Red Sox’ Single-A Affiliate Rebrands
Yesterday, the Salem Red Sox, Single-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in the Carolina League, unveiled its new moniker and looks. From now on, the Salem Red Sox will be called the Salem Ridge Yaks.
The Ridge Yaks held a kind of “gender reveal party” in its ballpark. The scoreboard was at the center of the stage as the new logo (and name) was projected on it.
The new name, look, and mascot celebrate the region’s outdoor adventure, community pride and connection to the Blue Ridge Mountains. But what is the link between a cow-like animal, that lives in the Himalaya and in Mongolia, and baseball? Well, yak is short for kayak, and kayaking is one of the outdoor activities one can do in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But most of all, yak is slang for home run (one learns something every day).
According to the Salem Ridge Yaks’ website, “the design, colors, fonts, and symbols were thoughtfully created to embody Salem’s heritage and heart. The yak personifies the strength, resilience, and hardworking spirit found both in our players and throughout the agricultural roots of Southwest Virginia. The mountain ranges and pine trees in the yak’s hairline represent the Blue Ridge Mountains and landscapes that make up the backdrop of Salem Memorial Ballpark.”
That hairline is a very thoughtful part of the rebranding. When you look at the secondary logo on the bottom right, you see the identical look of those mountains and the hairline of the yak in the primary logo.
“Each color in the new identity was thoughtfully chosen to ensure it carries meaningful and symbolic ties to the team. The navy and energy blues represent the beauty of the Blue Ridge, while the gold is a tribute to the beautiful sunsets, drawing inspiration from the gold accents in the City of Salem Seal. The iconic red is inspired by the Boston Red Sox, embodying the energy and spirit of baseball,” Salem Red Sox General Manager Allen Lawrence stated.
A part of the merchandise is available in the web shop of the Ridge Yaks. Some of the few caps that are available cost a whopping $48.00, pretty steep if you’d ask me.
This cap is the alternate cap of the Ridge Yaks. It is nice, but not $48.00 nice.
The jerseys are kind off reasonably priced at $95.00. There are three kinds of jerseys: A royal blue, a navy blue, and a white (likely) home jersey.
A nice twist of these jerseys is the different color setting at the bottom of the sleeves.