Bait and Switch: Gwinnett Rebrands as Stripers

After deciding to rebrand, the triple-A Atlanta Braves affiliate in Gwinnett, Georgia, offered fans six choices in their name-the-team contest last May: Big Mouths, Buttons, Gobblers, Hush Puppies, Lambchops, and Sweet Teas. After a six-month process, the name that was chosen from that list was … none of those.

The fan vote determined that Big Mouths was the most popular option, but the team, working with the prolific design firm Brandiose, announced today that they will heretofore be known as the Stripers. The reason for the change, according to the team, is that “it was determined that the Big Mouths moniker was not fitting with the ultimate vision of the team.”

“Big Mouths was the inspiration that ultimately led to the Stripers,” said Vice President and General Manager North Johnson. “We felt focusing on the striped bass would better reflect our community, with Lake Lanier known as a premier destination for striped bass fishing and located just a short drive away from Coolray Field. The Stripers name perfectly fits the region while also having a timeless baseball feel.”

The Stripers’ home and road uniforms will include navy pinstripes on the jerseys and pants. Alternate uniforms will feature a solid green jersey, in addition to a retro jersey modeled after the Braves’ 1970s blue-sleeved tops (the jersey Hank Aaron was wearing when he hit his 715th home run).

Gwinnett becomes the first team owned by the Atlanta Braves to be named anything other than the Braves. The change comes after nine seasons as the Gwinnett Braves, before which the team had played from 1966 to 2008 as the Richmond (Virginia) Braves. Gwinnett’s new color scheme will retain their parent club’s navy and red, while adding “Striper Green” in a significant way.