, Manuel said.
Fans also might have a chance to get some memorabilia Friday. If the Warthogs win one game of a four-game series this weekend -- or the Kinston Indians lose a game -- they will get a spot in the playoffs and play a home game that day, Gehsmann said. Once everything is sold, fans won't have another shot at Warthogs memorabilia.
"It's time to do it," Manuel said. "You've got to go full steam ahead on it."
■ Michael Hewlett can be reached at 727-7326 or at mhewlett@wsjournal.com.
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