Jump to content

Minor League Spins on MLB Identities


Recommended Posts

I came across this today, and it made me think about how much more common it was for MiLB teams to create their identity by putting a localized spin on the parent club's.

spacer.png

Even if they didn't adopt the parent club's name, they would frequently pattern their uniforms after their big league affiliate.
spacer.png

I know this practice is not completely unheard of nowadays. But I figure this thread could serve as a sort of database for when it has.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 69
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Adv. Rookie: Pulaski Yankees- Appalacian League

5b282aeb77ccf.image.jpg?resize=1200,1416

 

 

A (Short Season): Staten Island Yankees- NY- Penn League

8a120678e58bfbe1470dc97e692208bdA

 

A: Charleston Riverdogs- South Atlantic League

DmIJm0KXgAUoMYk.jpg

 

A (Advanced) : Tampa Tarpons- Florida State League

cut.jpeg

 

AA : Trenton Thunder- Eastern League

26286984932_ca9414a729_b.jpg

 

AAA : Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders- International League

EBeUsxHWwAAe_Al.jpg
 

 

Before that...

 

swb-yankees-brandon-lairdjpg-fe5977ec0c783248e4eb6100946c1836ecc88d371e8.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I strongly believe that emulating the look of the parent club is the correct way to do minor league uniforms.  

 

When the Buffalo Bisons were affilliated with the White Sox, their uniforms looked like the White Sox.  When they were affilliated with the Indians, their uniforms looked like the Indians.

 

 

71707-1Fr.jpg        1987-buffalo-bisons-junior-noboa.jpg

 

 

 

Now that they are affilliated with the Blue Jays, they have done specialty days in which they wore Jays-themed uniforms, a style which should be their regular look.

 

 

 

d15e28def8aed5328d9c2dfb5434fe6f.jpg   Affiliation_Throwback_Jerseys_8j787hyf_q

 

 

 

 

Another great Blue Jays-style uniform was worn by the Syracuse Chiefs.

 

 

Best and Worst Sports Logos - Page 8 - Sports Logo News - Chris ...      Best and Worst Sports Logos - Page 8 - Sports Logo News - Chris ...

 

 

That cap logo deserves a special look.

 

 

3w7764i21oybdod08huymvqum.gif

 

 

This is so beautifully done in the style of the Blue Jays.  It is the graphical equivalent of a Rutles song. This remains an outstanding logo notwithstanding the inappropriateness of Native depictions.

 

 

Also looking great while reflecting the parent club's aesthetic were the Tidewater Tides.

 

 

Minor-League, Indy & Summer Collegiate Baseball Logo / Uni Changes ...    Minor-League, Indy & Summer Collegiate Baseball Logo / Uni Changes ...

 

 

You should always be able to tell at a glance which organisation each minor league team belongs to.  

 

 

logo-diamonds-for-CC-no-photo-sig.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

45 minutes ago, sportsfan7 said:

qOzrsij.png

 

IIRC they played this way for a year after the Expos moved to DC bc they couldn't come up with a name

They did...apparently they didn't even want to be the "Vermont Nationals" for one season.

bYhYmxh.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Obvious answer here is the Paw Sox before they adopted their current identity. It’s literally just a Red Sox jersey!
spacer.png
 

The Portland Sea Dogs also had pinstripes when they were the Marlins’ affiliate from 1994-2002

 

spacer.png

spacer.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/1/2020 at 6:59 PM, Ferdinand Cesarano said:

I strongly believe that emulating the look of the parent club is the correct way to do minor league uniforms.  

 

When the Buffalo Bisons were affilliated with the White Sox, their uniforms looked like the White Sox.  When they were affilliated with the Indians, their uniforms looked like the Indians.

 

 

71707-1Fr.jpg        1987-buffalo-bisons-junior-noboa.jpg

 

 

 

Now that they are affilliated with the Blue Jays, they have done specialty days in which they wore Jays-themed uniforms, a style which should be their regular look.

 

 

 

d15e28def8aed5328d9c2dfb5434fe6f.jpg   Affiliation_Throwback_Jerseys_8j787hyf_q

 

 

 

 

Another great Blue Jays-style uniform was worn by the Syracuse Chiefs.

 

 

Best and Worst Sports Logos - Page 8 - Sports Logo News - Chris ...      Best and Worst Sports Logos - Page 8 - Sports Logo News - Chris ...

 

 

That cap logo deserves a special look.

 

 

3w7764i21oybdod08huymvqum.gif

 

 

This is so beautifully done in the style of the Blue Jays.  It is the graphical equivalent of a Rutles song. This remains an outstanding logo notwithstanding the inappropriateness of Native depictions.

 

 

Also looking great while reflecting the parent club's aesthetic were the Tidewater Tides.

 

 

Minor-League, Indy & Summer Collegiate Baseball Logo / Uni Changes ...    Minor-League, Indy & Summer Collegiate Baseball Logo / Uni Changes ...

 

 

You should always be able to tell at a glance which organisation each minor league team belongs to.  

 

 

My 4 years ('91 - '95) in the Navy (CH46 Helicopter Mechanic, N.A.S Norfolk), I went to a lot of Hampton Roads Admirals (John Brophy years, '91 and '92 Kelly Cup champs) games, however, I never went to a Tidewater Tides game

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dunedin:

BoIBqp9.png

 

Bluefield:

 

km2zcrf.png

Pulaski:


pibs0f6iu8hrf0uhptgufhd7k.gif

On September 20, 2012 at 0:50 AM, 'CS85 said:

It's like watching the hellish undead creakily shuffling their way out of the flames of a liposuction clinic dumpster fire.

On February 19, 2012 at 9:30 AM, 'pianoknight said:

Story B: Red Wings go undefeated and score 100 goals in every game. They also beat a team comprised of Godzilla, the ghost of Abraham Lincoln, 2 Power Rangers and Betty White. Oh, and they played in the middle of Iraq on a military base. In the sand. With no ice. Santa gave them special sand-skates that allowed them to play in shorts and t-shirts in 115 degree weather. Jesus, Zeus and Buddha watched from the sidelines and ate cotton candy.

POTD 5/24/12POTD 2/26/17

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/1/2020 at 6:59 PM, Ferdinand Cesarano said:

I strongly believe that emulating the look of the parent club is the correct way to do minor league uniforms.  

 

and as usual, I strongly disagree with you.

 

Affiliations change, so the same team could be completely changing it's look every so often.  If I'm in a minor league town, I'd rather think of the team as "our" team, with an identity that I can get behind, rather than just put it in my face that it's nothing but a puppet state for some other entity.

 

I don't know any, but I wonder how Red Barons fans felt when they woke up one day and their team was called the Yankees and had all new colors.  While I'm not fond of the name Iron Pigs, I'm glad the Phillies didn't go with "Lehigh Valley Phillies" or "Allentown Phillies" or something like that, and that the 'Pigs have a unique look.

"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, BringBackTheVet said:

Affiliations change, so the same team could be completely changing it's look every so often. 

 

Yes, it could, as the Bisons did in the 1980s, looking sharp each time.

 

3 hours ago, BringBackTheVet said:

If I'm in a minor league town, I'd rather think of the team as "our" team, with an identity that I can get behind, rather than just put it in my face that it's nothing but a puppet state for some other entity.

 

Except that's the nature of the affiliated minors, and has been for many decades.  All the players and coaches are employed by the parent club.  If that bothers you, then your beef is with Branch Rickey for having created the farm system, which pushed the independent minors out of business. 

What's more, there is nothing shameful about wearing the uniform of the parent club, or a uniform derived from it.  I would much prefer the players whom I root for on my local minor league team to wear a uniform related to the team that they are striving to reach, than to have them play fantasy dress-up as a separate entity — probably wearing undiginfied uniforms and sporting an embarrassing name and logo, to boot.
 

logo-diamonds-for-CC-no-photo-sig.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Ferdinand Cesarano said:

 

Yes, it could, as the Bisons did in the 1980s, looking sharp each time.

 

 

Except that's the nature of the affiliated minors, and has been for many decades.  All the players and coaches are employed by the parent club.  If that bothers you, then your beef is with Branch Rickey for having created the farm system, which pushed the independent minors out of business. 

What's more, there is nothing shameful about wearing the uniform of the parent club, or a uniform derived from it.  I would much prefer the players whom I root for on my local minor league team to wear a uniform related to the team that they are striving to reach, than to have them play fantasy dress-up as a separate entity — probably wearing undiginfied uniforms and sporting an embarrassing name and logo, to boot.
 

I'd like it if minor league team's alts resembled the parent team. For example, the Knights have their own identity and branding, using black, gold, and white and entirely unique logos and wordmarks but had that SOX fauxback that I kinda wish became permanent, if only for that cap. Of course, the Knights also wear pinstripes so that's another connection to the ChiSox but I think relying on the parent team's brand results in a weaker brand overall, one that doesn't connect to the minor league city and also reduces the parent club's brand because it can potential cause confusion (not that it's all that likely, but when the Red Sox and PawSox's jerseys are basically identical I draw the line). Additionally, if the Major League-style jersey is an alt, it helps reduce the amount of stupid food-based alts we see. It's win-win!

the user formerly known as cdclt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.




×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.