Baseball By Design: Stories of Minor League Logos and Nicknames

Gwinnett Stripers

The Gwinnett Stripers pulled a bait and switch when they announced a name that was not one of the five finalists in their name-the-team contest. Find out how that went down from the team's GM at the time, North Johnson, and Brandiose's Jason Klein.
And on week four of Curved Brim Media month on Baseball By Design, Pat Larson of the MiLB Hat History Series talks about singing the National Anthem at a Stripers game (and performs a rendition for us!), and walks us through his 15 (!) Stripers caps.
Gwinnett StriperWebsite / Twitter
BrandioseWebsite / Twitter
Pat Larson, MiLB Hat HistoryTwitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Corpus Christi Hooks

The Corpus Christi Hooks are named for the fishing industry in the Gulf of Mexico and for the curve ball of one of Texas's most famous native sons (OR ARE THEY?!). This week, CEO of Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment (and son of Nolan Ryan) Reid Ryan and designer Dan Simon talk about the napkin sketch that led to the Hooks' logo.
And on week three of Curved Brim Media month on Baseball By Design, James Christopher of the Let's Get Two show stops by to talk about the Hooks' Blue Ghosts alternate identity.
Reid RyanTwitter
Dan Simon, Studio Simonwebsite / Instagram
James Christopher, Let's Get TwoYouTube / Twitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

Durham Bulls

The Durham Bulls went from being the very image of the gritty, no-frills minor league experience, as seen in the classic movie Bull Durham, to being one of the iconic brands with one of the most recognized logos in the minors—thanks in no small part to that movie. The team's production designer Paxton Rembis discusses the team's history and the work he's doing with the brand today.
And on week two of Curved Brim Media month on Baseball By Design, Anna DiTommaso, host of the Baseball Bucket List podcast and website, stops by to talk about the Bulls and their parent club, her favorite MLB team, the Rays.
Finally, Paul's brother Dave stops by in-person from the Jersey Shore to talk about his experience as a Duke undergrad attending ballgames at the old Durham Athletic Park in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Durham BullsWebsite / Twitter
Paxton RembisTwitter
Anna DiTommaso, Baseball Bucket ListWebsite / Twitter
Baseball By DesignTwitter / Instagram / Website
Curved Brim Media NetworkWebsite / Twitter

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 ordered 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