The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) and Fresno Grizzlies (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are going head to head in Bacon vs. Tacos. The joint promotion will allow fans to settle a dispute between the two clubs by choosing between Team Bacon (IronPigs) and Team Tacos (Grizzlies). In recent years, both teams have attracted attention for their food-related uniforms and promotions. The IronPigs in 2014 unveiled their Smell The Change initiative, which featured a bacon strip logo as part of a bacon-themed uniform. The following year, the Grizzlies became the Fresno Tacos for a game, a theme that has since been expanded by the club.
The promotion have resulted in something of a rivalry between the teams over social media, and now the fans are being asked to settle the dispute. Voting began today on BaconvsTacos.com, and will run through 5:00 p.m. EST on May 29. On May 27, the two clubs will wear their respective Fighting Bacon and Fighting Taco caps (shown above), and the team that loses the fan vote will have to wear the other club’s hats for a game in June.
“They picked the wrong team to pick a food fight with,” IronPigs president and general manager Kurt Landes said in the team’s announcement. “We’re sick and tired of their fake news and alternative facts. We’re even banning tacos from Coca-Cola Park when we don our ‘Fighting Bacon’ caps on-field for the very first time on Saturday, May 27th as part of Bacon vs. Tacos Night. Bacon was first and bacon is best. Period.”
“If anyone thinks this is just for fun, I can assure you fun has nothing to do with it,” said Tacos/Grizzlies general manager Derek Franks in the club’s announcement. “We’re so tired of all the IronPigs bacon propaganda on Twitter, always butting in on our good time. We’ve talked about banning carnitas tacos from Chukchansi Park during the voting. Some fans have suggested we compromise to end this feud by putting bacon on tacos…no.”
Fans can also vote using #TeamTacos or #TeamBacon on social media, and could see their post displayed on the promotion’s website. The website also features a videogame that is dedicated to the promotion.