In 1950, two alien space crafts gliding over western Montana were caught on film by Nicholas Mariana, the general manager of a minor league baseball team called the Great Falls Electrics. The footage is conclusive evidence of the fact that aliens have visited us, even though the government has been
Category: Minor League Baseball
Charleston RiverDogs unveil updated look for the 2016 season
Next season will bring changes to one of the longest-running logos of the Single-A South Atlantic League. The Charleston RiverDogs, an affiliate of the New York Yankees, unveiled significant updates to their logo for the first time since 1994. For two decades, the RiverDogs’ logo (at right) has featured Charlie the dog nestled
Rocky Mountain High: The Story Behind the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The majestic Pikes Peak, one of 53 mountains in the state of Colorado that ascend above 14,000 feet, was named for Zebulon Pike, who led an 1806 expedition to the base of the mountain. The mountain has been called a lot of names, including the Arapaho “Heey-otoyoo” (Long Mountain), El Capitán (by Spanish explorers in the 1700s), Highest
Emeralds keep Eugene weird on Portlandia Night
Perhaps nowhere in North America do residents wear their collective oddities as a badge of honor as in the state of Oregon. The phrase “Keep Portland Weird,” originally a call to support local businesses, has become a rallying cry for the entire state. The town of Eugene, Oregon, home to the
Sticking their necks out: The story behind the Beloit Snappers
When I first contacted the Beloit Snappers to talk about the reasons for their nickname, their director of media relations and marketing Bobby Coon told me exactly what I expected to hear: “There are a lot of snapping turtles in the Rock River that runs through Beloit.” The end! There are a
Sweet Mosquitoes: The Story Behind the Sugar Land Skeeters
There are two things residents of Sugar Land, Texas, associate with their town. The first is the Imperial Sugar Company, headquartered there since moving from Louisiana in 1907. The second is mosquitoes, which are probably going to be a problem when you build a town on swampy marshland. First, the
Bearing Down: The Story Behind the Fresno Grizzlies
The first time a bear appeared on a California flag was in 1846 during the Bear Flag Revolt, a precursor to the Mexican-American War, which ultimately led to California becoming the 31st state of the United States in 1850. Granted, the bear on that flag (at right) looks more like
From one bug to another: Sand Gnats to become Fireflies
When the New York Mets’ South Atlantic League Single-A affiliate moves from Savannah, Georgia, to Columbia, South Carolina, next season, they will drop one bug—the tiny, horrible, razor-fanged Sand Gnat—in favor of one that evokes images of pleasant summer evenings, the firefly. The Columbia Fireflies’ logo, unveiled this morning, was
Eugene Emeralds commemorate destroyed stadium with uniforms
The Eugene Emeralds, short-season class A affiliate of the Cubs, had not played a game in historic Civic Stadium since 2009, but when it burned to the ground last month, the team took it to heart. The ballpark, which was built in 1938 and served as home to the Ems
Norfolk Tides Wearing SpongeBob Jerseys August 7th
Who plays baseball in a pineapple under the sea? Norfolk Tides. On August 7th. ICYMI, we’re going to be living in a pineapple under the sea on Friday, August 7! @SpongeBob http://t.co/FPapuwKrrB pic.twitter.com/sCydRyNhu3 — Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 28, 2015 The Tides (AAA-Baltimore Orioles) will take to the field wearing
On the Right Track: The Story Behind the New Orleans Zephyrs
On its own, the word zephyr does not exactly instill fear. It refers to a gentle wind, rolling in from the west and rustling the daffodils (or whatever) as it heads east. That said, the city of Denver sits just to the east of the Rockies, and the wind that
Fresno Grizzlies celebrate taco trucks with amazing uniforms
Central California is the self-proclaimed birthplace of the taco truck, and to celebrate that local history, the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, will take to the field as the Fresno Tacos for one game this summer. For four years, the Fresno Grizzlies’ Taco Truck Throwdown has been