Watching Gary Coleman’s “Arnold Jackson” character visit Mr. Horton’s Bike Shop felt less awkward than seeing the former child star step into the batter’s box at last night’s Madison Mallards’ game. Just hours after signing a one game contract with the Northwoods League (summer collegiate baseball) team to appear at their “80’s Night” promotion, as HOME RUN DERBY reported yesterday, the 4-foot-8 Coleman strolled up to the plate to lead off the bottom of the first for the Mallards.

The Diff’rent Strokes star never got to see a pitch, the umpire discovered Coleman’s bat had too much pinetar and was filled with bouncy balls, awful acting ensues and the 40-year-old finds himself ejected from the game and headed to the closest bank to immediately cash that appearance fee check.

Video of Coleman’s at bat, via HOME RUN DERBY after the jump.

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Minor league and collegiate summer baseball promotions are all over the map. They go from appearances by washed-up stars of the past to out-of-whack bobbleheads, and anything else you cant think of to get people in the seats. The CAPITAL TIMES in Madison, WI, gives us the latest in bizarre promotions.

Customers of the collegiate summer league Madison Mallards ate bugs to get free tickets.

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