Baseball By Design: Stories of Minor League Logos and Nicknames

Daytona Tortugas

The Daytona Tortugas, Low-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, were forced into rebranding when they changed parent clubs before the 2015 season, and the result is one of the most popular brands in the minors. Paul speaks with the team's general manager Jim Jaworski and the logo's designer Dan Simon about the identity and the role the team plays in the community, plus there's a surprise post-credit appearance by Sarah Rhodes-Ondi of the Sea Turtle Conservancy.
Daytona Tortugas: Website | Twitter: @daytonatortugas
Dan Simon: Website | Instagram: @studio_simon
Sea Turtle Conservancy online: conserveturtles.org
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Portland Sea Dogs

The Double-A Portland Sea Dogs logo was created in 1994 by Guy Gilchrist, whose career includes creating characters for the Muppets, Fraggle Rock, The Pink Panther, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry, and more. Paul talks with Guy and the team's award-winning broadcaster Emma Tiedemann about the brand, plus a surprise post-credit sequence from Ann-Marie Lisi of the Maritime Aquarium stirs up controversy: Is Slugger really a harbor seal?
Guy Gilchrist on Instagram: @guyfgilchrist
Emma Tiedemann on Instagram @emmatieds and Twitter @emmatieds
Portland Sea Dogs: Website | Twitter @portlandseadogs
Maritime Aquarium online: maritimeaquarium.org
Baseball By DesignTwitter | Instagram | Website
 

Toledo Mud Hens (featuring Jamie Farr!)

The iconic TV show M*A*S*H introduced millions of viewers to minor league baseball's Toledo Mud Hens through the quirky character Corporal Max Klinger, played by Toledo native and lifelong Mud Hens fan Jamie Farr. Mr. Farr, now 87 years old, joined me to talk about the team he grew up watching, the impact his fandom had on the TV show, and his current relationship with the team. 
I also speak for the first time on the podcast (but certainly not the last!) with prolific graphic designer Dan Simon of Studio Simon, who in 2005 created the current branding for the team.
Find Jamie Farr on IMDB.
Find Studio Simon online at studiosimon.net and on Instagram at @studio_simon.
Baseball By DesignTwitter | Instagram | Website

Albuquerque Isotopes

The real-life Albuquerque Isotopes, currently Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, debuted in 2003, shortly after an episode of The Simpsons portrayed Homer thwarting plans that the Duff Beer Company had to move the fictional Springfield Isotopes to New Mexico. Paul is joined by longtime Isotopes General Manager John Straub, we hear Paul's 2018 appearance on the Isotopes pre-game show with Josh Suchon, and we learn what the heck an isotope is in a surprise post-credit sequence from Chris Smith of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Albuquerque IsotopesWebsite | Twitter: @ABQTopes
John Traub on Twitter: @TopesGM
Josh Suchon on Twitter: @Josh_Suchon
NC Museum of Natural SciencesWebsite | Twitter: @naturalsciences
Chris Smith on Instagram: @envedchris
Baseball By DesignTwitter | Instagram | Website

Todd Radom

Todd Radom has created logos for Super Bowl XXXVIII, the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, the 2014, 2016, and 2018 MLB All-Star Games, and Major League and minor league baseball teams, including the Brooklyn Cyclones and Wichita Wind Surge. On this episode, Todd and Paul discuss Todd's ride on the rickety old Cyclone roller coaster on Coney Island, the 1979 Phillies all-maroon uniforms, some nitty gritty nerdy typography details, and more!
Follow Todd at www.toddradom.com, on Twitter at @toddradom, and on Instagram at @toddradom.
Baseball By Design: Twitter | Instagram | Website

Chris Creamer, SportsLogos.net

Chris Creamer founded the website SportsLogos.net 25 years ago, and since then it's become an invaluable resource for fans of sports logos, uniforms, and branding news. Baseball By Design host Paul Caputo has been covering minor league baseball logos for Chris's site since 2014, and so it's only fitting that Chris is the guest on the debut episode of the podcast.
Follow Chris on Twitter at @sportslogosnet and Instagram at @sportslogosnet.
Baseball By Design: Twitter | Instagram | Website

Baseball By Design Trailer

Baseball By Design will explore the stories behind the nicknames and logos of minor league baseball teams at all levels. Join SportsLogos.net minor league baseball Paul Caputo correspondent for conversations with front office personnel, designers, players, and fans!