
On Wednesday afternoon the Hartford Yard Goats unveiled "new REAL concession items for the season." The Double-A Colorado Rockies affiliate emphasized the "real" because, the week prior, they immersed themselves in a prank.
Farewell, Float Your Goat, we never knew ye. It was always a joke, but so many wanted to believe.
As with so many things Minor League Baseball, some context is necessary. In the lead-up to Opening Day, teams make a sport of unveiling attention-getting food items. The Trenton Thunder -- members of the Draft League -- announced their stomach-churning "Swine Brew" on March 25, and this in particular gave Yard Goats general manager Mike Abramson an idea.
"The impetus was seeing other teams doing the grossest possible combinations of food," said Abramson. "[Float Your Goat] was just a funny bit of one-upmanship to take things as far as possible. Something beyond imagination and visually staggering. I was surprised by the number of people who thought it was real, or who were joking that it was real. Didn't expect as much debate as it got. Across three platforms, over two million impressions."
Float Your Goat entered the chat on March 27 and over the next week the team milked it for all it was worth. On March 31, after several days of straight-faced interactions on social media, the Yard Goats addressed "the thousands of questions and concerns regarding the 'Float Your Goat' hot dog sandwich." By this, they meant that they were taking the joke even further.
"You've asked, and we have listened," the Yard Goats posted. "We're proud to announce we WILL be offering a vegetarian version of this treat. The Veggie Float Your Goat will include a tofu veggie dog, submerged in a glass of oat milk."
Finally, on April Fools' Day, the Yard Goats fessed up to their fooling.
With Opening Day rapidly approaching -- the Yard Goats start their season at their home of Dunkin' Park on Friday -- it is now time to focus on the real.
And, yes, while it may not be as eye-popping as the Float Your Goat, the above tweet does indeed include a meatloaf donut sandwich. When you play at a ballpark named after an iconic donut chain, such items are a must.

Abramson, summing up the saga, said that he "hopes people will be quietly relieved at the real food we'll actually have." And for those who can't give up the dream of consuming a solids-in-liquids concession item: Please note that yesterday the Trenton Thunder doubled down on their Swine Brew concoction. April Fools'?