Team Logo Power Rankings – Vol. 2: The Low-A Southeast League

Back at it again this week with our Team Logo Power Rankings! This week we’re staying in the Low-A pipeline, but taking a look at the Southeast League specifically. In case you missed it, last week we power ranked the Low-A East league. You can check that out here!

Last week it was just me and Manny running this show. This week, we have Chris joining us to add his take. We also have a special guest: our buddy Conor joins the blog as our resident Pirates fan to offer up his insight on the Pirates Low-A affiliate as well as the other 9 teams in the league. So with 4 guys doing these rankings, our scores might not be as nice and round as last time, but that also may reduce the event of a tie. (Spoiler: It did!)

Again as a reminder, we will only be ranking logos used in the current (2021) season. We are not taking a look at any alternate/past/retro logos. Look out for that in the future.

We’re pulling our logos from this MiLB article series as our reference – the ones you see below 👇

Here’s a reminder of our categories & scoring system.

THE CATEGORIES

• UNIQUENESS: How much does this logo stand out from the rest in the division/league?
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: At first glance, how much or how little does the logo intimidate an opposing team when they see them on the schedule?
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: Does the logo include remnants of where they play ball? Landmarks, environmental factors, local history, etc. are all in play in this category.
• COLOR SCHEME: This one is pretty basic. But color contrast matters, especially when you’re creating a uniform based around the team identity. Some teams do a great job keeping their designs aesthetically pleasing.

Each category will be graded on a scale of 1-4 with a 4 representing that teams’ excellence in the category and a 1 representing their need for improvement. We all scored these logos independently, and each of our respective category scores were averaged out for the category scores you will see detailed below each logo. Those categories will be totaled for a final logo score which will position each team in the rankings. A perfect score would be a 16 (ICONIC) and the worst possible score would be a 4 (DO. BETTER.).

*IN THE EVENT OF A OVERALL SCORE TIE, WE WILL PROVIDE A FINAL RANKING SOLELY BASED ON THE AVERAGE SCORE IN THE “UNIQUE” CATEGORY *

*IF TIE STILL EXISTS, 2ND TIE-BREAKER IS A TEAM’S HIGHEST UNIQUE SCORE GIVEN TO THEM BY THE T3S CREW*

Low-A Southeast League Power Rankings

• UNIQUENESS: 2/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 1/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 1/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 1.75/4

Our thoughts: This is a classy-looking logo, and there’s nothing wrong with it. It Represents the Blue Jays well as it’s Similar to the Cardinals in the sense that it’s Very easy to identify their affiliate. Our main issues Are: 1) actual Blue Jays aren’t even native to Florida, and 2) This is not intimidating at all. Bring back the 2003 toronto blue jays Logo and we’ll be shaking in our cleats. Come to think of it, teams like this should just use old logos as hand-me-downs to their affiliates.

• UNIQUENESS: 1.75/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 1/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 1.5/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 2.5/4

Our thoughts: This Might just be the most confusing logo WE have seen thus far in low-A baseball. Is it St. Lucie or St. Louis? Cardinals with mets colors? What are we doing here? The color scheme might be the only positive thing going for this one. Do better, METS. 

• UNIQUENESS: 2/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 2/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 2/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 1.25/4

Our thoughts: This looks like a shark playing with a baseball at sea world, just pushing it around with his (or her) nose. don’t love it but we also don’t hate it. IF THEY REWORKED THIS LOGO TO SHOW THE BASEBALL BEING BATTED AWAY BY THE SHARK TAIL, IT WOULD BE a 10/10. Unfortunately for them, There’s a cooler shark they had to compete with in this league.

• UNIQUENESS: 1.75/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 1.25/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 2.75/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 2.5/4

Our thoughts: Iconic logo, WITH THE CLASSIC CARDINALS TOUCH. easy to identify their affiliate but it’s kindA played out. We think the lower TEIR minor league TEAM should have their own brand identiTy. The intimidation FACTOR points comes from seeing that cardinal bird and getting the old-BUSCH-stadium-MCgWire-hitting-bombs VIBE, but there’s nothing actually threatening about this bird. Is it very original? No. But we see the direction the Palm Beach cardinals are going in by keeping with their organizational tradition. 

• UNIQUENESS: 3/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 2.25/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 1.5/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 2/4

Our thoughts: What in the American Airlines Flight wing pin is this? DID this lion pass away and this is a tribute to him? (R.I.P., if so). Tigers are threatening, but Aside from being a Tigers affiliate, there is nothing to write home about here. WE guess the face they didn’t include a baseball bat in the logo is slightly unique. BUT THERE IS So much left to be desired. With a team name like the flying tigers, WE thought the logo COULD’VE BEEN MORE EXCITING. 

• UNIQUENESS: 2.5/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 1.75/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 2.5/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 2.25/4

Our thoughts: We don’t hate it. It’s A little intimidating, yet still gives US Carolina Mudcat ‘derpy’ vibes. He kinda looks like he just jumped out of the water, saw the Lakeland flying tiger rocketing towards him in the sky, and is in a state of complete shock. It’s Appropriate to the region with all the water surrounding Tampa/St. pete, and it’s Unique enough. The Colors are giving US early Marlins vibes but still keeping the navy/grey/white yankees color scheme. Redesign idea: Have the tarpon leaping out of the water catching a potential home run ball with angry eyes. 

• UNIQUENESS: 2.5/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 2.75/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 2/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 2.5/4

Our thoughts: finally, a human face. It’s A solid and fun logo that plays off their affiliate in the pittsburgh pirates with the classic black & gold color scheme. This “Marauder” guy is actually more intimidating than the actual pittsburgh pirates guy. We weren’t fortunate enough to get a whole body shot but in doing research, we know this dude is an absolute unit. 100% squats and benches more than that skinny pirate at the major league level. However, We think his smile is a little too good. The guy clearly has a top tier dental plan, but can we get him a gold tooth or two? 

• UNIQUENESS: 2.5/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 2.75/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 2.75/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 2/4

Our thoughts: The shark on the logo does not quite resemble a real hammerhead shark, at least the versions we’ve grown up seeing. This looks more like Fonzie leaning up on the jukebox, which definitely makes this guy The cooler of the two sharks. But His evil grin makes him a shark I can’t trust. He’s A guy on the street corner asking if i need to borrow some money after losing my 14-team parlay. The lighthouse in the background is a nice touch, though.

• UNIQUENESS: 3.5/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 2.25/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 2.5/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 2.75/4

Our thoughts: Original. You rarely ever see turtles in sports logos. Looks cool and the color scheme of blue and green always plays. The Sea turtle is appropriate for the region and my man looks like he’s cruising through that D. We like it. Turtles are Not very menacing in nature, so it isn’t too intimidating here representing a baseball team. Curious to know how aggressively a turtle could swing a bat? What’s the scouting report on him? bat speed: 0.5 mph? Exit velo: garbage? overall, however, strong logo. 

• UNIQUENESS: 4/4
• INTIMIDATION FACTOR: 3.5/4
• GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION: 2.5/4
• COLOR SCHEME: 3/4

Our thoughts: now this is a Super unique logo. The ripped arms (ala mark mcgwire), beautiful color scheme, the way the mussels’ hat has “FM” on it. It’s just an embodiment of what logos and mascots can be for low-A ball when there is actual effort put in. We love it. The mussel inside the shell, Made to be a baseball with muscles. Checks all the boxes. A couple of years ago they had the name “Miracle”, and we thank god they changed it up. Truly One of the best rebrand stories in sports.

Complete Rankings

1. Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
2. Daytona Tortugas
3. Jupiter Hammerheads
4. Bradenton Marauders
5. Tampa Tarpons
6. Lakeland Flying Tigers
7. Palm Beach Cardinals
8. Clearwater Threshers
9. St. Lucie Mets
10. Dunedin Blue Jays

Stay tuned for our next Logo Power Rankings, as we tackle the Low-A West League next week!