Lehigh Valley IronPigs to play as Steelworkers

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies in the International League, will adopt an alternate brand that pays tribute to the industry that inspired their permanent identity. The IronPigs, named for the pig iron that is forged in the steel mills of eastern Pennsylvania, will play as the Steelworkers for one game this season.

The history of the Lehigh Valley has its roots in the steel industry. In particular, Bethlehem Steel was founded in 1857 and was one of the world’s most significant producers of steel until it closed in 2003. While it has been shuttered for nearly a quarter century, the company left an indelible mark on the region.

“There is perhaps nothing more synonymous with the Lehigh Valley’s history than steel,” the team said in a statement. “During the early 1900s, steel mills dotted the greater Lehigh Valley, helping to produce the infrastructure necessary to help America usher in a golden age. Steel from the eponymous Bethlehem Steel was used for the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Rockefeller Center, and even the Golden Gate Bridge.”

The IronPigs will play in custom uniforms, with a brand composed of metallic grays and the distinctive glowing orange of pig iron that has been melted at temperatures of thousands of degrees. The cap evokes protective eyewear worn by steelworkers, reflecting orange sparks from the forging process.

The Steelworkers will take to the field May 10.