Team Logo Power Rankings Vol. 8: The Double-A Central League

Sean

“A cardinal bird perched on the yellow bat? Classic. Can’t knock it for it’s affiliation to their parent team. But I think we’ve spoken about this before on the blog, the minor league affiliates should have their own identity. Let them stray away from Mama Bear (or Cardinal in this case). I don’t hate this logo, but also, don’t love it.”

Manny

“At this point I’m starting to think that the Cardinals as an organization have an order on all affiliates to use the cardinal bird and bat somehow. NEXT”

PAUL CAPUTO

“I’ll keep this short. Minor league baseball teams should not be named for their parent clubs.”

Erik the peanut guy

“I feel like I’ve seen this logo before? However, the specific font of the “S” is distinct among “S”s in the Minors. That Cardinal side-eye makes me feel self-conscious. As for geography, the “S” stands for Springfield and I do like a letter logo that proudly calls out its hometown name. No comment on the color scheme. Thank God for a bright yellow bat.”

Sean

“Leading the league in attendance for a solid 15 years means that Dr. Pepper Ballpark (cool stadium name) should be an intimidating place to play if your coming in there from another city. In the end, they try to get a little fancy with the letter logo, and although the colors are decent, we know how letter logos are viewed around these parts.”

Manny

“STOP, DROP, SHUT EM DOWN, OPEN UP SHOP , NOOOO NOOOOO THIS LOGOS A NOOOOO”

Scoop

“Great logo, but I loved the old ones from their Independent League days.”

PAUL CAPUTO

“My fellow logo rankers on this site don’t like type-based logos, but I hope this one does okay. The overall brand is based on Teddy Roosevelt, but he does not appear in this cap logo that we’re ranking. What does appear is a double script R meant to evoke the time period when Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders led the charge up San Juan Hill. It’s an elegant look, and in its color choices and style evocative of the region. I like this one all around.”

Erik the peanut guy

“I can honestly say I’ve never seen a logo like this! Two letters (the same letter) shadowing themselves, not interlocking.  I usually prefer logos that feature the letter of the hometown, not the nickname/mascot. I’m wondering if someone from Frisco would want to rock an “F” on a hat instead of a “RR.” But with all that said, I really dig this!  In fact, when a friend visited this ballpark, I had her bring me back this hat!  I’ll happily rock the “RR.” It’s pretty, so intimidation factor is low. While there’s no graphic representation of geographic features, the name “RoughRiders” is a really cool historical tie to Teddy Roosevelt gathering men for his famous cavalry regiment from the Frisco, TX area.  The font in the logo harkens back to an earlier time. And while this “RR” logo is monochromatic, their whole logo suite features super cool shades of burgundy, cream, and blue, meant to mimic the “weathered” look of a sun-bleached American or Texan flag. How awesome is that?”

Sean

“Wind Surge? This looks more like a gas station logo from 1979. The horse looks a bit terrifying, but I’m not in love with the colors and I just think this logo looks a bit outdated.”

Manny

“Getting Cleveland Gladiator logo vibes from this one. The anger that the horse has is quite intimidating. The beady red eyes and charging stance lets you know this pony is ready to buck.”

Paul caputo

“This one is designed by Todd Radom, who has done great work at all levels of professional sports. The pegasus is flying on the wind—which is the source of much of the industry in Wichita—but the horse logo is also a call back to Wichita’s western roots, and its previous team the Wranglers. The primary colors are a classic in professional sports. This one wins points in my book on all counts.”

Erik the peanut guy

“Gotta say, I’ve never seen a Pegasus in a baseball logo before!  While it doesn’t necessarily scream “sports logo” when I first look at it, it IS very eye-catching. I think I’d like to buy a hat with it on it. Don’t look the Pegasus in the eyes as it kinda reminds me of that demon horse at the Denver airport. Stay away! As someone who works for (and is a huge fan for) a Minor League Baseball team named after the ferocious wind gusts in our area, I can dig this name & look!  Can’t wait to experience the wind surges in Wichita myself someday. Can we pass a law that no more teams can use red & blue as their primary colors when they rebrand?  It’s uninspired. However, like Amarillo, the light blue and yellow really add a cool dimension to this one.  And I understand it incorporates the colors of the Wichita city flag.”

Sean

“Ok letter logos. You’re evolving. I know it’s basically just an ‘N’, but the lightning and connection to the movie/novel “The Natural” just makes perfect sense. The colors go so well together, and the only thing really hurting this from being perfect is the intimidation factor.”

Manny

“very middle of the pack logo. It’s a letter at the end of the day. The lighting as part of the N is cool but it is what it is a letter logo.”

Paul caputo

“They’re called the Naturals mostly because they play in “the Natural State,” but also because the team’s owners have connections to the producers of the movie The Natural. It’s definitely unique in minor league baseball—the overall brand is soothing nature scenes—and certainly appropriate to the location. The color scheme and the lightning make this cap logo as intimidating as possible within the confines of the brand.”

Erik the peanut guy

“This lightning bolt making up the major portion of the “N” is really cool. Great visual representation of what the team is named after (the weather & geography of NW Arkansas). In regards to intimidation… I mean. Lightning can be dangerous, right? 100% the most “geographic” logo of the bunch! At first, I’m like, “Boo! More red & blue.” 😦  But then, I’m like, “Well, they ARE bolder shades of red & blue.  And I guess there’s some gold in there, too.” 🙂 Not the worst.”

Sean

“Again, letter logos are evolving as we go up the minor league ladder. Love the colors on this, love the mission bell and connection to Texas, it’s for sure unique by letter logo standards. Solid, solid logo here.”

Manny

“How do you have a logo that respectfully plays tribute to it’s roots and background. This logo is your example. The bell in the A the the S and how it’s a hat with the tail it’s all perfect.”

Paul caputo

“Certainly appropriate to the area, and the fact that it’s a rare logo named for buildings makes it unique. Brown and blue aren’t the most eye-popping of color schemes, but they work for the area. Not really intimidating, but it’s not attempting that, so it’s hard to detract points.”

Erik the peanut guy

“Remember the Alamo! Totally unique name, totally unique logo.  I kind of love how they went all in for forming each letter out of a different local item.  Instead of just being a boring “SA,” this logo tells a lot of the story of what the Missions are named after. Literally using images from a world-famous building in your hometown! The navy blue / khaki color scheme can really work if it’s done right, in my opinion. (I know, I’m biased.)  It really works here. And it’s a cool connection to the San Diego Padres’ former color scheme since the Missions used to be, and are now again, affiliated with the Padres.”

Sean

“This almost looks like a bloody sword ⚔️ of some sort of futuristic Game of Thrones movie. Honestly, pretty cool, but it leaves me wanting more. Great job in regards to representing the oil drilling industry of the area.”

Manny

“nice tip of the cap to the oil drilling industry in OKC. Although it is a letter logo the T represents the oil rig and the droplet of oil coming off the T looks very nice. Nice execution overall.”

Paul caputo

“This logo is dark and brooding—it’s rare to see a brand with no warm colors at all. The various shades of blue and black, along with a type-based logo that evokes a drill that you’d find used in the oil industry that pervades the area, give this brand a certain amount of menace. This is one of the first brands created by Brandiose, then called Plan B, and it has held up well.”

Erik the peanut guy

“Classic, strong, distinct, and memorable. Everything you’d want in a ball club’s logo. The bold lines and sharp angles look formidable. This is a perfect way to incorporate the local geography & industry without being too heavy-handed. It’s classic – unapologetic, yet simple. Such a cool color scheme! I think nowadays, they default to more of the simple Dodgers blue & white (their MLB partner), but this logo used to have really cool shades of ice blue, burnt sienna, and other unique colors.  They might still use them sometimes.  A really exclusive look!”

Sean

“I think if he had a little dagger in his mouth like a pirate climbing onto a ship, the intimidation factor would go through the roof. But with a hay straw, he looks like he wants to have some fun out there. Otherwise, solid logo.”

Manny

“this is the full embodiment of everything that is MiLB. the colors, the funky logo that makes the casual fan actually have to look up who this logo belongs to. it’s adorable yet fierce.”

Paul caputo

“This league has some of Brandiose’s oldest work (more on that below) and this one, which is among the firm’s most recent creations. The Sod Poodles have had success on the field, and their new brand has made a huge splash in the minor league branding world. And people might think that prairie dogs are cute, but they are nasty little suckers. Points all around for uniqueness, geographic appropriateness, and intimidation, with a classic if perhaps overused color scheme.”

Erik the peanut guy

“Amarillo understood the assignment!  This logo works primarily because of its uniqueness.  Who the heck else rocks the prairie dogs? This poodle of the sod looks like he’s about to do something to you if you get any closer. I spent some time in Amarillo once.  Loved it! The Texas panhandle has distinct geography & unique critters. This logo captures them both. I’m sorry, but the plethora of minor league baseball teams that use red & blue as their colors bums me out. The Soddies stand out, though, by incorporating light blue and yellow (hello… “amarillo”!).  They make it work well.”

Sean

“It took me a few looks to really see the horse wrapping around the ‘A’, and it takes the logo to a whole new level. And Ace looks like an absolute STUD. It is still a letter logo so it isn’t so intimidating, but also, to have the second-longest-running nickname in minor league baseball history and connect with a song is absolutely amazing and a nod to how loyal they are to their area. Great colors as well. These guys should hang out with the Asheville Tourists. They’d get along quite well.”

Manny

“This gives me heavy Avengers vibes however, upon looking closer and seeing the horse head this logo is definitely a very solid and nice logo. It’s a modern twist on an animal commonly used amongst teams.”

Paul caputo

“The Travelers base their brand on the story of a lost wanderer, but instead of focusing on the guy himself, they focus on his horse. It’s a strong logo, though I can’t shake the feeling that it looks more like a college football team than minor league baseball. It’s hard to go wrong with red and black in a logo, it is appropriate to the area, the horse figure is definitely menacing. It only loses a point in my rankings for uniqueness.”

Erik the peanut guy

“Yay, horse! There are some other minor league teams that have horse-centric brands, but the art style for Arkansas makes it stand out.  We see the horse’s side profile and the “A” is part of its bit. Kinda reminds me of an NFL helmet logo. Cool stuff! This horse’s eyes are squinting at me with intent. Sneering almost. Unsettling. Also, it looks like it’s chiseled out of granite. I’ve heard about some of the interesting historical references the Travelers’ name connects to, but on its face value, I like how this logo makes me think of cowboys & horses in the South. And it looks like its carved out of stone, maybe like something you’d find at a state capitol. Black & red is not the most distinct color scheme, but it works here, especially with the silver accents and multiple shades of red.  Reminiscent of the Los Angeles Angels logo.”

Sean

“The connection to the fishing scene in Corpus Christi is obvious and greatly paid homage to here. I’m not too intimidated by this guy, but the colors are great and he seems like a guy who could get on base and swipe a few bags.”

Manny

“ET looking fish hook boyyyyy. Grumpy old man about to beat someone up boyyy hahah it’s a silly logo.”

Paul caputo

“There’s already a team owned by Nolan Ryan named for his fastball, the Round Rock Express, so the Hooks are named for his curveball instead—the double entendre of the fishing hook is just right for Corpus’s sports fishing community on the Gulf of Mexico. The grimacing hook character is shaped like the letter C for Corpus Christi (another logo of theirs has two hooks instead of one). Definitely unique, I like the color scheme, and it’s appropriate to the region. It’s a bit more cutesy than intimidating, but in today’s minor league baseball landscape, that’s not a bad thing.”

Erik the peanut guy

“An anthropomorphized HOOK? Sign me up!  I can’t think of any other professional sports team with a similar name or look. Not only a hook with eyes, but an ANGRY hook! I’ve never been to the Texas coast, but this logo makes me think of fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.  It does a great job connoting the local vibe to an out-of-towner like me. 😁 Big fan!  Blue like the sea, different shades of it.”

Sean

“Damn. This dog is YOLKED. Plug him in the 4 spot and watch him hit salamis all day long. And then pound a few beers after the game just to feel refreshed. This logo is absolutely phenomenal, and my personal favorite within this league. Yeah, there’s letters involved, but my dog is CARRYING THEM. Love the colors, and of course the connection to geology and oil mining in Texas.”

Manny

“top logo in the central division for me but it’s just squeaky out ahead of 2nd place. this logo is fun, fresh, intimidating and makes for great merch.”

Paul caputo

“Midland just wrapped up its last season as the RockHounds, so we’ve seen the last of this brand on the field. I can’t see a cartoon dog without thinking of Poochie from The Simpsons, so this one loses points for intimidation, but the uniqueness, the local appropriateness (they’re named for the scientists who aid in the search for oil in the region), and the colors are all on point.”

Erik the peanut guy

“I love the cartoony look of this! Makes me think of a fun character from my childhood, watching Saturday morning cartoons. The dog is snarling AND he’s got a bat to hit you with! The tie-in to the regional oil industry is perfect. I’d have to imagine there’s a lot of local pride rooting for a team named after what you do for a living. I’ve always loved the bright, bold, unique colors of orange, brown, and royal blue.  Unlike anything else out there.”