One of the most important things a new sports franchise can do to bring in fans is package itself with a dynamic color scheme and a hip, cool logo. In fact, when the Brooklyn Nets moved from New Jersey last year, the team sought the advice of no less than advertising legend Steve Stoute and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z to create its stark black-and-white color scheme and minimalist logo design.
But while it makes sense to get the cream of the crop to design the logo for your big-time NBA team, the stakes are a little bit lower if you're, say, a minor league hockey team playing in basketball-mad Lexington, Ky. Then you might just settle for something quick, easy, and maybe a little bit wacky. Something like this:
While the Thoroughblades' logo would appear exceptionally ridiculous in the context of the hyper-professionalized logos of Major League Baseball or the National Football League, a deep dive through the archives at sportslogos.net tells us that the now-defunct Thoroughblades are just one of many minor league teams who've wowed fans with sensationally absurdist logo designs.
It's in this spirit that we bring you our list of 15 completely ridiculous minor league sports logos.
Montgomery Biscuits (Ala.), baseball, 2004-2008
Eugene Emeralds (Ore.), baseball, 2013-present
Asheville Tourists (N.C.), baseball, 1980-2004
Everett Aquasox (Wash.), baseball, 2010-present
Lansing Lugnuts (Mich.), baseball, 1996-present
New Haven Beast (Conn.), hockey, 1996-1999
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Ore.), baseball, 1997-present
Saint John Mill Rats (Canada), basketball, 2010-present
Lakewood Blueclaws (N.J.), baseball, 2001-2009
Kentucky Thoroughblades, hockey, 1996-2001
Modesto Nuts (Calif.), baseball, 2005-present
Cedar Rapids Kernels (Iowa), baseball, 2007-present
Nashville Kats (Tenn.), football, 2005-present
Anaheim Piranhas (Calif.), football, 1996-1997
Ogden Raptors (Utah), baseball, 2001-Present
Now take a look at some logos that are actually good.
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