Rumor has it that Booster (the giant red rooster mascot for the Nashville Sounds) was hot under the collar when the Triple-A squad decided to play a weekend’s worth of games over the July 7 weekend as the Nashville Hot Chickens.
In unpleasant conditions, the games were played at First Horizon Park against longtime rival Columbus Clippers. The middle match was canceled due to rain and lightning. At the same time, the finale on Sunday was shortened to an official seven innings due to lingering inclement weather. Still, the Hot Chickens managed a mini-hot streak, coming away with two solid victories to remain undefeated in their history as the embodiment of everyone’s favorite meal in the Capitol region.
Photo courtesy Music City Nashville
On the plus side, this creative re-branding found long lines in the Sounds’ Team Store as fans gathered to purchase extensive additions to the merch collections with colorful shirts and hats emblazoned with the fiery red rooster or a sumptuous chicken sandwich. Where some fans felt burned, however, was with the weekend’s promotional giveaway item taking the form of a “Hot Chicken Passport.” There were many complaints online about the ridiculous scope of the scavenger hunt that would require many hours, miles, and much money to complete in full.
In short, the challenge would set Sounds fans off on a wild goose chase that would make a chicken with its head cut off blush. The task required fans to visit 14 local – and some not-so-local (Joelton? Loveless Cafe? Biscuit Love [have you seen the lines there?] – Hot chicken restaurants to receive a “stamp” on the passport. A completed book would win the most adventurous hot chicken aficionados a free T-shirt. Many commenting online guessed that the difficulty presented by the Passport – like the highest level of heat offered at Prince’s or Hattie B’s – would render the contest virtually impossible to finish. We would have to agree. While we love the new logo and branding possibilities offered by the Hot Chickens – the Nashville Sounds need to return to the drawing board if they plan on bringing this back. Just winging it isn’t gonna cut it.
Still, the game we attended on Sunday was extremely exciting and true to their newly acquired moniker. The Hot Chickens’ bats were on fire. As the rain began to fall harder in the bottom of the six, play continued, as there was no sign of lightning. But there was a Skye Bolt when the likable outfielder launched a shot out of the park into the Band Box section of the stands that evened things up at six all. Not to be outdone, second baseman Cam Devanney followed with a solo scorcher that exited the stadium down the left-field line to give the Hot Chickens the lead for good. Despite the weather-shortened contest, the outcome was a tasty victory for the Sounds – err Hot Chickens. It will be interesting to see if the club will play under this new name again, as fans will be sure to flock to the ballpark to satisfy their curiosity and maybe even their hankering for some fiery fowl.
Photo courtesy Music City Nashville
Because we had to leave First Horizon Park early, we returned to our car when we serendipitously stumbled upon a game between the East Nashville Phoenix and the Spring Hill Quicksteps of the Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball. The game with a 2:30 p.m. start was taking place in muddy conditions on the Bicentennial Mall, where the SHQ would ultimately prevail 14-6 over the local squad.
Given that the match was theoretically taking place in the 1860s – and they didn’t have access to Doppler Radar back then – you can understand why they played through the rain in the shadow of the Capitol with a good crowd of onlookers in attendance. It was quite the contrast, having just come from a modern game. The hobbyists didn’t even have gloves or a pitch clock!
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NOTE: The Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball was established in 2012 to entertain and educate local communities throughout the state by recreating the civility of 19th-century baseball. They promote living history by bringing the 19th century to life through baseball events that use the rules, equipment, costumes, and culture of the 1860s. In addition, they also provide cultural enrichment and education programs and activities to youth and adults that emphasize honor, team play, respectful conduct, and community pride. The organization’s overriding goal is to exemplify to youth and adults the values lacking in modern-day athletic programs and encourage a sense of belonging regardless of race, gender, religious conviction, or physical ability.
Related Links: For more information on the NASHVILLE HOT CHICKENS and the other organizations mentioned, please visit the following links Nashville Sounds | First Horizon Park | Tennessee Vintage Base Ball
