Jumbo Shrimp pitch pregnancy tests for Father's Day

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp had an unusual Father's Day promotion at Thursday's game: The team gave out pregnancy tests.

The promotion, added to the usual Thirsty Thursday celebration, for the team's game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos was labeled the “You Might Be The Father's Day" promotion.

It came the day after Wednesday's “Date Night” promotion.

The team's website explained it like this: The test will let men know if they should return to the Father's Day game on Sunday.

“It will be an evening filled with suspense, intrigue and manila envelopes,” the team said.

Fans had mixed reaction to the surprise giveaway -- a small, plain, brown paper bag containing a pregnancy test.

"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard," Katie Wilson said.

Going too far? Or all in good fun?

"They promote things -- affordable family fun. And that's what it is," Ron Elinoff said.

General Manager Harold Craw told The Florida Times-Union that the idea was pitched as a "tongue-in-cheek" promotion for the Thirsty Thursday crowd, which tends to be young professionals and college students. He said the tests would only be handed to someone who wants one.

Minor league baseball teams have a long history of unusual promotions, including alpaca races (Harrisburg Senators), speed dating night (New Britain Rock Cats) and toilet seat cushion night (Hudson Valley Renegades).

The Jumbo Shrimp played the Blue Wahoos in a double-header Thursday night because Wednesday's game was rained out. And again, Thursday's second game was rained out, so now Friday's game will be a double-header. The team said anyone with Thursday tickets can exchange them at the box office for any remaining 2017 game of equal or lesser value.

Tell us what you think of the Jumbo Shrimp's latest attention-getting promotion in the comments section below.

For other upcoming Jumbo Shrimp promotions, go to jaxshrimp.com