Cultural Identity, Symbolization, and Landscape: The Use of Minor League Baseball Logos in Geographic Education

Aloha QR Code Readers! If you are reading this post, you must have scanned the code on my AAG poster: “Cultural Identity, Symbolization, and Landscape: The Use of Minor League Baseball Logos in Geographic Education”

This blog post is a placeholder for my presentation this April. Here I will compile further information and documentation, including links and references.

ABSTRACT:

This presentation explores the intersection of cultural identity, symbolization, and cultural landscapes through the lens of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) logos, with a focus on utilization in geographic education. The word “logos” translates from the original Greek as “reason” or “the word”. Logos direct us to an accurate representation of the world. Logos express our dreams, aspirations, and cultural connections. MiLB logos are dynamic cultural artifacts and convey geographic themes. Logos may encapsulate the spirit of distinct regions, represent forgotten history, and embody communal pride and aspirations. There is often multiple layers of significance. Conversely, sports logos have stirred debate and contention, as some icons have been interpreted negatively. Cultural geography teaching modules were created to examine the changing geography of MiLB and the symbolic meaning of the logos. A lesson plan was created to engage students in the meaning within the symbology. Students sought and explained the “truth” inherent in selected logos. Student writing uncovered the profound ways in which logos illuminate the intricate weave of cultural identity within geographic landscapes. Furthermore, students cooperated on a creative role-playing assignment. They designed unique logos to represent their hometowns. Critical thinking was combined with creative writing and artistic license in this pedagogical experiment. This report suggests the potential use of MiLB logo design as a pedagogical tool to enhance geographic inquiry, literacy, and nurture understanding of cultural landscapes and a sense of place, identity, and regional awareness.

Keywords: Cultural identity, symbolization, place, pedagogical tools, sports geography

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LOGOS LITERATURE REVIEW

 

SUGGESTED READING:

Caputo, P. J., & Creamer, C. (2018). The Story Behind the Nickname: The Origins of 100 Classic, Contemporary, and Wacky Minor League Baseball Team Names.

Coleman, N. (2020). Mascots In Baseball.

Creamer, C., & Radom, T. (2020). Fabric of the Game: The Stories Behind the NHL’s Names, Logos, and Uniforms. Sports Publishing.

Fulgaro, J. (1997). Sports Logo Guide. Amazon.

Maloney, J. (2023). Minor League Mania: Weird Names and Crazy Promotions in Minor League Baseball.

Radom, T. (2018). Winning Ugly: A Visual History of the Most Bizarre Baseball Uniforms Ever Worn. Sports Publishing.

Stone, D. & Stone, G. (2003). Logo R.I.P.: A Commemoration of Dead Logotypes. BIS Publishing.

More about my logos project here:

This slide set was presented at SEDAAG in Norfolk VA 2023.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LOGOS LITERATURE REVIEW

Greetings QR code readers! If you are viewing this post, you must have viewed my poster presentation. The following is a list of academic sources for my study of the underlying geographic and cultural meaning in minor league baseball logos. 

Agha, N., Goldman, M. M., & Dixon, J. C. (2016). Rebranding: the effect of team name changes on club revenue. European Sport Management Quarterly, 16(5), 675–695. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2016.1210664

Bernthal, M., Ballouli, K., & Nugent, N. (2022). Toward a Better Understanding of Parent Versus Local Team Branding in Minor League Baseball. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 31(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.32731/SMQ.311.0322.01

Cavuto, P. (2023). Baseball By Design: Stories of Minor League Logos and Nicknames [Audio podcast]. Curved Brim Media Network.

Cianfrone, B. A., McGehee, G. M., & Brison, R. H. (2013). And the Home of the Braves: A Case Study of the Gwinnett Braves. Sport Management Education Journal, 7(1), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.1123/smej.7.1.60

Cryan, M. (2023). Major League Baseball Seized Control of the Minor Leagues: What Happened, What’s Happening Now, and What it Means for Players, Fans, Owners, and Cities. Nine (Edmonton), 32(1), 17–33. https://doi.org/10.1353/nin.2023.a903311

Dorfman, J. (2018, Nov 18). Minor league baseball accentuates all the best parts of baseball. University Wire. Retrieved from https://login.proxy181.nclive.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/minor-league-baseball-accentuates-all-best-parts/docview/2134938535/se-2

Dwyer, B., Le Crom, C. W., Tomasini, N., & Smith, G. A. (2011). The Richmond what? The naming of a minor league baseball franchise. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 20(1), 56–56.

Geoghegan, W. (2020). Summer baseball nation : nine days in the wood bat leagues. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press.

Harrison, V. S., Bober, J., Buckley, C., & Vallos, V. (2023). “Save Our Spikes”: Social Media Advocacy and Fan Reaction to the End of Minor League Baseball. Communication and Sport, 216747952311519-. https://doi.org/10.1177/21674795231151916

Jacobsen, K. A. (2013). The Accidental Mascot: How Mr. Celery Reached His Salad Days with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Nine (Edmonton), 22(1), 130–136. https://doi.org/10.1353/nin.2013.0042

Lewison, M. I. (2001). Organizations and logos: Effects of visual symbols on stakeholder social identity. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Mann, Lucas. (2013). Class A : baseball in the middle of everywhere (1st ed.). New York: Pantheon Books.

Mitchell, M., Clark, M., & Nimmo, S. (2023). Environmental Sustainability Practices in Minor League Sports. The Sport Journal.

Mitchell, M., Voegel, J., & Nimmo, S. (2022). Ensuring the Business Sustainability of Minor League Baseball After the COVID Global Pandemic. The Sport Journal, 1-.

Simmons, J., Naraine, M. L., & Greenwell, C. (2023). Factors Influencing Fan Acceptance or Rejection of a Sport Team’s Revolutionary Rebrand. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 32(2), 91–104. https://doi.org/10.32731/SMQ.322.062023.01

Taylor, D. (2005). Minor league baseball team’s name changed to The Bees. The Enterprise, 35(18), 1-.

Treder, S. (2023). In Memoriam: The California League, 1879–2020. Nine (Edmonton), 32(1), 86–99. https://doi.org/10.1353/nin.2023.a903315

Williams, A. S., & Son, S. (2022). Sport rebranding: the effect of different degrees of sport logo redesign on brand attitude and purchase intention. International Journal of Sports Marketing & Sponsorship, 23(1), 155–172. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSMS-01-2021-0016

Zeitler, E. (2013). Double-Play: Using Minor League Baseball to Apply Themes and Standards in Human Geography. Journal of Geography, 113 (1), 29-40.

 

WEBSITES AND LINKS:

The official website of Minor League Baseball

https://www.milb.com/

 

Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos website link for Minor League Baseball

https://www.sportslogos.net/leagues/list_by_category/22/Minor_League_Baseball/logos

 

Paul Cavuto’s weekly podcast about minor league baseball logos:

https://baseballbydesign.podbean.com/

 

“Steve the Ump” website:

https://www.stevetheump.com/minorlogos.htm

 

Baseball mapper website. Find a team near you!

https://www.baseballmapper.com/

 

Ballpark guide for fans of minor league baseball

https://www.theballparkguide.com/minors

Something Lost: Place, Iconography , and the Logos of Meaning in Minor League Baseball

Today I will share the images from my presentation at the Southeastern Association of American Geographers conference held in Norfolk, Virginia on November 18th to 21st, 2023.

ABSTRACT: This narrative explores the intricate interplay of geographic place and iconography within the evolving cultural mosaic of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) logos. Beyond their visual appeal, logos serve as profound reflections of local culture, environment, and history. Scrutinizing their design elements and symbolism, we unearth how logos encapsulate the spirit of distinct regions, represent forgotten history, and embody communal pride and aspirations. Set against the backdrop of MiLB nostalgic Americana, this exploration delves into the poignant concept of “something lost” – the vibrant tapestry of MiLB teams lost during Major League Baseball’s (MLB) post-pandemic consolidation. Logos, symbolizing a franchise’s raison d’être, stand as vestiges of cherished facets of communities. Logos are vessels of collective memory, tracing the echoes of a vanishing era, and can pave the way for the emergence of contemporary and updated identities. Symbolism becomes contextual within distinct cultures of a changing America. Reorganization, marketing trends and fiscal realities have transformed the character of MiLB’s unique depiction of Americana. The ongoing adaptation of this project for geographic education aims to cultivate an understanding of how logos can illuminate the intricate fabric of cultural identity.

Keywords: Sports geography, culture, symbolism

For a quick view of the slides, just play this YouTube video.

Colleagues — If you want me to narrate the presentation, set up a web meeting with me!

Click on any slide to view the full slide presentation! (Note that the embedded video is just a blank screen on these image slides.)

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