With a new era of baseball coming to Battle Creek, the franchise thinks it has hit a home run with its new name and mascot.
Or, in other baseball terms, they think they ‘Jacked’ it out of the park.
Your new team in town will be called the Battle Creek Battle Jacks.
With a nod toward a former Battle Creek baseball team – the Battle Cats, plus the Battle Creek cereal industry, while also being a play on words when it comes to baseball, and then adding a sometimes cute, but always fierce, Jack Russell Terrier as its new mascot, the team hopes the choice of the Battle Creek Battle Jacks is a hit with its fans.
“Battle Jacks seems to have resonated with the Battle Creek community, and we are incredibly excited to begin this new era for the organization. We have a new owner, a new name, a new logo, and a new vision for what we want this team to be and we can’t wait to share that with the community we call home” said Battle Jacks General Manager Tyler Shore.
The new team name was unveiled at a reveal party in front of nearly 250 fans at Vale Street Venue on Wednesday. The Battle Jacks will continue to play in the Northwoods League, taking the place of the Battle Creek Bombers, which just completed 15 years in summer collegiate baseball.
“Today was perfect. I wouldn’t change anything. The process, leading up to naming the team, coming into today, it was perfect,” said Battle Creek Battle Jacks owner Brian Colopy. “When I first heard the name during the nomination period, it just felt right from the start. From the connections to the old team the Battle Cats, to the connections to the Cereal City and the rest. It just seems to fit Battle Creek. “
Choosing the Battle Jacks comes after the franchise asked the public to submit choices for a new moniker and later had a ‘Name The Team’ vote. With four finalists to choose from, nearly 3,000 votes were cast for the new team name. When all the votes were tallied, 46% of total votes were in favor of Battle Jacks as the new choice for the Battle Creek Baseball Team. Crunchers finished in second place, followed by Blue Collars and Donut.
“I love the new name. The only other one I was close to was the Crunchers. I love the new logo with the dog holding the bat,” said Battle Creek’s Jim Sparks, who was one of the first fans in line to buy a sweatshirt. “I think the new name and new team will bring a breath of fresh air to baseball in Battle Creek.”
As described when the final names were released for voting, the team said the Battle Creek Battle Jacks pays respect to the beloved Battle Cats moniker in a new, fun way. With ties to the city’s cereal background, Jacks can refer to the popular Kellogg’s cereal “Apple Jacks.” A ‘jack of all trades’ is also a figure of speech relating to someone with multiple skills which is prevalent for many community members in the Battle Creek area. Finally, a “jack” is a popular term for a home run, and “Cracker Jacks” are one of the most commonly associated snacks with the game of baseball. The new logo depicts a fierce Jack Russell Terrier heading into battle, carrying a flag bearing the new team moniker. The dog also has a chest protector as part of his battle attire. He is wearing a blue collar, which is a hat tip to the blue collar work ethic of the residents of Battle Creek.
Also part of the presentation was the introduction of the new team manager and two new players. Caleb Lang, who previously managed in Traverse City, will be the first manager of the Battle Jacks. He introduced the first two Battle Jack players – both from MIchigan State University – Dillon Kark and Adam Berghorst.
“I am super excited about being part of this new team and was super excited to hear the new name, just like everyone else,” Lang said.
The Battle Jacks will kick off their inaugural season on May 30th against the defending Northwoods League Champion Traverse City Pit Spitters.
Bill Broderick can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick.
Comments are closed.