Baseball

Ah, Summer. Time for picnics, cookouts, and the only thing more American than apple pie - baseball! So this year, hit it out of the park with a fun summer Baseball Party that's sure to be a home run! But before the festivities begin, cover your bases and check out some of these great party ideas that'll guarantee your party will be a hit!

A Pitch is Worth a Thousand Words Score big points with fun Baseball Invitations! Purchase inexpensive toy baseballs and colorful markers to write all the party details on the ball! Make sure you give them time to dry before delivering them - or mailing them in fun packages! If you decide to toss them in the mail, add a splash of color and fill the boxes with colorful tissue paper or confetti - using your favorite team's colors, of course!

Bottom of the ninth? Bases loaded? Then slide into Party City for Baseball Invitations that'll have you back home in no time!

Batter Up! Try some of these creative tips and tricks to get your guests cheering - but be prepared for the party to go into extra innings!

Root, root, root for the home team! Visit Party City for inexpensive Little Slugger balls and bats and turn your backyard into Fenway Park! Divide guests into teams and play a good, old fashioned game of baseball! Or, add a refreshing twist to the game with Water Ball balls and bats instead! Be sure to provide stands for guests who'd rather cheer on their favorite players and put someone in charge of the "scoreboard" - no cheating!

Set up concession stands in the backyard for all the popcorn, peanuts and Cracker Jack baseball fans can handle! Set up tables with festive umbrellas for each fun food, and use individual bags for popcorn and peanuts! Don't forget coolers full of ice cream bars, ice cream sandwiches - oh, and cold beverages, too!

Gather the team together for a televised baseball game! Provide finger food and fun cocktails and cheer your favorite team to victory! Or, if the game is nearby, take them out to the ballgame, take them out to the crowd! Give guests disposable cameras to bring with them to catch all of the action - and the great memories!

Invite guests to come dressed in their favorite team's colors! Hand out fun awards for the Best Use of Team Colors or Most Creative Outfit! Awards can be as simple and fun as Stik-Ums, Wiffle Ball Sets, Batter Up Baseball games or even giant Foam Fingers from Party City!

Check out Party City for great Sports Decorations and deck your halls in your favorite team colors right down to the table and plasticware! If you don't have a favorite, be an All-American and celebrate with red, white and blue!

Create a giant cutout of your favorite sports figures - or even just a baseball player and cheerleader, if you wish! Leave off the heads and let guests pose for a fun sports pic! Or check out Party City for fun cutouts that are picture perfect!

Fan Favorites Keep hungry fans fed by serving up lots of great concession stand food, like hot dogs, brats, nachos, soft pretzels, pizza, chips, popcorn - and even snow cones! Provide shaved ice and different flavored syrup so guests can get creative and invent a flavor of their very own! Offer a variety of cold beverages to quench their thirst and serve them in frosted mugs from Party City! Don't forget the silly straws!

Get Your Souvenirs Here! Give guests lots of great reminders of the day by visiting Party City for fun souvenirs, like summer sipper sports bottles, baseball car magnets, fuzzy baseballs and whistles! Or send guests back to home plate with a baseball cap, t-shirt, bumper sticker or pennant of their favorite baseball team!

Or, if the way to your fans' hearts is through their stomachs, give them Baseball Sugar Cookies for a sweet treat! Bake several round sugar cookies and decorate with white icing (and red for the ball stitching)! Batter up!

MVP Awards Make sure your guests know that they were the Most Valuable Players of the party with fun MVP Thank Yous! Create the cover of a Sports Page from the newspaper and show them that they made the front page - with the Sports Cutout Photo from the party! Include your thanks in the "article" and let them read all about it!

Or play it safe with great Baseball Thank Yous from Party City to show your Major League appreciation!