Marlins Man, otherwise known as Laurence Leavy, hasn’t been to a Marlins game this year because he’s been in a fight with part-owner and team CEO Derek Jeter over the benefits he wanted and did not receive from the team as their primary human mascot.
Marlins Man, currently fighting with the Marlins, is signing a one-day contract with the team
He won a “player for a day” experience as part of the team’s charity auction.
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
It got so bad the two men got into a tiff at a Marlins town hall last spring. He offered $200,000 for a three-year contract for four prime seats behind home plate and the team said no. Things have been shaky between the two sides ever since.
Now, Marlins Man will not only be going to a game but will do so as part of a “broadcaster for a day” and “player for a day” experiences he won at the team’s charity auction. Looks like his feud with the team isn’t bad enough for him not to spend money to be part of a game for at least one day this year.
Either that or charity is important enough to him that he decided to put his problems with the team aside for now and donate a whole lot of money at the charity auction, which supports the Marlins Foundation. If so, good for him for doing so.
According to Andy Slater as part of his two winning bids, Marlins Man will get to:
- Hold a press conference with Marlins President of Baseball Operations Michael Hill
- Attend Manager Don Mattingly’s pre-game coaches meeting
- Present the game’s lineup card
- Be interviewed as part of the on-air broadcast during the game
- Shags balls in the outfield during the team’s batting practice
On top of all of that and the money he’s already spent to be part of it, Marlins Man has also bought out every seat in the left field stands and if fans who get those tickets wear orange to the game they’ll also get free food and beer on Marlins Man’s tab as well. Not a bad deal.
Marlins Man’s whole schtick is that sure, he may be obnoxious, but he does so with the intention of giving back to the community and Marlins fans. In this case that at least seems to be correct.
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