Beyond the Scoreboard: Tourists become 'Asheville Hippies' for Thirsty Thursday

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Having some fun for a great cause will be theme when the Asheville Tourists host the Greenville Drive in a first-place showdown at McCormick Field on Thirsty Thursday.

The Tourists will transform into the “Asheville Hippies,” wearing far-out, customized jerseys for the game with a 7:05 p.m. start.

The promotion was a big hit last year when the two teams met, and once again the game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefitting Vs. Cancer, an organization that helps local patients.

(Photo courtesy of Asheville Tourists)

Fans can bid on the jerseys at AshevilleHippies.com. The bidding closes at noon Sunday.

The Drive and the Tourists were the two worst teams in the South Atlantic League in the first half of the season, but are tied for first in the second-half division race.

The Thirsty Thursday game begins an eight-game homestand for Asheville (14-10).

The Tourists bounced back from a four-game losing streak to win three of four in their most recent series at Greensboro.

The slugging offense pounded out 14 home runs in the three wins vs. Greensboro.

Last year’s “Hippies” game promotion was a big hit with fans, and the team raised $2,200 in jersey sales to benefit the Asheville Tourists/Eblen Charities Children’s Fund, a non-profit that buys shoes for children in Buncombe County.

Asheville decided to bring back the Hippies in 2018 in large part due to the success of the promotion both in the community and the amount of money it raised.

“Last season we raised over $2,200 for the Asheville Tourists Children’s Fund,” said Tourists president Brian DeWine. “We decided to poke a little fun at ourselves and we’re happy to do it again.”

In addition to the jersey auction, Asheville Hippies t-shirts, caps, and other Hippies merchandise are available for fans to purchase at TheTouristsTrap.com.