Baseball By Design: Stories of Minor League Logos and Nicknames
Paul Caputo, minor league baseball correspondent for SportsLogos.net, tells the story of America one minor league baseball logo and nickname at a time. Paul is joined every episode by Dan Simon, founder of the prolific design firm Studio Simon, as well as guests including front office personnel, designers, and subject-matter experts. Instagram, Threads, Bluesky: @baseballbydesign
Episodes
The Gateway Grizzlies, an independent team in the Frontier League, play in Sauget, Illinois, a small town in the shadow of St. Louis's Gateway Arch just across the river in Missouri. Neither state has ever been part of the grizzly bear's habitat, so why is this team called the Grizzlies? Listen and learn! Guests this week include:
- Jason Guerette, Broadcaster, Gateway Grizzlies
- Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @therealrangeramy
- Dan Si...
When the Appalachian League lost its affiliated status in 2020, all 10 teams were forced to rebrand. The Bluefield Ridge Runners adopted a train-themed brand that celebrates the Blue Ridge mountains, the coal mining industry, and a beloved toy train character. Guests this week include:
- Garrett Schilling, General Manager, Bluefield Ridge Runners
- Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @therealrangeramy
- Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimo...
The Montreal Expos logo has been the subject of debate, conversation, and even conspiracy theories over the years. Author, baseball historian, and sports design royalty Todd Radom discusses the history of the Expos and their iconic brand.
Guests include:
- Todd Radom, Todd Radom Design toddradom.com
- Dan Simon, Studio Simon, studiosimon.net
Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:
- Instagram @baseballbydesign
- T...
An incorrect answer on the TV game show Jeopardy led to one of Minor League Baseball's funniest theme nights. This Thursday, the Columbia Fireflies will take the field as the Synchronized Hippos. Guests include:
- John Kocsis, Jr., Broadcaster, Columbia Fireflies
- Donnie Wise, DHC Sports Show, Insta @wisedrjr
- Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon
Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:
It's the 10th iteration of the Baseballpalooza road trip, and it's the biggest one yet! The guys guide you through the Northeast and talk about the magic of a road trip with old friends.
Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:
- Instagram @baseballbydesign
- Threads @baseballbydesign
- Bluesky @baseballbydesign.bsky.social
- Facebook @baseballbydesignpodcast
- linktr.ee/BaseballByDesign
Baseball By Design is a member of the Cu...
The Reno Aces dig deep into their hometown's heritage with two of their identities: The "Biggest Little City" alternate identity plays on the city's slogan, found on an iconic arch on the edge of town, and a Reno Silver Sox brand honors the town's baseball past.
Guests this week include:
- Blake O'Brien, Senior Director of Creative Services, Reno Aces
- Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon
Find t...
The Augusta GreenJackets are a rare baseball team whose logo is based on another sport. The team leans into its hometown's claim to fame, the iconic Augusta National golf course. Guests this week include:
- Brandon Greene, General Manager, Augusta GreenJackets
- Jason Klein, Brandiose, brandiose.com
- Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon
Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:
- Instagram @b...
The identity for the Charleston RiverDogs, Single-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, has a surprising back story—it's not based on dogs at all, but rather rats. Guests this week:
- Ben Abzug, Senior Vice President, Charleston RiverDogs
- Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon
Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:
- Instagram @baseballbydesign
- Threads @baseballbydesign
- Bluesky @baseba...
Major League Baseball's All Star Game takes place today and Skye Dillon joins to talk about developing the logo for the event. Guests this week:
- Skye Dillon, SKYE, www.skye.design
- Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon
Find the Baseball By Design podcast online:
- Instagram @baseballbydesign
- Threads @baseballbydesign
- Bluesky @baseballbydesign.bsky.social
- Facebook @baseballbydesignpodcast
- lin...
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
Find the Ba...
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
Find the Ba...
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
- Threads ...
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