Aljancic's Top 10 sports freebies at games

In a recent article, I mentioned my pleasant surprise of receiving a free Pirates umbrella upon my entering PNC Park. That's the inspiration for my latest "10-4 Good Buddy" list: 10 memorable ballpark freebies over my last four-plus decades as a fan.

Game giveaway promotions used to be rare and relished: fans and families targeted those dates. Now, teams tend to give away items like they're grandparents at Christmas.

BONUS: AN APRON? Game giveaways have evolved like TV channel offerings. Back in the antenna TV days, the pickings were pretty simple: bats, hats, and shirts. Like cable, and now streaming services, the options have exploded. For one game, I even received an Indians apron. Considering that the closest I’ve come to ever wearing an apron was donning my dad's backward dress shirt for elementary art class, this item quickly made our garage sale pile.

No. 10: PUZZLING. Just a reminder to highlight July 26 on your calendar, which marks the 31st birthday of Slider, the Cleveland Indians’ mysterious mascot. Sometime during the Travis Hafner-C.C. Sabathia era, our family must have attended a July 26 Tribe game, because I received a Slider birthday puzzle encased within a tin can piggy bank. This two-for-one giveaway was bonanza for any coin or puzzle enthusiast. I am neither.

No. 9. SHIRT STORIES. While freebie shirts are a popular giveaway, their quality tends to be a bit lacking. The Justin Masterson jersey we got has the equivalent texture of those reusable cloth-like grocery bags. Another time, I received a "Peace-Love-Indians" T-shirt. After a trip through the washer and dryer, the length shrank, the width widened, and the neck hole could fit the Incredible Hulk.

You probably noticed in NBA playoff games that the entire crowd wears the same colored T-shirts. The Aljancics got a family set when we went to see LeBron beat the Pacers on a buzzer beater during his last Cavalier playoff run. The shirts were surprisingly nice in quality. Unfortunately for my wife and smaller son, all the shirts were size XL.

No. 8. FUTBOL FOR FOOTBALL. Several years ago, the Browns followed a popular soccer fan fad and gave away a very nice scarf. I wear it about as often as my Indians’ apron.

No. 7. BAT BOY. Back in the 1970s, the pinnacle of promotion days was "Bat Day." There were always big crowds when free lumber was given out, and the Aljancic garage always had an Indians’ bat in the corner. Personally, I always loved mini-bats that they sold at the souvenir stand, and was a bit irked when my then 7-year-old son used the vintage bat I handed down to him to hammer in a bunch of nails.

No. 6. PROPS TO THE PIRATES! PNC Park is not only the best sports stadium/arena that I have been to, but it also has consistently dealt me freebie aces. On one visit, my kids and I each received a really nice Pittsburgh Pirates 1960 World Series Champion stein. If I had received an Indians version of this, it would be sitting on my fireplace mantle. I did bequeath most of our steins to my valued Pirate friends. I got an even better gift on another PNC visit: a batting helmet! In my youth, I had a vast collection of MLB batting helmets that I wore around town with great pride. That was a much cooler (and safer) look than the flat-billed hats that kids wear nowadays.

No. 5. SUPER STATUES. Bobble heads have become the game giveaway gold standard. Two unique variations that we received come to mind. One was a golden microphone that played memorable radio calls from legendary Cavalier voice Joe Tait. The other was a re-creation of Kenny Lofton scaling the centerfield wall for his immortal 1996 Jacobs Field catch.

No. 4. ROLLERCOASTER RIDE. Early in the Browns’ infamous winless 2017 season, I watched Hue Jackson's team receive a 31-7 beatdown from the Bengals. That afternoon low was accompanied by one high: the giveaway was free tickets to Cedar Point, which cost more than Browns tickets.

No. 3. FINE CHINA. Throughout my 25-year marriage to my wonderful wife, our kitchen cupboards have always contained two or three souvenir cups from various stadium visits. It almost makes paying $7 for a soda worth it. Almost.

No. 2. HAVIN’ A BALL! The first Cavs game that my dad took me back in 1985 to was a delightful double feature: it was basketball giveaway night, and my favorite player, Julius Erving, was in town. I remember rookie Mel Turpin dominating: his 20-point outburst topped both Dr. J and fellow rookie Charles Barkley in a surprising Cavalier victory.

No. 1. BROKEN HEART. The first pro sporting event I ever attended was as a 6-year-old back in 1977. We arrived late to Municipal Stadium after our Chevy Vega station wagon broke down. For those of you who remember, cars broke down a lot in the 1970s! Even though the hated Yankees swept a doubleheader by a combined score of 17-2, I was smiling bigger than Chief Wahoo because of the free Indians’ raincoat that I received. My joy, however, was transformed into agony that same night when someone stepped on my beautiful red robe at home and shredded it. I gingerly used some electrical tape to perform an emergency surgery, but my beloved patient didn't survive.

Why didn't God take my apron instead?!?