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Wizards to TinCaps - My Take
By Chad Gramling | October 4, 2008
Please indulge me for a moment. I don’t make it a regular practice to use this blog for offering my opinion. The overall mission of BBIFW is to provide a historical archive of the way it happened and happens. That means honest and true reporting of facts and commentary from others. In a sense, I am an outsider looking in as I provide you with content.
But there are occasions where I am compelled to offer my personal opinion. Most of the time, I can shake the compulsion and go on with life. Then, there are times when I allow my ego to take control and actually convince me that someone might care about my opinon. I guess there is a spark of that in every blogger or we probably wouldn’t be blogging, eh?
Anywho, I first learned of the TinCaps name from an acquaintenance who is totally unassociated with the Wizards/TinCaps and Minor League Baseball. That person did some real digging and found it. The story continues, but it’s not my place to tell it.
My initial reaction was that of utter disgust. I sincerely hoped I was being played for a fool.
To explain why, allow me to backtrack just a bit. When the team naming contest was announced, my first thought was that of fear and aprehension. I mean, this is my local team. This is the team I talk to people about. People who live in the area and people who do not. I really wanted a name I could talk about without concern for corniness.
My second thought - and I am not making this up - was “Dear God, please don’t let it be assocated with Johnny Appleseed.” No disrespect to Mr. Chapman and his legacy, but it doesn’t exactly spell progress and new eras. Not only that, I knew I would have to explain the signifigance to people any time I said the team name.
Again, no disrespect to Chapman. I mean, it’s great that his legacy will be continued through the name, but come on! I’d rather talk baseball than apples.
Now, fast forward to the official announcement.
Again, my reaction was that of disappointment. I really had hoped it would be something other than the TinCaps. But the logo and branding softened the blow. To be honest, I like the logo and I’m excited to see the logos on the uniforms.
But beyond that, I’m excited to sit in Parkview Field at Harrison Square on Opening Day. I’ll enjoy several selections of food on the new menu that was previously unavailable at Memorial Stadium. I’m looking forward to finding the best sections of seating (and there will be many) to view the games. I’m looking forward to seeing the other teams from throughout the Midwest League come in and play on our home field as I try to predict which of them will make it to the Major Leagues. I’m looking forward to watching my children enjoy the atmosphere as I teach them more about baseball and hopefully transfer my love of the game to them - which they will then someday transfer unto my grandchildren. I’m looking forward to witnessing the 2010 MWL All-Star Game. I’ve gone to a MiLB AS game each of the last three years, but this will be the first time I will get to enjoy the full events of the All-Star Game (FanFests, Home Run Derbies, Games, etc.).
There’s a lot of things that I’m looking forward to doing in this new era. And the above is probably just the beginning. But, from what is detailed above, the one thing that is not mentioned is a team name. I really couldn’t care less. I hated the “Wizards” moniker when it first came out. I never was all that fond of it, but again, I couldn’t really care less about the name. It’s the game I care about.
I have no doubt that the Fort Wayne Wizards thought about their options long and hard (contrary to the OPINIONS of many others). I have no doubt they have made a decision that is in good interest and perhaps even with the best of intentions. No matter what name they selected, there would be naysayers. So who really cares about a name? Sure, it upsets me to know there are going to be idiots who never matured beyond the fourth grade who will refer to my local team as “potheads” and think the tin cap is a reference to crazies, but then again, is being fanatical about a sports team all that far off?
So, with that, let’s play ball and all join in cheering on the TinCaps as they set out to usher in one of the most exciting new eras in Northeast Indiana Baseball that this region has ever seen.
Go TinCaps!
Topics: IMHO, Midwest League, Parkview Field |
October 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am
At first I was upset about the name, but after a while it grew on me. It is unique, and it is not the worst name you could have.
I googled Ridiculous Team Names and there are:
Butte Pirates
Freeport Pretzels
St. Louis College of Pharmacy Eutectic
Cairo Syrupmakers
Scottsdale Community College Fighting Artichokes
Rhode Island School of Design Nads (you should see the mascot!)
I like the Tin Caps and the logo is great. I think it will fit right into Minor League Baseball.
Jonathan
October 8th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Thanks for commenting Jonathan. Looks like you are in the current minority of those who like the name. I’m still ont eh fense, but leaning toward liking
October 14th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Are you serious ? There actually is a team named the Butte Pirates ???
That one is right up there with Seymour Butts and I.P. Freely !
October 14th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Thanks for commenting and visiting Andy. Not sure if Pirates were a real team or not, but here’s some info on it: http://dossy.org/2005/06/butte-pirates-remember-this-gag/
October 15th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Not a fan of changing a name for the sake of changing a name. A new team, sure…not an established team. Brand equity was already there with the Wizards…and what a great day it would have been for the Wizards to walk into their new ball park. Sad, really.
October 27th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Don’t forget the mighty Albuquerque Isotopes - the AAA franchise of the LA Dodgers!
Named after Homer Simpson made a big deal about his Springfield Isotopes moving to Albuquerque! Life imitates art!
At least the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…
October 29th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
The “Wizards” certainly didn’t win any awards for originality. The “Tin Cups” won’t win any either. It has very little to do with the city and less to do with baseball. It’s not fierce (e.g. Bears, Lions, Sabers) nor does it conjure feelings of nostalgia for history or fantasy by-gones (e.g. Vikings and Giants). Using tin in the name implies weakness. Apples make people think of the dentist, one of people’s biggest fears next to public speaking. And then there’s the juvenile nicknames sure to follow as Chad has mentioned.
I would have much rather the new name reflex any of the positive characteristics above.
On the worst sports names ever list, I’d like to add the “Indiana Loves” - a tennis team out of Indianapolis in the 70’s.