Joliet Turns Windy Thunderstorm Into Its Latest Success With 550,110 You Tube Viewers

What is it some people say about all publicity being good? The Joliet (IL) Slammershit the publicity jackpot, in a very unusual—and scary—manner this week, and more than half a million people have seen the visual evidence.

Since no one was injured when a major thunderstorm hit Silver Cross Fieldin the suburban Chicago community, I believe there was a message in the fact it was the Slammers, not other teams, who got dumped on.

It has seemed evident to this typist for some time that President Bill Waliewski’sstaff has become quite adept at utilizing modern technology and taking advantage of all sorts of social media to market the second year team, which also holds the title of defending champion in the 14-team Frontier League and was honored by Ballpark Digest as 2011 Logo and Brand of the Year.

So, when unusually high winds kicked up during the storm and hoisted the entire infield tarp off the field during the weather explosion, even trapping Waliewski under it for a time, the alert staff knew how to “promote” the near disaster.  They adeptly uploaded more than four minutes of video from the team’s Ustreamchannel to You Tube, including announcer Aaron Morse’scalm turned not-so-calm description, and 550,110 viewers, many of whom we can be certain never knew the Joliet Slammers existed now are aware of the team.

The moral of the story, obviously, is that if such avenues as You Tube, which has a dozen or more of Slammers videos up for viewing these days, are available, good for Waliewski’s worker-bees for taking advantage to get their message out.  No cost, just ingenuity, which also goes for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterestand everything else in the social media realm.

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(This is  an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.  Fans may subscribe for 2012 at reduced rates at www.WirzandAssociates.com , enjoy his blogs, www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com and www.IndyBaseballChatter.com , or comment to RWirz@aol.com .  The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)

See www.IndyBaseballChatter.com and www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com

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Ziegler Wins Monthly Award, Then Departs for Mexico

In what virtually was a simultaneous development, Wichita , KS first baseman C. J. Zieglerwas named American AssociationBatter of the Month then left the league to play in the Mexican League.

Ziegler had an imposing 12-home run month and hit .351 before departing.  He was the league leader with 13 homers, shared the top spot in RBI (44) with Cesar Nicolasof Sioux Falls , SD and was hitting .333.

Abilene ‘s Joe Weik Tops Everyone at .412

Independent Baseball had two .400-hitting outfielders entering play Thursday, with Joe Weikof  Abilene , TX (North American League)at .412 and Michael Langof Sioux City , IA (American Association)at .405.  The top ten hitters plus the leader in every league: