Those wacky minor league promotions

Alan Slape and Jalena Rusaw got married earlier this month between innings (yes, between innings) at a Sacramento River Cats - Tucson Padres game at Raley Field. Dinger, the River Cats mascot, gave away the bride in the 60-second ceremony. Imagine the stories the bride will be telling her grandchildren one day.

Like it or not, minor league baseball survives on crazy promotions. While some cross the line and enter tacky territory, others are just plain funny.

The Reading Fightin Phils will raffle first baseman Jim Murphy's 1991 Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign this week because he doesn't want to drive it back home to Washington this offseason. Proceeds go to charity. Sounds like a win-win for everybody.

Last season the Orem Owlz brought Larry Thomas (the actor who portrayed "The Soup Nazi" on Seinfeld) to the ballpark for No Soup for You promotion. He autographed team-logo ladles and served soup to fans, if they asked politely.

Remember the Four Weddings and a Funeral promotion that the Omaha Royals pulled off in 2009? They won a Veeckie award for that one from ESPN the Magazine. After the game, four couples exchanged vows on the field at historic Rosenblatt Stadium and one fan won an all-expenses paid funeral.

Ben Hill at MiLB.com does a weekly promo preview column that is definitely worth checking out if you are into such things.

What's the wackiest promotion you've seen at a minor league game? Did you attend the game because of the promotion, or in spite of it?