While a few live sporting contests have resumed, for the most part, we are relying on old footage to scratch our sports itch. As we have noted, with no games, numerous teams, organizations and figures have done their part to keep fans enthused about their respective athletic endeavors in other ways, with altruistic efforts striving to beat back against the COVID-19 pandemic. Given our love for the promotional products campaigns that minor league baseball squads have presented, we are pleased both as supporters of the national pastime and admirers of wordplay that the St. Paul Saints held a ‘Nopening Day’ celebration that saw them distribute T-shirts to fans via curbside pickup.

This video doesn’t do the car line justice. But it wraps around the corner. If you’re not in line now odds are you’re not getting one of the free shirts. You can purchase one here though: https://t.co/w17WYSgVt8 pic.twitter.com/j2PxGwFhtu

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) May 19, 2020

The defending champions of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball had already appeared on our radar back in the winter through a promo idea that poked fun at the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal. Since it seems that minor league baseball clubs will forever give the public humorous products, the backers who received the giveaways will retain our envy until one of the Saints’ peers comes up with another novel concept.

For yesterday’s ‘Nopening Day’ gathering, 500 T-shirts went to those folks who now own an interesting piece of baseball apparel history, and who are hopeful that come July—when the Saints are hoping to start the defense of last year’s title—they will not need to miss their heroes in action anymore.

Because of the championship clout that the Minnesota-based team enjoys, one could probably have guessed that 500 shirts would not be enough to sate the masses, so the Saints are selling the ‘Nopening Day’ tri-blend tee for $22 at their online store. Billed as a way to “commemorate the most unique start to a season in St. Paul Saints’ franchise history,” it is the kind of sports-centric product that we love, in that it forges a direct connection to the community.

An added perk is that the shirt lets wearers know that the organization misses bonding with them just as much as fans pine to return to the ballpark. Considering that the Saints also used the night to replay their first game in their stadium and gave viewers opportunities to win prizes throughout the broadcast, we are ready to name them this year’s Minor League promo kings even before we see anything else that their contemporaries issue.