Baseball By Design: Stories of Minor League Logos and Nicknames

Akron RubberDucks

The Akron RubberDucks are named for the long history of the tire industry in Akron, not to mention the city's longstanding association with the team's eponymous bath toy. Akron GM Jim Pfander and Brandiose's Jason Klein stop by to talk about the team. Plus, it's Curved Brim Media month in August—each week Baseball By Design will highlight a content creator from the network, starting this week with CBM co-founder Ed Rivera of the Dad Hat Chronicles. Akron RubberDucksWebsite / Twitter BrandioseWebsite / Twitter Dad Hat ChroniclesTwitter Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Charleston Dirty Birds

The Charleston Dirty Birds pay homage to the tiniest heroes of local industry with their brand—the literal canaries in the coal mine. The Godfather of Minor League Baseball Branding, Chuck Domino, stops by to talk about his philosophy of naming teams; designer Carolina Buchas talks about the development of the logo; and Jordan Bennett, curator of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, educates us on the history of the use of canaries in the mining industry. Charleston Dirty Birdswebsite / Twitter Caroline Buchaswebsite National Mining Hall of Fame and Museumwebsite / Facebook Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

The Single-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have one of the most popular brands in the minors, but they had a unique challenge in replacing a brand based on beloved native son Dale Earnhardt. Alicia Amling of Temerity Baseball, designer Dan Simon of Studio Simon, and six-time Guinness Record holder and human cannon baller himself David "The Bullet" Smith tell the story of this unique brand on this episode. Kannapolis Cannon Ballerswebsite / Twitter / Alicia Amling Instagram Dan Simon, Studio Simonwebsite / Instagram David "The Bullet" Smithwebsite / Facebook  Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Bowling Green Hot Rods

The High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods are more than just a cool minor league team with a great logo—they're an integral part of their community. On this episode of Baseball By Design, the team's award-winning general manager Eric Leach stops by to talk about not just the team's brand, but the role they play in being good neighbors; home-grown designer Brandon Lamarche of 3-2 Designs talks about his work on all of the team's brands; and Mariah Hughes of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green joins to discuss car culture, sink holes, and the museum experience. Bowling Green Hot RodsWebsite / Twitter Eric LeachTwitter Brandon Lamarche, 3-2 DesignsWebsite / Instagram National Corvette MuseumWebsite Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Baseball Is Great: Mariners Pizza, MiLB Branding

In Baseball By Design's first ever Tampa Bay Rays-style opener, Sofie Dill joins to tell the story of how she order a pizza for Mariners player Jesse Winker. Then, we're joined by Tyler Maun and Josh Jackson, who cover Minor League Baseball in lots of ways, including writing for MiLB's website and on the Show Before the Show podcast. Most importantly for the purposes of this podcast, Tyler Maun writes in-depth stories about teams' logos, nicknames, and uniforms, and Josh Jackson hosts a podcast segment called "Ghosts of the Minors," which delves into some of the quirkiest team names in early days of the sport.  Sofie DillTwitter Tyler MaunMiLB.com author page / Twitter Josh JacksonMiLB.com author page / Twitter Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Missoula PaddleHeads

For two decades, the Pioneer League team in Missoula, Montana, was called the Osprey before they rebranded as the PaddleHeads—a nickname that describes both moose and people who love being on the river. The team survived a season cancelled by COVID and losing their Major League affiliation when the minors were reorganized in 2020, and now have a popular brand new in an idyllic setting. On this episode, team president Matt Ellis, Brandiose partner Jason Klein, and Pioneer League Vice President Henry Hunter discuss the unique identity. Missoula PaddleHeadsWebsite / Twitter BrandioseWebsite / Twitter Pioneer LeagueWebsite / Twitter Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Burlington Sock Puppets

The Burlington Sock Puppets are the only team in the new-look Appalachian League whose logo was not created by Major League Baseball. In the first-ever group interview on Baseball By Design, designer Dan Simon of Studio Simon is joined by Sock Puppets Owner/Team President Ryan Keur, General Manager Anderson Rathbun, and Assistant General Manager Thomas Vickers to discuss the disagreements and discussions that led to the groundbreaking identity. Burlington Sock Puppetswebsite | Twitter Dan Simon, Studio Simonwebsite | Instagram Baseball By DesignTwitter | Instagram | Website Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite | Twitter

Wichita Wind Surge

Designer extraordinaire Todd Radom is back on Baseball By Design, this time to discuss his work on the Wichita Wind Surge's Pegasus-based brand and what the nickname Wind Surge means to the up-and-coming city of Wichita, Kansas—not to mention the alternate Turbo Tubs brand that he created. The team's director of fan experience Bob Moullette also joins, offering his perspective on the transition from the notably wacky New Orleans Baby Cakes brand to the  more austere Wind Surge identity. Todd RadomWebsite / Twitter Wichita Wind SurgeWebsite / Twitter / Bob Moullette Twitter Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter