Giving awards to 12 of the strangest, weirdest and most retro logos in recent Minor League history
Minor League logos are big business. Sure, the Minors are there to turn today's top prospects into tomorrow's superstars, but they are also a source of endless enjoyment with their between-innings contests, wacky promotions and, of course, amazing names and logos. It's how we're lucky enough to live in a world with teams like the Baby Cakes and Yard Goats.
But those teams didn't emerge from the ether. A number of teams and logos set the stage for the modern moniker renaissance. Before they're lost to the sands of time, let's give out some awards to 12 of the strangest, weirdest and yes, worst logos from the recent past.
Most '90s: Daytona Cubs (1993-2011)
Hello, fellow kids. How goes it at the arcade? Win many pogs? You can tell I know what's up by my cool shades.
Worst Jurassic Park poster: Ogden Raptors (1994-2014)
If you remember the velociraptors from "Jurassic Park," they were horrifying and intelligent beasts. This logo is their brother, the one that flunked out of community college and lives at home.
Most terrifying: Syracuse Skychiefs (2007)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up to find Teddy Roosevelt's ghost at the end of your bed, yelling "Hurry! We gotta get on a train to save America!"
Wonder no more.
Most Picasso-ian: San Bernadino Stampede (1996-02)
Are those the horse's front hooves? Where are the back ones? Is this like one of those magic eye puzzles?
Most likely to appear on a box of raisin cereal: Jacksonville Suns (2004-09)
Enjoy the great taste of fresh raisins, with the delightful crunch of -- what's that? You're sure this isn't a cereal logo? Like 100 percent positive? OK, if you're sure ...
Most nonsensical: Norwich Navigators (1995-2005)
Even if that baseball bat is hollowed out, I don't think that's going to help and -- you know what -- I really don't think it's hollowed out. This croc just plastered a baseball bat against his eye and is now giving us the thumbs up. I don't think he should be navigating at all.
Logo you'd most want to hang out with: Asheville Tourists (1980-2004)
With this new bear character, we'll clean up at the box office. Just think of the merchandising rights alone for "Have Bear, Will Travel."
Worst Saturday morning cartoon: Michigan Battle Cats (1996-2002)
Watch anthropomorphic letters attack each other for the right to call themselves The Very Best Battle Letter. I mean cat. Battle Cat.
Best logo for a lemon company: Vero Beach Dodgers (1980-2006)
Most Minor League teams find a way to squeeze a baseball into the logo somewhere, just to let fans know "Hey! This is a sports team and not an exotic petting zoo." The Vero Beach Dodgers wanted only those in the know to be aware of the baseball to be had.
Logo most likely to make you rethink your beverage purchase: St. Catharines Stompers (1997-99)
"Ooh, that pinot sounds great. I'll have--"
/sees logo
"You know what, just water for me."
Most likely designed by H.P. Lovecraft: Winnipeg Goldeyes (1994-2010)
Pretty sure the Goldeyes logo was inspired by this passage in Lovecraft's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth:"
"Their forms vaguely suggested the anthropoid, while their heads were the heads of fish, with prodigious bulging eyes that never closed. At the sides of their necks were palpitating gills, and their long paws were webbed. ... Their croaking, baying voices, clearly used for articulate speech, held all the dark shades of expression which their staring faces lacked."
Most due for a comeback: Southern Oregon Timberjacks (1996-99)
Giant baseball-playing lumberjack? Yeah, I think we could all use more of those in Minor League Baseball.
(Thanks to SportsLogos.net for their historical information.)
