Baseball By Design: Stories of Minor League Logos and Nicknames

Skye Dillon, Skye Design Studios: Ferry Hawks, Zoo Keepers, Chili Peppers, Banana Slugs, and More

Skye Dillon of Skye Design Studios has been working in the field of sports branding for more than two decades. We talk about his process and work on brands like the Staten Island Ferry Hawks, Ashboro ZooKeepers, Tri-Cities Chili Peppers, New Britain Bees, and (outside the world of minor league baseball) the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs.
Skye Design StudiosWebsite / Twitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Brooklyn Cyclones

The High A Brooklyn Cyclones play against the iconic backdrop of Coney Island. Visitors to the area can catch a game after a visit to America's most famous boardwalk, where they can grab a hot dog and ride the tooth-rattling roller coaster, which has been around for almost a century.
On the episode, noted designer Todd Radom talks about one of his favorite creations, Cyclones broadcaster Keith Raad stops by to discuss the team's role in contemporary Brooklyn, and Coaster101 contributor Andrew Stilwell expounds on the parallels between roller coaster enthusiasts and minor league baseball fans. 
Todd RadomWebsite / Twitter
Brooklyn CyclonesWebsite / Twitter / Keith Raad Twitter
Coaster 101Website / Twitter / Andrew Stilwell Twitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Everett AquaSox

The High-A Everett AquaSox have had a brand based on a groovy frog since 1995, but the team's branding goes a lot deeper than that. Playing less than 30 miles from their parent club in Seattle, the AquaSox's identity delves deep into winks and nods to the Mariners. The team's owner at the time of the AquaSox debut, Bob Bavasi, talks about the creation of the brand; General Manager Danny Tetzlaff talks about the team's ties to the Mariners; and Baseball By Design Wildlife Consultant Ranger Amy Burnett is live at Funko Field to talk about frogs.
Everett AquaSoxWebsite / Twitter / Danny Tetzlaff Twitter
Bob BavasiBavasi Sports website
Wildlife Consultant Ranger Amy BurnettTwitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter
 

Hillsboro Hops

The High-A Hillsboro Hops are named for an important crop in Oregon, but more than that, they're a celebration of the magical association of beer and baseball. The team's president, general manager, and 2021 MiLB executive of the year K.L. Wombacher talks about the origins of the nickname, designer Dan Simon talks about the creation of the logo—and his adventures joining a game during Baseballpalooza—and Ira Bletz, head of the Historic Eating and Drinking Society (HEADS), talks about how beer is responsible for the existence of all of civilization.
Hillsboro Hopswebsite / Twitter
Dan Simon, Studio Simonwebsite / Instagram
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Midland RockHounds

The Midland RockHounds are named for the geologists who work in Texas's oil industry but since 1999 their logo has been a literal hound. The team's Assistant GM Jeff VonHolle talks about the origins of the nickname, Torch Creative's Brad Bishop and Mike Thurman talk about a 2021 rebrand, and in a Baseball By Design exclusive (!) McGruff the Crime Dog joins to clear the air about his suspicious resemblance to Rocky the RockHound.
Midland RockHoundsWebsite / Twitter / Jeff VonHolle Twitter
Torch CreativeWebsite / Twitter / Instagram
MacGruff the Crime DogNational Crime Prevention Council / McGruff on Twitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Groundbreakers: UniWatch’s Paul Lukas, Helmet Sundae Guru Eric Lichtenberg

Paul Lukas has been covering sports branding for nearly a quarter century through his popular online platform, UniWatch. Paul joins the show to talk about trends in the field, and how they influence (or are influenced by) minor league baseball.
And for dessert, the godfather of helmet sundae collecting, Eric Lichtenberg, talks about that hobby, and how it has inspired by his own work in graphic design.
Paul Lukas, UniWatchWebsite / Twitter
Eric LichtenbergWebsite / Twitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Saint Paul Saints

The Saint Paul Saints made a name for themselves as an independent franchise with wacky promotions, pig-themed branding, and a heavy-hitting ownership group that includes Bill Murray and Mike Veeck. Now as a Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, the team is carrying on its tradition of fun with wacky branding but a classic brand. The team's executive vice president Derek Sharrer discusses the team, its promos, and the relationship between Saint Paul and pigs.
Plus, stay tuned for surprise guest, accomplished philosophy and religion academic Dr. John D. Caputo (Paul's dad!), who discusses why a team of Saints would be unbeatable.
Saint Paul SaintsWebsite / Twitter 
Derek SharrerTwitter
John D. CaputoFacebook
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Bowie Baysox

The Bowie Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, pay tribute to the nearby Chesapeake Bay with their time-honored brand. GM Brian Shallcross talks about the history of the brand, Curved Brim Media Month rounds out with Patrick Noote of the invaluable resource Baseball Mapper dot com, and Baseball By Design's newest contributor, Wildlife Consultant Ranger Amy, stops by to talk about the Baysox's alternate Copa brand, the Cangrejos Fantasmas de Chesapeake, or Ghost Crabs.
Bowie BaysoxWebsite / Twitter / Brian Shallcross Twitter
Baseball MapperWebsite / Twitter
Wildlife Consultant Ranger Amy BurnettTwitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter