Curve Release 2019 Promotional Schedule

The Altoona Curve announced their complete 2019 promotional schedule for the team's 21st season on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 26, at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

This season will feature unique giveaways, including five bobbleheads, along with appearances by Pittsburgh Dad and Kent Tekulve, 23 fireworks shows, theme nights and more to fuel the excitement in Curve, Pa.

"Following up our 20th season celebration will be a tough act to follow," Curve general manager Derek Martin said. "However, our entire staff has been hard at work since the final out of 2018 to put together another memorable season for our fans in 2019."

As previously announced in January, the Curve will undergo a name change for seven home games during the 2019 season and will take the field as the Allegheny Yinzers. The transformation will be made complete with Pittsburgh-inspired uniforms and various themed promotions. Online sitcom star Pittsburgh Dad will make an appearance at PNG Field on June 13 presented by Q94. The Curve will also offer a special ticket plan and Pittsburgh-style concessions upgrades with fries, coleslaw and pierogies for all seven games that the team will be known as the Yinzers.

The Curve will wear three other specialty jerseys outside of the team's alternate identity in 2019. On Saturday, May 18, the Curve will host Ghostbusters Night with a Slimed Ghost Bustin' jersey, presented by Adelphoi. The night comes with the 35th anniversary of the 1984 film's release. The Curve will honor the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 7 with a D-Day tribute jersey presented by Home Helpers. Another anniversary that the Curve will celebrate with a specialty jersey is a '79 Pirates-style jersey for the Pittsburgh Pirates' 1979 World Series celebration on Sunday, Aug. 18, presented by Sheetz for the Kidz. In addition to the yellow tops that night, former Pirates reliever Kent Tekulve will make an appearance at PNG Field.

The specialty jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting area charitable organizations.

Bobblehead seekers will have five opportunities to add to their Curve bobblehead collections in 2019. In addition to bobbleheads of notable past infielders Ke'Bryan Hayes, Kevin Newman, Kevin Kramer and Adam Frazier, Star Wars Night on Friday, May 10, will be highlighted by the first-ever Loco "The Last Locotami" Spinner giveaway for the first 1,000 fans presented by the Altoona Mirror.

In addition to the bobbleheads, the Curve will again offer a slate of unique, fun giveaways for fans during the upcoming season. After 165 years of operation and serving as the inspiration for the team's name, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Horseshoe Curve Neck Pillow on Saturday, April 27 presented by the Railroaders Memorial Museum, Southern Airways, Burgmeier's Hauling and Everett Railroad. Fans will feel like it is 1999 when the Curve hand out the 90's Fanny Pack giveaway on Thursday, June 27, presented by Altoona Grand Hotel as part of 90's Night at the ballpark. Additionally, three Fridays throughout the season will be Free Shirt Friday for the first 1,000 fans on April 12, April 26 and July 5.

Fans will be treated to the Curve's popular fireworks shows for 23 games in 2019, beginning with Opening Night on April 11. Each individual fireworks show will have special theme music for fans to enjoy while they sit back and watch the sky light up over PNG Field. Fireworks shows are scheduled for April 11, May 17, May 31, June 8, June 9, June 11, June 19, June 28, June 30, July 4, July 6, July 16, July 23, July 26, July 28, Aug. 6, Aug. 9, Aug. 11, Aug. 16, Aug. 17, Aug. 18, Aug. 20 and Aug. 29.

Sundays are for the kids this season in Curve, Pa. All 11 Ritchey's Dairy Kids' Club games, which are free and open to children ages 3-12, will be held on Sundays at PNG Field. The Ritchey's Dairy Kids' Club includes tickets for the 11 Sunday games, plus members receive 10 percent off kids' apparel and novelties in the Stockyard and the Caboose team stores, gain access to an exclusive team autograph session, plus much more. Ritchey's Dairy Kids' Club sign-ups are open now.

The 2019 season for the Altoona Curve will open on Thursday, April 4, in Akron. The home opener slated for 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, against the RubberDucks.