Beneath the surface of the tidy identity of one of minor league baseball’s most storied teams lies a decidedly untidy, twisting, turning history—or rather two separate histories that converged under the banner of today’s Birmingham Barons, Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. To start with, the team’s identity is untidy
Category: Minor League Baseball
Albuquerque Isotopes to hold Better Call Saul promotion
The Albuquerque Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, already have an identity based on a TV show—a March 2001 episode of The Simpsons. On August 6 of this coming season, the Isotopes will take to the field donning the identity of another TV show. They’ll wear jerseys featuring Albuquerque’s
2016 Fresno Tacos promotion features a twist of lime
Last year, the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies changed their identity for one game and took the field as the Fresno Tacos. The uniforms were part of Taco Truck Throwdown, the Grizzlies’ popular annual homage to the city’s tradition of mobile taco vendors. The uniforms, which were amazing, were such a hit
RailCats celebrate Top Gun night with unis, promotions
Is Top Gun this year’s Back to the Future? The Gary SouthShore RailCats, minor league baseball team in the independent American Association, feel the need for speed—they’ll celebrate the 30th anniversary of that noted cultural institution and Tom Cruise vehicle Top Gun this season. On July 23, the team will
Logging On: The Story Behind the Williamsport Crosscutters
In the late 1800s, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was home to more millionaires per capita than any other town in the United States. The source of their income was a booming lumber industry that put the town on the map. So when a short-season Single-A baseball team started playing in Williamsport in
These Baseball Jerseys are Puppy, Winking Face, Pile of Chocolate
Fans of the Kalamazoo Growlers, a baseball team in the independent Northwoods League, will have the opportunity to vote a “pile of chocolate” (as the team calls it) onto their team’s jerseys for a game this season. The team, which won Baseball Digest’s “Promotion of the Year” award for its Salute
New Great Lake Loons logo evokes summertime in Michigan
The Great Lakes Loons, Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, just moments ago unveiled a new suite of logos. The new look, designed by the prolific firm Brandiose, is a substantial update to the team’s previous logo, which had been around since the Loons’ inception in 2007. It’s the
Bootlegger Night pays tribute to Kentucky’s boozy heritage
The baseball season is rapidly approaching, and fans of wacky minor league promotions are rejoicing as teams unveil their schedules. Never one to disappoint, the Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, are celebrating their home state’s boozy heritage with Bootlegger Night July 16. Per the
The Story Behind Casper the Aboriginal, Western, Cowboy Ghost
Imagine you’re a logo designer and you’ve been tasked with creating a brand for a minor league baseball team. You’re free to let the creativity flow, but you have a few constraints to consider: The team plays in a town called Casper, so the team is going to be called the
Let It Glow! Fireflies Unveil Glowing Caps, Uniforms
The Columbia Fireflies are going to look the part during their inaugural season, at least when the lights are off. Unveiling their new uniform set this afternoon, the former Savannah Sand Gnats and a New York Mets affiliate in the South Atlantic League, the Fireflies showcased glow-in-the-dark ballcaps. Not a
Visalia Rawhide Celebrate 70 Years of Baseball
The Visalia Rawhide, a California League Single-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, will mark their 70th anniversary of minor league baseball with a special commemorative patch to be worn on their jerseys throughout the 2016 season. The patch features the red barn at Recreation Ballpark, their home field, and also depicts
True Blue: The Story Behind the Auburn Doubledays
Minor league baseball teams have been drawing inspiration from popular myths for team names for decades—from knights and dragons to alien creatures to the elusive Chihuahuas of El Paso. In upstate New York, nestled among the Finger Lakes just south of the Canadian border, the tiny town of Auburn, New