The Omaha Storm Chasers, Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, are the latest minor league baseball team to adopt a local food item as a temporary team name. For one game on June 9, the Storm Chasers will become the Omaha Runzas. Runzas—which also go by the names bierock,
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.
33 MiLB teams to feature Spanish-language brands in 2018
Minor League Baseball teams in 33 cities will adopt Spanish-language promotional identities throughout the upcoming season as part of the league’s “Copa de la Diversión” (“Fun Cup”) initiative. MiLB introduced the program in four markets late last season, when the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s played as the Reyes de Plata
Corpus Christi Hooks honor Navy with Blue Ghosts promotion
The Corpus Christi Hooks, double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, bucked the trend in minor league baseball by announcing a temporary promotional identity NOT based on a local food item. (The Corpus Christi Whataburgers?) Instead, the Hooks will pay tribute to their local Naval heritage with the nickname Corpus Christi
Phillies classic powder blues will return in 2018
The Philadelphia Phillies will wear throwback powder-blue uniforms for “select Thursday home games” in 2018, per an announcement from the team. A close look at the Phils’ schedule reveals that there are eight Thursday games in Philadelphia this season, including their home opener April 5, so based on the wording
Hartford Yard Goats to play a game as Steamed Burgers
The Hartford Yard Goats, double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, are the latest minor league team to adopt a promotional food-based identity. Continuing a trend masterfully set by the wildly successful Fresno Grizzlies’ and their alternate Tacos identity back in 2015, the Yard Goats announced that they would play a
Nice. Rangers backup goalie wears #69 McBackup jersey
The number 69 gets a lot of attention on social media. Every time it’s mentioned, it seems to garner a big response. As well it should. The number suggests teamwork and cooperation and mutually shared goals—perfect for a sports jersey. It’s a number that makes everyone feel good, a real
Norwegian curling pants are on the button again
With the Winter Olympics underway in the Republic of Korea, it’s time for what has quickly become a quadrennial tradition: checking in on the stylings of curling standout, the team from Norway. Curling competition got underway before the official opening ceremony, and will last for over two weeks. Curling, “the
Kalamazoo Wings to wear Grateful Dead-inspired uniforms
The ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings, an affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, will wear jerseys featuring iconic imagery of the Grateful Dead February 10. Design elements found on the jerseys include the dancing bears from the 1973 album Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice); the lightning skull logo from the 1976 album
Durham Bulls unveil new uniforms, alternate logo
The Durham Bulls’ unveiled their 2018 uniform set yesterday, including a new “Bull City” alternate logo. The new logo features the classic bull from the team’s longstanding branding, with the word “City” added inside. Designer Brian Begley, quoted in a statement, said this about creating the new look for a
Little League World Series unveils 2018 logos
Little League World Series events will take place at seven sites around the United States this summer, with children ages 10 t0 16 taking part in various levels of baseball and softball competitions. The events will feature teams of young players from around the world, all of them wearing uniforms
The Story Behind Patriot Pat from the Cartoonist Who Created Him
In 1960, Boston Globe cartoonist Phil Bissell, working for $25 a day, was handed an assignment that would change his life—and the lives of fans of the brand-new AFL football team coming to Boston. “Sports editor Jerry Nason came to me and he said, ‘They’ve decided to call the team
Amid transition, Colorado Springs Sky Sox celebrate 45 years
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a franchise facing substantial changes in the near future, so it seems that their 2018 “Cheers to 45 More Years” promotion is as much a way to put fans at ease as it is a celebration of the team’s history. The Sky Sox will