Frederick Keys, Lynchburg Hillcats to wear Hey Arnold! jerseys

Minor league baseball jerseys based on pop culture are a dime a dozen these days, but every once in a while, one stands out. The Frederick Keys, High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, will take to the field on 90s Nickelodeon Night Friday, June 17, in jerseys featuring the title character of the quirky TV show Hey Arnold! To complete the effect, the visiting Lynchburg Hillcats will also participate, wearing jerseys featuring Arnold’s friend, Gerald.

Get Ready Everyone! 90s Nickelodeon Night is Coming Back!!! https://t.co/H9CuIbab2C pic.twitter.com/GpUWrl3Ea2
— Frederick Keys (@FrederickKeys) May 18, 2016

The quirky TV show Hey Arnold! had something of a cult following in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and plans to revive the series with a two-hour movie are in the works.

The theme night at the ballpark will feature lots of Hey Arnold! activities. Per the team’s website:

There will also be a number of special surprises and Hey Arnold! themed games throughout the night. Nymeo Field will be renamed “Quigley Stadium” the Dugout Dogs stand will be known as “Mickey’s All Natural Casings Dog Pound and the Angus Grill will be renamed “Green’s Meats for nine innings.
For on-field games, there will be a Sugar Chunks box top rip-off, a Stinky Peterson pudding eating contest and a Jolly Olly man ice cream race. Fans can also identify the hairstyles of their favorite show characters during “who in the hair is that”, answer Hey Arnold! trivia and take part in the Helga Shrine Cam.

This is the Keys’ second 90s Nickelodeon. The Rugrats jerseys they wore last year also generated a considerable amount of attention.

With pop culture-themed jerseys becoming so prominent, teams have had to up the ante to stand out, and I’d say that this one does the trick. It’s kitschy and retro, and most importantly, it doesn’t feel like it was pulled from some template, and it doesn’t feel like the same tired promos we see over and over.