By Chris Mayhew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FLORENCE - The Florence Freedom will bobble just like the big leagues with a Tom Browning doll giveaway, and Florence fans might find themselves face to face with Elvis.

The inaugural season of professional baseball in Florence will be chock-full of wacky promotions and giveaways ranging from cicada catching and "Dress like Elvis" nights to Graeter's Ice Cream Day.

Fans who already went to Freedom games in Hamilton last year, including Joe Shotwell Sr., of Burlington, already know what minor league baseball is all about: having fun.

His wife, Sharon, won best dressed at last year's Country Western night.

"She had on a red, white and blue cowgirl outfit," he said.

Shotwell is a season ticket holder whose daughter Shannon, a junior at Northern Kentucky University, is engaged to Freedom center fielder Justin RahSchulte.

Shotwell still goes to Reds games sometimes, but goes to minor league games because tickets and concessions are cheaper.

Shotwell said he goes for the baseball and his wife knows all about the themed nights and giveaways.

Erin England, a team spokesperson, said many people from Northern Kentucky probably aren't accustomed to what minor league baseball is like.

"I think the fans will have a lot of fun with it," she said.

Individual ticket prices range from $5 lawn seating to a $9 VIP ticket. For information: (859) 594-4487 or www.florencefreedom.com.

E-mail cmayhew@enquirer.com