Baseball By Design: Stories of Minor League Logos and Nicknames

The Eugene Emeralds for many years had a brand that featured an idyllic natural scene—but then they made a dramatic switch and adopted a brand that features a snarling sasquatch. We talk about this and the team's hilarious Exploding Whales alternate identity. Guests this week include:

• Matt Dompe, Assistant GM & Broadcaster, Eugene Emeralds
• Jason Klein, Brandiose, brandiose.com
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon...

The Double-A Springfield Cardinals have only had two alternate identities in their team history, including the Ozarks Snipe Hunters, unveiled this season. The brand plays on the storied tradition of sending newbie campers into the woods on wild goose chases for mythical furry critters.

This week on the podcast:

• Dan Reiter, General Manager, Springfield Cardinals
• Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @therealrangeramy
• Dan Simon, Studio Simo...

Before they were the Aviators, the Triple-A baseball team in Las Vegas played as the Las Vegas 51s from 2001 to 2018. The team's alien-themed brand played on their proximity to noted government facility Area 51. Guests include:

• Tom Brazile, Director of Retail Operations, Las Vegas Aviators
• Valerie Ruiz, Stadium Food Girl, Insta @stadiumfoodgirl
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon

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The Tampa Bay Rays City Connect brand is one of the most successful in Major League Baseball. The identity tells the story of the region's close relationship with the skateboarding community, and ties together two generations of the team's branding. Guests include:

• Warren Hypes, Rays VP Creative & Brand, Insta @warren_hypes
• Michael Blanford, Former Executive Director, Boards for Bros
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimo...

The collegiate summer level Madison Mallards keep hitting it out of the park with their popular alternate identities. They'll play a game this season as "The Dudes" in tribute to the movie The Big Lebowski later this season. Guests include:

• Kyle Chisholm, Marketing Director, Madison Mallards
• Brent Bartels, Creative Services Manager
• Jim Christopher, Ballpark Nation, YouTube @ballparknation
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosim...

When the wind is blowing the right direction and the General Mills plant is producing the aromas from one of its signature items, the whole city of Buffalo takes on the smell of a freshly poured bowl of cereal. And the team can trace the origins of "My City Smells Like Cheerios Night" to an episode of this podcast from 2023! Guests include:

• Pat Malacaro, Bisons Broadcaster, Twitter @PatWGR
• Valerie Ruiz, Stadium Food Girl, Inst...

The Double-A Columbus Clingstones will play select games this year as the Scrambled Dogs, a tribute to a local delicacy that has its roots in an iconic pharmacy soda fountain.

This week on the podcast:

• Mike Jones, Graphic Designer, Insta @bucket826
• Kellie Oliver, Owner, Dinglewood Pharmacy
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon

Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:

• Instagram @basebal...

The Double-A Tulsa Drillers have a classic brand and a host of fun alternates. Their identity pays tribute to Oklahoma's oil industry.

This week on the podcast:

• Justin Gorski, General Manager, Tulsa Drillers
• Live check-in from the ballpark with Ranger Amy, Chris Storm, and Julie Nickelasian
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon

Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:

• Instagram @baseba...

The Double-A Reading Fightin Phils have one of Minor League Baseball's longest standing relationships with their parent club, they have a primary identity based on a hot dog vendor who dresses like a guy riding an ostrich, and they lay claim to the title Baseball Town.

This week on the podcast:

• Jake Starr, Lead Broadcaster, Reading Fightin Phils
• Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @therealrangeramy
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosim...

The independent professional Lake Country DockHounds will pay tribute to their home state's favorite watering holes when they play as the Wisconsin Dive Bars. This episode explores the development of that brand.

Guests include:

• Bryan Giese, Dockhounds Director of Marketing, Insta @bgiese77
• Gregory Schuch, Dockhounds Designer, Insta @schuch.greg
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon

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The Single-A Visalia Rawhide have had the same identity since 2009, a text-based, Western-themed logo that features a whip. But they've ventured into the alternate identity with a fun character-based brand, the Central Valley Sir Loins

Guests include:

• Griffin Epstein, Broadcaster, Visalia Rawhide
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon, studiosimon.net

Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:

• Instagram @baseballbydesign
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Sports design royalty Todd Radom joins to discuss his new book, The Ballpark and Beyond, which explores the history of baseball through amusing and interesting anecdotes. Who was the first team to have a website? How many MLB ballparks have burned down? Who is in the Discarded Mascot Island of Misfit Toys? The answers to these questions and more are in this episode!

Pre-order The Ballpark and Beyond at toddradom.com/the-ballpark-an...

The collegiate summer level Zebulon Devil Dogz will take up residence in the former home of the dearly departed Carolina Mudcats. They'll field a team of Australian players and sport a brand that has its roots in two hemispheres. Guests include:

• Caleb Whitmore, General Manager, Zebulon Devil Dogz
• Brian Begley, Designer, iambrianbegley.com
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon

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The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks are paying tribute to a classic movie that put their hometown on the map with a Fargo Woodchippers alternate identity. The fun new brand is a serious departure from their traditional-feeling primary brand. Guests include:

• Eli Swanson, Director of Communications and Marketing, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
• John Worthen, Worthen Design
• Jim Christopher, Ballpark Nation, YouTube @ballparknation
• Dan Simon, Stu...

Your host Paul checked off a life list item with a visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to see a World Baseball Classic game. The trip turned into so much more with great friends, cultural experiences, and a chance to chat with Pool A's play-by-play broadcaster. 

This week on the podcast:

• Tyler Maun, WBC Broadcaster, MiLB Show Before the Show Host, Insta @tylermaunpxp
• Ed Rivera, Dad Hat Chronicles, Insta @thedadhat216
• Dan Simo...

The short-season class A Lowell Spinners were lost to history with the reorganization of affiliated Minor League Baseball. But six years later, they are back with new owners and at a new classification! This episode explores the reborn Spinners with some old and new marks.

This week on the podcast:

• Marc Deschenes, Owner, Lowell Spinners
• Jim Macleod, jimmacleod.com
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_sim...

The Newport Gulls play in the collegiate summer level New England Collegiate Baseball League, and they are the first team from Rhode Island featured on Baseball By Design. Their adorable seagull-based logo has endured for a quarter century.

This week on the podcast:

• Chuck Paiva, Owner, Newport Gulls
• Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @therealrangeramy
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon

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The Stockton Ports, Single-A affiliate of the Athletics, are based in one of the country's largest inland ports, 80 miles east of the San Joaquin River. They also play in the Asparagus Capital of the World. Guests this week include:

• Pat Filippone, President, Stockton Ports
• Jason Klein, Brandiose, brandiose.com
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon

Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:

The Nanaimo NightOwls and the Nanaimo Bars are one team that plays in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Their nicknames are a tribute to local wildlife and a confection named for the area.

This week on the podcast:

• Jim Swanson, Managing Partner, Nanaimo NightOwls/Bars
• Reuben Butterfield, Round 3 Agency
• Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @therealrangeramy
• Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon

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