PaulThology

I’ve written about the dreadfulness of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before…but I know I’m not the only one. Now they’ve changed their name, losing the “Devil” and the seagoing mascot, instead opting for the sun ray as their logo/mascot. Don’t mistake it for a ray of hope though. Their hat still indicates that tuberculosis is the team’s reason for a decade worth of diseased diamond disarray. Me, I prefer the Onion’s take…that they change their sport in addition to the name and uniform.

Last month, I wondered how the Colorado Rockies could ever win the World Series. I knew that the hat logo was not on their side, combining the letters from both the city and the team name. When I was in Colorado when they announced the team logo back in 1992, I thought “How minor league is combining C and R on the cap?” I was able to find ONE other historical example at the Major League level, but it was the old Brewers mitt logo, and they cleverly combined and M and a B (most people just thought it was a glove and ball). Several minor league teams are using the “combine the city and name” letters on their caps, including the Tampa Yankees, Helena Brewers, Brooklyn Cyclones, Connecticut Defenders, Jacksonville Suns, Sarasota Reds, and Tacoma Rainiers (I am sure there are many more).

The team I wish would go to the above logo-clature…the Pulaski Blue Jays. Who doesn’t want an “P, B, and J?” In the major leagues, how about the Orioles (”BO”), Seattle Mariners (”S & M”), Dodgers (”LAD”), and Pirates & Phillies (”PP”)?