I’ve been following the Nashua Pride since 2000 when I started working for The Telegraph. That’s the year Butch came back.  I think I’ve photographed the Pride more than any other team in my 20+ years of shooting. So when I hear the words “Monkey Boy,” they are the first thing that comes to my mind.

Now that crazy, squirt-gun-toting, obnoxious character has been back to visit a handfull of baseball games since his departure from the Pride games a few years back. He used to be there every night, and so were the fans. I’ve never seen a mascot animate a crowd as much as he did.

So here’s a list of suggestions to get the fans back to Holman Stadium to watch the 2009 Nashua Pride:

1) Whatever it takes, bring the monkey back - permanently! Shag wasn’t a bad mascot either. I remember a time when Shag lost his head during the stretch to home plate during the base race. The head made it across, but Shag came up short!

2) Give out squirt guns to the kids, or parents too!

3) Give out free tickets to kids with an adult companion. Parents give kids money to spend, and the Pride benefits from having many kids at the games.

4) Give out noise-makers. Encourage the kids to make noise when the other team wants it quiet.

5) Market tickets to the little League and Cal Ripken teams in the area. When my son was nine or ten, the Pride marketed their tickets all the way out to our league in Auburn. After that year, we never heard back from them.

6) Get more fans involved in the game antics between innings. Change up the games. Sumos are cool! Make the fans laugh, and they will return. Get the kids involved and interested in the antics and “Monkey Boy” and they will beg their parents to return.

7) Bring in Red Sox alumni or other former pro athletes to sign autographs during the games.

Get your players and coaches involved in the NH Baseball banquet, and other city events. The more the team and staff are involved in the community, the more interest and familiarity the public will have with the team.

9) Bring something to Nashua Pride baseball that can’t be found at Fisher Cats game. That’s the most challenging, and that’s why Pride management earn the “big bucks.”

10) Just bring the monkey back!

-Bob Hammerstrom

Tags: Can-Am League, Mascot, Monkey Boy, Nashua Pride