Spinners To Honor Manny And Other Quitters At Tomorrow Night's Game

If at first you don't succeed, try,
try again. Then quit. No use being
a damn fool about it." -WC Fields

The list of famous quitters in history is endless...Richard Nixon...Spiro Agnew...George Costanza...Dilbert.....Ginger Spice...the hare.... and now Sara Palin.

Each have their own pathetic and apathetic reasons for their personal failures to run the whole race.

But of all quitters currently found standing in line, with hands outstretched searching for a free ride, none is held in as high a level of disdain in the eyes of Boston sports fans than Manny Ramirez.

Tomorrow night, the Lowell Spinners, Class-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the trade that sent Manny packing by honoring all quitters and celebrating excuses.

Ramirez', lack of hustle,  urination inside the Green Monster, high five fly ball catch and cut off of Johnny Damon's relay, still irk the Boston faithful, 365 days after his departure to La-La Land.

Towards the end of his reign as Boston's most feared right handed hitter, Manny would resort to taking off games to protest his lack of a new contract which forced the Red Sox to trade him to the Dodgers. Yet, another fine example of how not to play the game.

The Spinners will celebrate the anniversary of the trade with several activities throughout the evening. Amongst them, fans will be asked to help the Spinners compose the Top Five list of quitters, liars and cheaters of All-Time, the Top Five Manny Moments and the best excuses for their follies.

"We put our heads together and thought it would be a fun idea to celebrate the trade," explained Jon Goode, Spinners VP of Corporate Communications. "It was a real group effort."

"Minor League Baseball features guys who play the game the right way, always giving that extra effort to make the big leagues," said Spinners General Manager Tim Bawmann in a recent story in the Spinners website.

"Manny quit on his team and we are going to celebrate the anniversary of his trade by looking at some of the more notable quitters from Bill Parcells and Bobby Petrino to Roberto Duran and even George Costanza."

Over the course of the evening fans will be able to sign cardboard cut outs of Manny and Jason Bay (his replacement in left field for the Red Sox) which will be sent to the players following the game.

Manny-inspired dreadlocks will also be available for purchase, with the proceeds benefiting Lowell Spinners charities.

Lastly, in honor of Manny's positive contributions to the Red Sox, the Spinners will offer to help Ramirez sell his Ritz Towers condominium in Boston in order to help offset the $7.7 million dollars Ramirez lost during his 50-game suspension for testing positive for PED this past May.

Tickets are still available for the game, as well as, for Wednesday, July 30th, Dracut Night by calling the Spinner's ticket office at 978-459-1702. The Spinners recently extended their streak to 350 consecutive games sold out when Pepsi bought the final 2000 tickets for their game against the Tri-City Valley Cats.

The streak is once again in jeopardy for their game on Monday, Aug. 3. The Spinners and TD Banknorth will be presenting Emily Elizabeth Book Giveaway/Bingo Night and Nashua Night. The first 1500 kids in attendance will receive an Emily Elizabeth book.