PHOENIX -- Hank "The Ballpark Pup" has officially found a home in Milwaukee. Now it's time to meet the neighbors.
The Brewers announced Sunday that Hank will greet fans in Milwaukee for the first time at the Miller Park team store, Tuesday, March 18 from 7-8 a.m. The team also will be putting their official line of "Hank Gear" on sale at the store.
The Brewers will donate 20 percent of the retail price of all Hank-themed apparel sold to the Wisconsin Humane Society. A limited supply Hank t-shirts, pennants, buttons and stickers arrived at Maryvale Baseball Park over the weekend and have flown off the shelves. The Brewers are also donating 20 percent of "Hank Gear" sales at Maryvale Ballpark to the Arizona Humane Society.
The Brewers will donate 20 percent of the retail price of all Hank-themed apparel sold to the Wisconsin Humane Society.
"There are two questions that everyone has asked from the very first days of Hank's arrival: 'Where will he live?,' and 'Will there be Hank-themed apparel?'" said Brewers chief operating officer Rick Schlesinger. "We're thrilled to be partnering with the Wisconsin and Arizona Humane Societies in helping not only raise funds to benefit the cause, but also elevate awareness for the problem of stray animals in Wisconsin, Arizona and beyond."
Fans will be allowed to line up at the Miller Park store entrance beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. There will be a limit of four t-shirts per person. Fans that purchase a Hank t-shirt will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with "The Ballpark Pup."
Since wandering in to Brewers camp Feb. 17, Hank, who has since been adopted by a Brewers executive, has raised thousands of dollars for the Arizona and Wisconsin Humane Societies by "signing autographs" on the Maryvale Ballpark concourse. He was also the impetus for a pet adoption fair at the Brewers March 8 game against the Royals. Two dogs were adopted that day and several other inquiries were made.
"We couldn't be more grateful to the Brewers for this generous and unexpected gift," said Anne Reed, president & CEO of the Wisconsin Humane Society. "We depend upon community support to help more than 25,000 companion and wild animals every year, and it is astounding and inspiring to us that little Hank will help save the lives of so many homeless animals."
