“I never thought about breaking a record, but since there is one, they’re meant to be broken!” – Jimmy Rollins
This Monday, June 27th, from 11:45 AM -1:00 PM, J-Roll will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “Longest Batted Ball” at Red Bull Ball Park Cranks in Philly.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed down in Philadelphia for the record-breaking event and Jimmy is going to hit baseballs as far as he can down it. As you may already know, Red Bull and Jimmy tried to do this last year but were thwarted by injury. Rollins certainly looks to be good to go this year as he and the Phillies have been red hot over the last month with the Phils owning the best record in Major League Baseball.
The record currently stands at 576 feet, which is 167 feet farther than the deepest part of Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies play. Rollins will be using a special scientifically engineered Red Bull bat designed for him to his specs that will give him the best shot at breaking the record.
“Baseball is a game of tradition, but Red Bull Ball Park Cranks is an exciting opportunity to play the baseball of the future — just for one day — and see what happens when modern advances in materials science and technology meet the power of today’s players,” said Popular Science’s Matt Cokeley.
Rollins has had an incredibly accomplished career. He was the 2007 NL Most Valuable Player, a member of the Phillies 2008 World Series team, a three time NL all star and currently is Philadelphia’s longest tenured athlete. He also still finds time to run his own music label, Bay Sluggas, Inc. J-Roll and Giants ace Tim Lincecum make up Red Bull’s baseball division.
In order to promote the record-breaking event, 576 baseballs will be dropped around the city of Philadelphia. If you find one of the 576 baseballs you can scan the QR code on the ball, go to the website, or text BPC to 99699 for instructions on how you can be a winner.
As a bonus, 11 limited edition BPC shirts will be hidden across Philadelphia with clues tweeted from @redbullphilly and by Jimmy Rollins on Facebook. The first to find each t-shirt instantly wins VIP seating to the event, a meet and greet with Rollins, and autographed trading cards.
Obviously chances to meet J-Roll don’t come around every day so put your game face on! Those that find the baseballs will have a chance to win autographed Jimmy apparel as well as VIP seating but must bring their baseball to the event on Monday, June 27! Activ8social is extremely proud and excited to be a part of this scavenger hunt and the historic Red Bull Ball Park Cranks event.
If you’re in the Philly area make sure to keep an eye out for Ball Park Cranks baseballs and be sure to come out to Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Monday!
UPDATE:
Check out a few highlights from last week’s experiential social media blitz in Philly. Activ8Social raised a whole bunch of awareness across the city of Philadelphia and had a whole bunch of fun doing it too! Flip through our agency Flickr to see more photos from the event or the Philly baseball invasion!
These custom produced and limited edition Red Bull Ball Park Cranks baseballs were strategically distributed all across the city of Philadelphia to generate event awareness. Consumers and fans alike were provided three different methods—QR code, SMS text, and web URL—of accessing the mobile website which included instructions for prize redemption.
Some baseballs were laid out on street corners, parks, and storefronts for the everyday Philadelphian to stumble upon. Other baseballs were placed in the walking path of Philadelphians wearing Phillies gear. Others were given out at Citizens Bank Park to Phillies fans.
All information related to the event, contests, and scavenger hunt were custom designed and posted on J-Roll’s Facebook Page.
@redbullphilly on Twitter was custom branded for the event with the background image and branding below.
This is a screenshot of the t-shirt #10 VIP prize alert on Twitter distributed from @redbullphilly.
After clicking the link in the above tweet from @redbullphilly, this is the photo and location at Citizens Bank Park that appeared on the campaign Foursquare.
Here’s a cool perspective of one the Red Bull BPC clues and Foursquare check-ins courtesy of Activ8Social’s super talented team member Christina Nash … check it out!
Activ8Social also worked with local Phillies bloggers like the Fightins and The 700 Level to activate the event, raise additional awareness, and reach the hardcore fan. This included distributing special clues through the bloggers which required fans to follow @redbullphilly on Twitter, @JimmyRollins11 on Twitter, and J-Roll’s official Facebook Page.
