The West Michigan Whitecaps, Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, will change their name to the Beer City Bung Hammers for one game this season. The name change is a nod to the Whitecaps hometown of Grand Rapids’ status as one of the premier beer cities in the US—they were
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.
Cyclones to play as Brooklyn Bagels
The Brooklyn Cyclones, short-season Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets, have joined the food-based alternate identity fray. For one game, the Cyclones will wear uniforms highlighting that most New York of local specialties, the bagel. The logo, created by Brandiose, features an everything bagel slathered with cream cheese, with
Wilmington Blue Rocks introduce Mr. Celery uniforms
The Wilmington Blue Rocks unveiled uniforms featuring a longstanding alternate brand, a character named Mr. Celery. The uniforms feature a close crop of the Mr. Celery logo on the front, and the character’s signature catch phrase “Woo hoo!” on the back. The origins of the character, who has nothing to
Dayton Dragons to wear promotional jersey for first time ever
The Dayton Dragons don’t need help selling tickets. They will not be holding a Star Wars Night with promotional jerseys or rebranding for one game as a local food item (the Dayton Square-Cut Pizzas, maybe?). The Dragons, a Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, have sold out every game in their
Fightin Phils play annual morning game as Reading Whoopies
In just about an hour, the Reading Fightin Phils will play their 17th annual morning game, and for the second year in a row, they’ll do so in an alternate, food-based identity, the Reading Whoopies. The history of Whoopie Pies in the region traces back to 18th-century German settlers, who
New Amarillo baseball team announces name finalists
In 2019, Amarillo, Texas, will play host to affiliated minor league baseball for the first time since the Amarillo Gold Sox left town in 1982. The city will welcome the franchise that is currently playing its last season as the Double-A San Antonio Missions. San Antonio will become home to
New book from SportsLogos.net explores minor league nicknames
The first book published by SportsLogos.net, The Story Behind the Nickname, tells the story behind 100 nicknames of minor league baseball teams, from collegiate summer level to Triple-A. Minor league baseball team names tell the stories of towns throughout North America. Nicknames like T-Bones, Crosscutters, RubberDucks, Wingnuts, and Isotopes—to name
Single-A Giants to play as San Jose Churros
Our ongoing coverage of baseball players dressed as food items continues with news from the California League: The High-A San Jose Giants will play a game next month as the San Jose Churros. Like the city of San Jose itself, churros have Spanish roots—the city went by the name El
Sea Dogs commemorate Memorial Day with Iwo Jima jerseys
The Portland Sea Dogs will honor fallen soldiers on Memorial Day by wearing uniforms depicting a famous World War II image. The iconic photo, “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima,” which was taken February 23, 1945, features six US Marines on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima—notable because
Connecticut Tigers to rebrand as New England Lobster Rolls for one night
The Connecticut Tigers, short-season single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, are dipping their baby tiger toes into the world of wacky minor league branding. The team, one of fewer and fewer minor league baseball teams still named for their parent club, enlisted the services of Brandiose to come up with a
Forrest Gump Night in Montgomery to feature Greenbow Biscuits
The Montgomery Biscuits, Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, will commemorate Forest Gump Night with fauxback uniforms. The team will be named for Forrest Gump’s fictitious hometown of Greenbow, Alabama, and wear uniforms meant to emulate the style of 1950s-era minor league baseball. The logo, designed by Brandiose, plays
Buffalo Bisons reignite our love for food-based baseball promos
Just when you thought that temporary food-based brands in minor league baseball had completely played themselves out, along comes the perfect team with the perfect promotion to suck us back in. Not since the trend debuted with the Fresno Tacos all the way back in 2015 or perhaps the Lehigh