The Milwaukee Brewers’ old-time Barrelman logo will garner plenty of attention this Spring Training, as the “Design a YOUniform” contest resulted in the Barrelman taking top billing.
A classic Barrelman-heavy blue-and-cream design by Ben Peters of Richfield, Minn., was announced Sunday by Milwaukee closer John Axford at the Brewers On Deck event as the chosen uniform of the three finalists.
The top three designs were selected out of 700 entries in the contest.
Peters places the Barrelman on the jersey sleeve overtop a newly designed logo that features an outline of the state of Wisconsin and some barley. By pairing current team colors with a more old-school looking font, the uniform itself has a classic feel, even if the cap has a bit more character with the face of the Barrelman squarely adorning the blue lids. The design was submitted with two options for the main “B” font, the Brewers told SportsLogos.net. The “B” seen above is the final choice, while the “B” below was the secondary choice.
The design will first be worn on Friday, March 22, during a Spring Training game against the Cubs at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix. The look will take to Miller Park on March 30 against the White Sox in an exhibition game two days before the regular-season home opener.
Peters will get airfare and tickets for two, plus $1,500 to cover expenses, to attend the March 22 contest in Phoenix. Along with 10 T-shirts and hats with the winning design, he can choose a game-worn uniform and cap from any player the day his uniform was worn.
Merchandise featuring the winning design will also be available at the Brewers team stores in Phoenix and at Miller Park.
What started as a simple fan interaction project last fall turned into something much bigger, with the onslaught of submissions surprising even the Brewers and enticing them to extend the winning uniform from just a Spring Training game in Phoenix to an exhibition game in Milwaukee’s home Miller Park two days before the regular-season opener.
Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest covering news, culture, sports design and entertainment. He has written on uniforms and sports logos for TIME Magazine, Sports Illustrated and more. You can follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb. Visit his website here.
Steve Cherry
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 10:52The Milwaukee Brewers are a AAA franchise now?
AlMaFI
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 22:36It's just for a spring training game.
Kevin Joseph
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 10:55That script is downright sexy.
Chris Oglesby
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 10:59Love the barrelman hat and alternate logos. The script is gorgeous. Don't like the single strip across the shoulders. I would have preferred a better striping pattern on the jersey.
Alex Romanelli
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:03that hat is sexy
Swiss
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:04Did you noticed the capital B on the jersey? It differs from the capital B on the design. I liked more the original design.
Matt Jones
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12:30Yes, the B is different than the design. Looking closer, it looks exactly like the Atlanta Braves' B design. Google it and see!
Swiss
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 17:24Maybe someone in the Brewers franchise wanted something with a link to the old Braves' history when they were playing in Milwaukee so changed the B design.
StoutGuy29
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 13:27I noticed that right away, I'm curious why they switched the "B" style at all, and especially to one that so clearly harkens to the Braves script
Swiss
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 17:22I'm with you in the same question.
Tim Newcomb
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 16:54I just checked with the Brewers on this and they say the design was submitted with two options for the "B." The one chosen is different than the one on the original PDF.
J.B.
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 17:54I liked the original "B" better, too. IMHO Barrel-Man head for the cap logo is goofy. Sleeve patch is really nice, but a stylized German/beer script "M" for Milwaukee would've been better.
AlMaFI
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 22:37Agreed. The original B is outstanding.
kurt
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:04nice choice. the script and number style definitely make this. very cool.
Matthew Schilling
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:05Love this uniform, all the way from the barrelman logo to the number font! Awesome look!
Travis Gagnon
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:20I love it!!
Troy Griggsby
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:21The script is gorgeous and the Barrelman sleeve patch is perfect.
James Rosenthal
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:35sexy sexy sexy look of this uni. and i gota get that hat
Travis Gagnon
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 15:31What font did they use for this, this is sooo cool!!
saule wright
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:45It's a good look, I'd kill the subscript Line but the rest of it is great.
BuffaloBillyJ
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:55Yay, another navy blue and gold design. The first submission with royal blue and yellow should have won. I like the script on the winning jersey, but the color scheme and hat are just awful.
Blake
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 19:24The font and script are excellent. The color scheme is nice; but it's been done, kind of like a cliché. They should have gone with green, similar to the Packers and the Bucks or perhaps be a bit more groundbreaking. But for what it's worth, it'll suffice. The barrel man logo is too dated and cartoonish. The Baltimore Orioles and the Cincinnati Reds have a similar scheme. I know it's part of their history and represents the brand; but it looks out-of-place compared to the other teams. Same goes for the Brewers, in this case. Overall, I like the uniform; but have mixed emotions.
Aaron
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 16:57I wonder how this uniform would look with royal blue?
Jack
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 16:55Yeah, I liked the yellow one more
Joshua Desautels
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12:18I liked this one the best. http://news.sportslogos.net/2013/01/17/8260/screen-shot-2013-01-17-at-1-55-14-pm/
Sanford Bell
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12:36Very fitting script for a beer town
Paul Pelkonen
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 15:19$1500 and travel a good deal for a design that could be worth millions in licensing fees and sports merchandise.
Austin Harbeson
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 15:30This should be the permanent look for them.
Austin Harbeson
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 15:30This should be the permanent look for them.
Frankie Yankee Schnook
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 15:57I love it its not tacky at all looks retro nice blend, well done to the winner, he deserves it
Brian Jud
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 15:59Only a couple exhibition games? Should get at least one regular season game, though I guess that wasn't the contest.
Aaron
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 16:06Like the uniform design. Kind of has that old Chicago White Sox look to it. The caps, better suited for a BP cap. They should try adding the classic MB glove logo to the cap instead. Mind you the current M logo would go well with this.
ingmar66
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 17:12Like it a lot, but the B on the design was better, more beery with a German touch. I guess using that Braves B makes it easier to produce the shirts. That hat should be a permanent road hat or something, I love the Barrelman! The winner deserves far more than 1500 bucks, travel and some shirts. On one hand it is great to involve the fans in designing stuff (especially if it looks this good) but professional designers are put out of work by actions like this. Are the Brewers very commited to their fans or very shrewd from a business point of view?
Thomas O'Grady
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 17:40Minor League Branding Firms (and you know who are) TAKE NOTICE. Here's a clearly obvious example of how to create a "fun uniform", how to make it look "professional" --- and done WITHOUT the use of overdrawn illustrations and glaringly over--obvious conceptual ideas forced down the consumers throats. This is the right way to go folks!
Georges
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 18:32It seems to me the Brewers have the nicest uniforms in the Major Leagues. This is why.
Nascarfan4
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 19:40Yay! My vote actually was worth it!
AlMaFI
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 22:38ditto.
Keegan
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 21:03If the Brewers went back to the old glove mb and use this as an alternate, I would be a very happy camper.
Aaron
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 22:48Exactly my point. Obviously as a home alternate. But as mentioned, the current cap fits well with this uniform set.
AlMaFI
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 22:40Very pleased with the results of this contest!!! This is exactly what the team was looking for in a temporary one-time uni--something fun and memorable, yet connected to history. Roll out the Barrelman! Zing Boom Tarrarrel!
Cameron
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 00:47Not a fan... could have done better
Matthew Talbot
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 09:17I like everything but the hat.
Matthew Talbot
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 09:17I like everything but the hat.
Jumbotron
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 15:38I like the jersey (colors-script-design) the cap is not my favorite Congratulations!
Ben Peters
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 12:22I want to thank Chris Creamer for advertising the contest here. Otherwise I never would have known about it. Thanks for all the comments on the script. Yes, I knew the cap was a big risk but I thought it was fun. I appreciate the comments about the 1st "B" but I thought the new "B" is a lot more graceful and elegant and just looks better over all. I didn't think at all about the Braves "B". I see now it is similar, but it is quite different if you compare. I didn't like the lower left portion of my first "B", I thought it stuck out too much. And at first I thought it was clever how the top part of the "B" matched the end of the tail swash, but then I thought it was too repetitive. I also want to thank the Brewers, it was a fun contest, a great experience, they were extremely gracious hosts. First class all the way. -Ben