Altoona Curve throw it back to 1893 with Mud Turtles alternate

The Altoona Curve, Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, will commemorate their hometown’s baseball heritage with an alternate identity that harkens back to the late 19th century, the Altoona Mud Turtles. The original Altoona Mud Turtles, named for a small species of turtle that lives on the ground layer of lakes and ponds, played in the Pennsylvania State League in 1893. That team went 57-41 and finished in third place with a roster that featured players like Piggy Ward, Jim Handiboe, and Punch Devinney.

Of course, that first Mud Turtles team played long before baseball clubs had logos, so the present-day team in Altoona has reimagined what a Mud Turtles identity might look like. The new Mud Turtles brand features a kid-like mud turtle diving into a splatter of mud to make what looks to be a dramatic catch.