When you take all of the multi-faceted natural and cultural heritage that makes the town of Danville, Virginia, unique and roll it up into one minor league baseball brand, what you get is a menacing, futuristic version of an animal widely recognized for being cuddly and adorable—with a touch of
Author: Paul Caputo
Paul Caputo is a grown man who collects plastic ice cream helmet sundaes from minor league baseball stadiums because he likes logos that much. Paul is the host of the Baseball By Design podcast and he is the author of the first book published by SportsLogos.net, The Story Behind the Nickname: The Origins of 100 Classic, Contemporary, and Wacky Minor League Baseball Team Names (also available on Kindle). He can be found on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky at @baseballbydesign, and he maintains the Countdown to Spring Training on Facebook. Paul is a Philadelphia sports fan, but he's not so bad.
Tulsa Drillers to Wear Patch Honoring Victims of Race Massacre
The Tulsa Drillers, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will wear a patch for the first month of their upcoming season to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. At the end of May, the jerseys will be auctioned to benefit Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street
Tip of the Cap to a collection that spans four decades
“Andy from Pennsylvania” has a collection of baseball caps that has earned attention from curious strangers who travel from out of state to see it, the History Channel, local media, and minor league teams that have invited him to display it during games. He has been collecting baseball caps of
Coastal Plain League adds Spartanburgers to menu
A collegiate wood-bat summer league that already features the Savannah Bananas, Macon Bacon, and Tri-City Chili Peppers (not to mention the Lexington County Blowfish and Morehead City Marlins) added another food-based team yesterday. The Spartanburgers—who resisted the urge to capitalize the B in burger—will represent the city of Spartanburg, South
Beloit Snappers push back rebrand, give Snappy reprieve
The Beloit Snappers have been saying since last summer that they were going to have a new name to go along with their new stadium in 2021, going as far as announcing finalists in their name-the-team contest. But the Beloit Cheese Balls, Polka Pike, Supper Clubbers, Sky Carp, or Moo
Appy League unveils Bluefield Ridge Runners
The collegiate wood bat Appalachian League resumed its flurry of new brand announcements this morning with the unveiling of the Bluefield Ridge Runners, named for a historic train. Per the team: “The new Ridge Runners name of the team is reflective of the rich railroad history of the Bluefield area.
Appy League’s Kingsport Axmen pay tribute to Daniel Boone
In 1775, Daniel Boone and 35 axmen began clearing the forests of eastern Tennessee, in what would later become the town of Kingsport, to create the Wilderness Road, one of two major routes used by western settlers at the time. Since then, portions of the trail have been preserved in
Appy League introduces Pulaski River Turtles
Just as the world of baseball branding is set to lose one turtle-themed brand, another is introduced. We know that the Single-A Beloit Snappers will have a new name in 2021, but as of this morning, the collegiate level Appalachian League gives us the Pulaski River Turtles, formerly the Pulaski
Greenville Flyboys take off in Appalachian League rebrand
We’re halfway through a parade of ten Appalachian League rebrands, with the fifth announcement in four days coming today: The erstwhile Greenville Reds are now the Greenville Flyboys, a tribute to a historic airfield that existed on the site where the team’s stadium stands now. “Pioneer Park, Tusculum University, literally
Appy League introduces Elizabethton River Riders
The Elizabethton River Riders are the fourth of ten new identities in the works for Appalachian League teams. The team announced its new identity, which was created in house by Major League Baseball, this morning. The nickname draws on the affinity that residents of Elizabethton, Tennessee, have for recreating on
New Appy League team Johnson City Doughboys pays homage to WW1 soldiers
The Johnson City Doughboys are the third of ten Appalachian League teams to announce rebrands this offseason. The Doughboys nickname draws on patriotic pride, and specifically pays homage to a “Doughboys” statue, the only of its kind in the state of Tennessee, located near the team’s stadium. The term Doughboys
Appy League introduces Bristol State Liners in flurry of rebrands
The Appalachian League baseball team that plays in the Twin Cities of Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, heretofore the Bristol Pirates, is reviving a century-old nickname of one of the cities’ previous teams. The original Bristol State Liners made their Appalachian League debut in 1921 and played for five seasons.