It's hard to blame anybody who didn't believe it.

Calling a Halloween press conference at a local bar and restaurant to announce the local minor league baseball team would be called the Casper Ghosts?

C'mon.

But it was no joke and now, more than seven months later, the Ghosts - Pioneer League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies and formerly the Casper Rockies - will make their debut on the field on Tuesday in Idaho Falls and at home at Mike Lansing Field on Friday night.

But has the name- and logo-change prompted the outcomes - primarily a new identity - that Warneke and team owner Kevin Haughian were looking for?

"Absolutely," Warneke said this week. "We've got little league teams across the country wearing our stuff. We get calls from all over. (And) this weekend in ESPN the Magazine there's an article about our name change.

"We've developed something that no one else is doing."

That was the idea.

Before, Casper had the same name as and similar logo to its parent club just four hours to the south, which clearly played a role in merchandise sales.

Now there are little league teams called the Ghosts in 16 states and the organization has sold merchandise to fans in 42 states and seven countries - and that's not counting internet sales. Already, the team has made more in merchandise sales than it did in all of last year.

So, with a new identity - to go along with a new entrance, grilling area and a variety of promotions - everyone involved in the organization is excited for a fresh start.

"We added a lot to the whole fan experience this year," Warneke said. "All around, we're going to run a better operation and it's going to be great for all the fans."

A better baseball team to go along with the improved organization wouldn't hurt either.

Bolstered by the fresh look and a dozen returning players, the Ghosts seem more ready to compete in the Pioneer League than they were a year ago when they finished the season 22-53.

The record - which led to attendance figures that merely remained the same as in year's past - wasn't the only problem.

The club received criticism - including some from this publication - for linking alcohol to kids when it unveiled Hobart's Duckbill Draft, a beer that was named after the team's furry purple mascot and depicted the platypus on its logo.

Casper canceled two of its planned promotions - BALCO Bonanza Night and Have a "Ball" at the Ballpark Night - after hearing criticism from those in the baseball community and the public.

But with the new look and new identity, the entire organization can start fresh.

"We hope to expand on (attendance) a lot more," Warneke said. "And with a good product plus a good atmosphere, with some good promotions, I think we have a product for this summer that people would be crazy to not come try it out."

This year's promotions include: Tim Ray Bobblebelly Night - celebrating the team's long-time home radio announcer; Tom Browning Bobblehead Night; an appearance by the famous San Diego Chicken; and five nights that will include post-game fireworks.

And if everything continues to go according to plan, as it has since that Halloween day, at this time next year the Ghosts will be known not just nationally, but on an international stage.

"The next step is to expand it further - to develop a little league program in every state in the country," Warneke said. "And also to expand it overseas. With an organization and the staff we have, that's pretty impossible, but with the help of New Era and our other bigger suppliers, they're going to push it overseas for us if it sells well here in the country."

And all of that has come from one simple press conference that left some in disbelief.

Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at (307) 266-0578 or eric.schmoldt@trib.com.