TAMPA - It's always Hammer time somewhere. Saturday, St. Petersburg is the place.
MC Hammer will perform at Tropicana Field following the Tampa Bay Rays game against the Toronto Blue Jays as part of the team's postgame Summer Concert Series.
The rapping preacher promises to give Rays fans a memorable experience.
''The material will be classic MC Hammer. There will be a ton of dancing, high energy and a lot of fun,'' he said during a phone interview. ''My shows are always interactive.''
A native of Oakland, Calif., MC Hammer was a ball boy for the Oakland Athletics, where he danced during breaks in the game, and earned the nickname ''Hammer'' for his resemblance to home run leader ''Hammerin' '' Hank Aaron.
''The [Milwaukee] Brewers' Pedro Garcia was the first one to say I looked like the Hammer,'' he said. ''There's tons of stories from the A's. People were on edge and wanted to win at all costs.''
An avid baseball fan, Hammer regularly attends A's and San Francisco Giants games. In addition to keeping a personal blog and overseeing his online dance social networking Web site, DanceJam.com, he also blogs for Major League Baseball.
''Performing at a baseball field has more significance for because I am a huge baseball fan,'' he said. ''I don't work to be popular. I just like being good at what I do, and bringing some entertainment and happiness.''
Hammer is tight lipped about whether he will perform the National Anthem or during the seventh-evening stretch at the Rays game.
''There will be some surprises,'' he said. ''Come out to enjoy yourself. It will certainly be Hammer time.''
Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832 or shoye@tampatrib.com.
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