Casper Rockies now the Casper Ghosts

[johnnysama]

What do I say about this change? Boy, the Minor Leagues sure have some gonzo team names, but this one tops about every one of them.

And I've heard about that glow-in-the-dark cap. That is a first in baseball. I wonder what's next....... hee-hee.

[FiddySicks]

The thing im trying to figure out is what exactly is going to be glow in the dark? Is it gonna be the threading on the logo? Is there going to be some other material thats heat pressed onto the hat? Or is the actual crown going to be glow in the dark?

[BallWonk]

The thing im trying to figure out is what exactly is going to be glow in the dark? Is it gonna be the threading on the logo? Is there going to be some other material thats heat pressed onto the hat? Or is the actual crown going to be glow in the dark?

Looks like some threads in the logo will be glow-in-the-dark. Not sure whether this is something impregnated in the threads themselves or an effect printed onto the threads after they're embroidered in place. In either event, on one of the caps, there will be the shape of the letter G along the edges of the ghost-ball shape that will have the glow-in-the-dark effect; on the other cap, the ball itself (but not the surrounding cloud of Scrubbing Bubbles) will glow.

If this is going to work like I think it will, it will be a very subtle effect that you will be able to see in person, with just the faintest extra luminescence in the caps (and much more visible on the caps of the people in the stands next to you).

[Survival79]

The thing im trying to figure out is what exactly is going to be glow in the dark? Is it gonna be the threading on the logo? Is there going to be some other material thats heat pressed onto the hat? Or is the actual crown going to be glow in the dark?

Looks like some threads in the logo will be glow-in-the-dark. Not sure whether this is something impregnated in the threads themselves or an effect printed onto the threads after they're embroidered in place. In either event, on one of the caps, there will be the shape of the letter G along the edges of the ghost-ball shape that will have the glow-in-the-dark effect; on the other cap, the ball itself (but not the surrounding cloud of Scrubbing Bubbles) will glow.

If this is going to work like I think it will, it will be a very subtle effect that you will be able to see in person, with just the faintest extra luminescence in the caps (and much more visible on the caps of the people in the stands next to you).

Here's a cap animation from the Plan B. Branding website.

[YELDARBfield]

Here's a cap animation from the Plan B. Branding website.

^That is quite silly.

[JrSmith]

When I first heard they were going to be the Casper Ghosts I thought it was going to be great, expecting a curvy/cartoony type of ghost at least similar to Casper. When I saw the actual logo I was pretty disappointed. The combination of ghost and western themes is just confusing to me. I don't like that the ghost seems to have a bony structure, and even teeth.

I still think the glow in the dark idea is great, but glow in the dark products have a history of being cool in theory and then way less cool in reality. Too many memories of playing with a glow in the dark football for 5 minutes at a time and then going in and holding it under a light to get it glowing again. I will say that I like the idea of an all-white cap that will actually be used on the field, which seems to be super rare in baseball. I'd need to see the cap in person for the final verdict though.

[omnivore]

I live in Wyoming and I tend to think that the team probably screwed the pooch on this one. Not because the idea sucks -- it's a good idea in theory -- the problem is, you're talking about a local fan base that loves familiarity and thinks they can relate to. So for them, having the 'Casper Rockies' implies a direct tie to the organization and makes people who come there know that they're an affiliated minor league club. But now, to them, the Casper Ghosts are no better than some fly-by-night indoor minor league football team or some other club that have come (and left) town.

So, I think that using 'real world' execution in a place like this probably wasn't the smartest move of being "in touch" with your fan base and yet, if it manages to work outside of Wyoming and gets them more than a blip of notoriety, then the move will have been worth it. Because while fans wouldn't be buying much of their stuff locally, I'm sure that they'll go to the games regardless.

[roxfan00]

Here is the hat for home games...

Casper Ghosts

[powersurge]

Here is the hat for home games...

Casper Ghosts

Thats just awful.

I'm speechless.

[roxfan00]

Here is the hat for home games...

Casper Ghosts

Thats just awful.

I'm speechless.

haha i'll pass judgement after I see it glow.

[powersurge]

I'm not even going to wait that long.

Might even be WORSE.

[Gothamite]

I emailed them about jersey sales (since most minor league clubs don't seem to bother), and got a response that they are looking into selling the road jerseys online.

I'm presuming that means the road jerseys will be a gray version of this, and not include the city name:

[powersurge]

Why do I suspect that somewhere between this world and the next there are a bunch of trapped ghosts who are either really pissed off and/or offended by the awfulness of this identity?

Hmmm...is 'awfulness' even a word?

[BallWonk]

I emailed them about jersey sales (since most minor league clubs don't seem to bother), and got a response that they are looking into selling the road jerseys online.

I'm presuming that means the road jerseys will be a gray version of this, and not include the city name:

I'd assume the opposite. If the team wants to tap into any Casper fan base, then what they'd want to sell is a road jersey with a bright orange Casper across the front.

But either way, it's a shame. I would totally buy a replica home jersey. Road jersey? Not so much.

Makes me wonder why they went for vests. Casper is not a particularly hot place, and on a functional level vests are better suited to teams that play in hot climates with long summers and warm spring and autumn seasons. Nor do the Ghosts play many road games against teams in hot climates. And if the team is serious about merch sales to a global audience attracted to the Casper the Friendly Ghost tie-in, then I'd have expected normal, full-sleeve jerseys to be the way to go.

[Gothamite]

I'm presuming that it's a faux vest, but I could be wrong.

What led me to believe that they would put "Ghosts" on the roads is that they'll be selling the roads (and only the roads) online. If they were going to put "Casper" on the roads, why wouldn't they sell the homes online and the roads in Wyoming?

[BallWonk]

I'm presuming that it's a faux vest, but I could be wrong.

What led me to believe that they would put "Ghosts" on the roads is that they'll be selling the roads (and only the roads) online. If they were going to put "Casper" on the roads, why wouldn't they sell the homes online and the roads in Wyoming?

(Stroking nonexistent goatee) Ah, I see. Wait a second, no I don't. Now, keeping in mind that you're usually right, if I were running a team named the Casper Ghosts, and I thought that there was an international audience for Casper the Ghost merchandise, then I would definitely sell the road uniforms with the word "Casper" online. I'd also sell the roads with the town name at home, too. Did the team tell you that the road jersey would be available only online and not for sale at the team shop?

The design studio's sketch makes me think that these were designed to be real vests. That trim around the shoulder holes is what does it. Most teams that intend to use faux vests in the last decade have eschewed the shoulder-hole trim. I assume that has been for technical and cost reasons: It's just easier to apply that trim on actual vests than it is on faux vests. Of course, the fact that the designers meant for this to be a real vest doesn't necessarily tell us anything about what the team will actually wear. And many minor-league teams that wear real vests only sell faux vests. So I'm not betting against anyone receiving a faux vest if they order a Ghosts jersey.

Still, maybe I'll consider a road jersey after all if you're right and it does have that sweet Ghosts script on it.

[Gothamite]

Hadn't considered that about the sleeve trim. Great point there, and I hope you're right.

I'm less convinced about the marketability of "Casper" jerseys for Casper the Ghost when they don't have anything relating to the character on the jersey. Surely tying in with the character is their strategy for selling t-shirts, pennants, caps and other stuff, but I don't see how it can help jersey sales.

All I was told by the team was that they were limiting online sales to the road jersey. We can all take that for what it's worth.

[BallWonk]

Either way, I just wants me a jersey with that Ghosts script on it. It's my favorite new baseball jersey script of the last few years. Plus, I've accidentally become something like a collector of Pioneer League merchandise lately.

A thought on the uniforms: Given the "ghost" theme, and the sort of modern-retro Western look and feel, I think home and road pinstripes might have been in order. Especially for vest jerseys; the pinstripes would have subtly reinforced the old-fashioned-ness of the overall look. They'd be baseball waistcoats, not vests. But subtle pinstripes. Like, cream or light gray stripes on white at home, or even glow-in-the-dark pinstripes. And on the road, a slightly darker gray fabric with lighter, off-white pinstripes. Something different, but just at the edge of first-glance perception. Of course, this all assumes that the team had gone with the superior cattle-skull cap logo; I think the Scrubbing Bubbles logo the Ghosts are using would tend to clash with pinstripes.

[TruColor]

...I think the Scrubbing Bubbles logo the Ghosts are using would tend to clash with pinstripes.

Scrubbing Bubbles? Hmmm...nice call:

[roxfan00]

...I think the Scrubbing Bubbles logo the Ghosts are using would tend to clash with pinstripes.

Scrubbing Bubbles? Hmmm...nice call:

Scrubbing Bubbles looks mean and happy at the same time.