Man, they grow up so fast!
The Brooklyn Cyclones’ beloved mascot, Sandy the Seagull, turns 13 this year and, in keeping with his Jewish faith (he is named for Sandy Koufax, who famously refused to play on Yom Kippur, after all) he will begin his journey into adulthood with a ceremonial bar mitzvah — and everyone’s invited to the party!
The team will celebrate Jewish Heritage Night at MCU Park on Sunday, June 23, with the bar mitzvah of the century, which will take place before the 5 pm game against the Hudson Valley Renegades.
“It’s been a great 13 years with Sandy,” Cyclones general manager Steve Cohen said. “It’s great to have this night to celebrate Sandy and the different fans that come to our games.”
Activities will begin as the gates open at 3:30 pm, when fans can help lift Sandy into the chair as the Horah, a traditional Jewish dance, is performed.
The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by an MCU Park record 18 rabbis because the number 18 signifies life in the Jewish faith. The players will take the field wearing special uniforms that will spell out “Cyclones” in Hebrew. The jerseys will later be auctioned off for charity.
The game against Hudson Valley will be the first of a three-game set against the Renegades, and the only one at MCU Park, which now has artificial turf.
Jewish Heritage Night at MCU Park (Surf Avenue and W. 16th Street in Coney Island, www.brooklyncyclones.com) on June 23 at 5 pm. Gates open at 3:30 pm.
