Any time I read about some intrepid soul venturing out to see as many baseball games as possible, I get a little bit jealous. But when I read about an RV that will be hitting 60+ minor-league ballparks across the United States, and also chowing on pancakes, I just have to write about it.
It seems that the International House of Pancakes will be celebrating a 50th anniversary soon. To share the wealth, they’ve loaded up that beautiful machine you see above, and they’ll be driving cross-country bringing breakfast joy to the bus leagues. They’ll be driving over 8,000 miles before it’s all said and done, and in this time of spiraling gas prices, that’s true dedication.
The Pancake Express (my choice of name) will hand out T-shirts, sponsor games, and enter fans in a sweepstakes as part of the celebration of their half-century of “breakfast any time”. As a guy who has a five-year-old with a pancake jones, I’m most excited about the 2-for-1 coupons they’ll be offering, as well as the nine new pancake flavors. In addition, the “Most Valuable Pancake” mascot will be along for the ride, so I’m really, really hoping they make it to Montgomery, AL so the Pancake can meet the Biscuit.
We do know the first few stops of the tour. Jacksonville Suns (Dodgers) fans will get the first taste:
May 31/June 1 – Mobile BayBears @ Jacksonville Suns (7:05/3:05pm). The Suns are giving away emergency lamps on Saturday and having wooden bat day for the first 1,500 kids through the gates on Sunday.
June 2 – Rome Braves @ Charleston RiverDogs 7:05pm.
June 5/6 – Pawtucket Red Sox @ Charlotte Knights (both 7:15 starts). Might Justin Masterson pitch? Sweeter than syrup!
June 7/8 – Charlotte Knights @ Durham Bulls (7:05/5:05). The Knights are going to be eating a LOT of pancakes, if I’m any judge.
June 12-14 – Charlotte Knights @ Norfolk Tides (Thursday and Friday 7:15 starts) and Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Saturday 7:15). See what I mean about the Knights? It’s like they’re following the Pancake Express on purpose.
June 16/17 – Charlotte Knights @ Richmond Braves (7pm on Monday, double-header starting at 1pm on Tuesday). Getting mighty greedy, Knights. That’s all I can say.
Starting Monday, IHOP will be running a sweepstakes on their website, and putting up photos and tracking the progress of the Pancake Express. Check back to see when they’ll be in your neighborhood.
Oh, and please pass the syrup?
Bus Leagues Baseball 
Posted by Tripp on May 29, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Might want to recheck that schedule or the game times. Are you sure its not May 31st in Jacksonville and June 1st in Charleston?
Charleston is playing on Sunday at 4 PM and at 7 PM on Monday. Just checking because I got tickets to the Sunday RiverDogs game and that would be great to try and get pancakes to eat during the game. Man I can only hope they have the Belgian waffles available.
Posted by Extra P. on May 29, 2008 at 7:07 pm
The way it looks right now is what I could cobble together from talking to the Communications Director at IHOP and double-checking it against the individual team promotional calendars.
As for eating pancakes during the game, you might have to chase down the mascot, because I think they’re just bringing the coupons.
Posted by willenvelope on May 29, 2008 at 8:25 pm
LOL at the thought of the Pancake meeting the Biscuit.