Fans overflowing Class A parks to see Tebow take stab at baseball

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tim Tebow is a big-league hit in the minor leagues.

The Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback has minor league fans around the Single A South Atlantic League flocking to stadiums and jamming ticket lines to see the Columbia Fireflies’ outfielder and designated-hitter.

The Hickory Crawdads sold out four games with the Fireflies, its total of 17,500 for the series surpassing the 15,900 they drew their first eight games.

“We had 4,500 people in the stands,” Crawdads season-ticket holder Christopher Pack said, “and 4,300 were there to see Tim Tebow.”

People show up in Tebow’s NFL jerseys and Florida Gator outfits, lining up around the rails in these intimate ballparks trying to get an autograph or a selfie with Tebow.

It may be unclear if he will ever get to “The Show,” but one thing is clear: Tebow is the biggest show playing Class A ball.

That was apparent April 29 in the eighth inning against Hickory when Tebow, on his off day with the New York Mets affiliate, heard the Crawdads crowd chant his name, hoping that Columbia manager Jose Leger would get him in the game.

“It’s not something you see all the time,” Hickory general manager Mark Seaman said.

The welcomed chaos has been evident during Tebow’s three road trips in April.

In Augusta, Ga., the GreenJackets front-office staff had to scramble to find enough workers for concessions: 5,830 fans turned out, well above their season’s average of 3,190.

A few days later in Rome, Ga. — smack in the heart of Southeastern Conference football territory where the former Florida Gator was a polarizing figure — Tebow and the Fireflies drew 5,105 fans.

“That was two-and-half times what they might bring in for a game in midApril,” said Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws communications director Greg Giombarrese said. “That’s when I knew this was something different.”

The Fireflies will play at Lakewood in a four-game set starting Saturday. They have sold out of their 6,588 reserve sets for two of the games with very limited seating is available for the other two. Giombarrese said, after hearing about the other stops, that the BlueClaws would have more than 200 employees at the park to handle the fans — about the amount necessary for their most anticipated games of the year, such as fireworks nights or other special promotions nights.

Giombarrese anticipates a big weekend because Lakewood, located near the Jersey Shore, is about 90 minutes away from the Mets’ home, Citi Field. It will be an opportunity for curious New York fans to get a glimpse of the highprofile prospect.

“There should be a lot of Mets caps in the stands,” Giombarrese said.

Teams on the small minor league circuit are looking to capitalize on Tebow’s presence while it lasts.

The Lexington Legends in Kentucky announced a “Ten Tebow” ticket package for the three series with the Fireflies, starting with a four-game set on Memorial Day weekend. The rival Greenville Drive in South Carolina made the Tebow the focus of a promotion where fans receive fastfood hamburgers should he strikeout three times.

Tebow takes it all in stride.

He’ll typically sign autographs before games, smile and wave to cheering fans, blending his popularity with the work necessary to make the major leagues.

“Any time you get support it feels good and people see you, watch you play or shake your hand,” Tebow said. “You can’t let it affect you, good or bad. You just have to stay locked in and stay focused on the task at hand.”

Tebow is steadily finding his swing . He homered twice in the season’s first weekend, but has not had another since. His average is under .250, yet he’s cut down on his strikeouts as he finds a comfortable zone at the plate.

The South Atlantic League dates its roots to Ty Cobb, who played in the league’s inaugural game with Augusta in 1904. Stars such as Cobb, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and Steve Carlton spent time in the “Sally” league on their way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The league is one where teenagers with potential develop and advance, said South Atlantic League President Eric Krupa, with fans who can say “remember when” once the young stars reach the bigs.