Staff Writer
Peter Bragan Jr. guaranteed victory for the Jacksonville Suns on Monday afternoon to the Meninak Club of Jacksonville. Later that evening, the team made him look prophetic.
Bragan Jr. proclaimed the then-future victory to more than 50 members of the civic organization during his annual lunchtime visit the day of “Meninak Baseball Night at the Suns.”
During the annual visit, Bragan Jr. talked about some of the key components of this year’s team, its recent success and his personal take on his day-in, day-out duties, among other topics.
“It’s what I like to do,” he said about his role. “I don’t feel I really work for a living. It’s my life and it just doesn’t feel like work to me.”
When he spoke to the club last year, the team was struggling and Bragan Jr. had doubts, he said. Soon after, the team, a Florida Marlins affiliate, went on a run to reach the playoffs and become 2009 Southern League champions.
“What a difference a year makes,” he told the group.
The Suns play at the Baseball Grounds Downtown and the location is a draw. Bragan Jr. talked about targeting the Downtown core for the Wednesday 1:05 p.m. games using the Businessperson Special promotion ($14.50 for a box seat, hot dog and choice of beverage) throughout the season.
It’s been his promotion of a different nature that’s been a hit among the community, though. Bragan Jr. visits schools to promote children’s literacy in the “Casey Challenge,” a contest for schoolchildren to memorize and recite Ernest Thayer’s “Casey at the Bat.” Those who are successful receive a Jacksonville Suns baseball bat or glove.
“My No. 1 thing has been to go out to all the Duval County schools and challenge them,” said Bragan Jr. “It’s a fun thing to watch the kids.”
Meninak members watched Bragan Jr. recite the poem, as has become tradition during his annual visit. Between the recitation, the guarantee and Meninak President Kent Lindsey’s ceremonial first pitch, the mojo worked: the Suns defeated the Birmingham Barons 7-3 Monday before a crowd of just more than 1,900.
Meninak Club of Jacksonville member Mike Lawrence, Jacksonville Suns President Peter Bragan Jr., Trent Roberts and his grandfather and Meninak member John Roberts and Meninak President Kent Lindsey during Monday’s Meninak meeting. The program preceded the annual “Meninak Baseball Night with the Suns” with a visit from Bragan Jr., who recites Ernest Thayer’s “Casey at the Bat.”
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