When the Mudcats move to Wilson, name change, new colors and new team logos.

[Joseph Zarr]

35 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

 

Clearly Manfred sees it as 'costs'. We saw the Fanatics uniforms last season. Maddening to have such a myopic POV steering these pro sports ships. Can't any of these billionaires think holistically? Good grief. 😅

[patrickgpe]

If MLB wants to reduce cost, I could see them getting rid of rookie league ball and high A. Low A would then be rookie ball. Like @Jim Goulart said though, with all of these new parks going up, I do not think the affiliates would tolerate it. Also for it to work, I think MLB would have to get the MLBPA to agree to NBA like draft eligibility rules, which I don't see. 

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

So my take on it today in person.

Great time at Wilson Air Center, Got a free car flag, mini baseball, and a cookie with the logo. Had WW2 planes fly in and all the front office staff there! Including the new GM(: I like the new name a decent amount. I bought a hat and a t shirt(: Got to take a Pic with Braylon, Josh, and Eric as well. A good time but a bittersweet one as well(;

[TURBO]

25 minutes ago, MudcatsfaninBrunsCO said:

So my take on it today in person.

Great time at Wilson Air Center, Got a free car flag, mini baseball, and a cookie with the logo. Had WW2 planes fly in and all the front office staff there! Including the new GM(: I like the new name a decent amount. I bought a hat and a t shirt(: Got to take a Pic with Braylon, Josh, and Eric as well. A good time but a bittersweet one as well(;

Autographs?

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

4 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Autographs?

Yea(: 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[patrickgpe]

I didn’t care for it as first but have warmed up to it after reading the backstory. The uniforms are really nice. I’m happy that the rebranding isn’t really “minor league”

[duewizard]

5 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Recognizing this type of move and re-brand always ruffles feathers somewhere, frankly, at this point in time - as someone obviously not invested in that specific geographical region - I am just grateful they didn't become 'The Whirligigs'. That felt like a very challenging ask to pull off for a sports team. 'Warbirds' is very Wilson-appropriate and it certainly feels like the community's input was taken quite seriously. I do hope they have some form of an homage to the Mudcats Logo and the Mudcats brand and its diehards find some form of solace throughout this upcoming season. Hopefully, none of this impacts the players or the baseball 'product' on the field. And, hopefully, the proper respects and commemorating and remembering of the Mudcats storyline as a whole is done proper. That's about all I can say about any of this. I'm sure this was an emotional day for many. 

Would be cool if they would use the Mudcats as an alternate identity

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

11 hours ago, duewizard said:

Would be cool if they would use the Mudcats as an alternate identity

I would really appreciate that!!!! A ton more people would too! However, Not like I spent 65 bucks on merch yesterday(; Merry Christmas to me(:

[Playing Catch]

11 hours ago, duewizard said:

Would be cool if they would use the Mudcats as an alternate identity

I think the percent chance of that happening is about 99.9%.

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Just now, Playing Catch said:

I think the percent chance of that happening is about 99.9%.

U think???

[Jim Goulart]

The Mudcats GM confirms that it’s not like the Mudcats identity is to be buried. It’ll be brought out from time to time, as we anticipated.

 

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

2 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

The Mudcats GM confirms that it’s not like the Mudcats identity is to be buried. It’ll be brought out from time to time, as we anticipated.

 

Glad to hear that! I believe David is the acting lead GM for rn however. Eric Gardner stepped down in August(: they had two GM's, One for Baseball Ops, one for other stuff beyond that(:

[RedDox]

On 11/14/2024 at 1:57 PM, MudcatsfaninBrunsCO said:

I personally think Down East's new name is..... The Hub City Spartenburgers!

It is the Spartanburgers.  I live in Spartanburg and people weren't happy.  It was the name (minus the Hub City part) of a Coastal Plain League team that played here in '21.  People are happy though about the team and our sparkling new downtown stadium.  Although I was hoping to see some future Brewers, but MILB bumped up the former Down East affiliate to High A, perhaps to compete with the Greenville Red Sox High A affiliate about a half hour away.

[Brock Beauchamp]

21 minutes ago, RedDox said:

It is the Spartanburgers.  I live in Spartanburg and people weren't happy.  It was the name (minus the Hub City part) of a Coastal Plain League team that played here in '21.  People are happy though about the team and our sparkling new downtown stadium.  Although I was hoping to see some future Brewers, but MILB bumped up the former Down East affiliate to High A, perhaps to compete with the Greenville Red Sox High A affiliate about a half hour away.

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic!

[Jim Goulart]

 

[TURBO]

It's too bad they don't just leave the water tower as is to pay homage to the team that played there for so long...

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

https://www.milb.com/carolina-mudcats/news/joe-ricciutti-named-president-of-brewers-class-a-affiliate-wilson-warbirds?partnerID=web_article-share

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers have named Joe Ricciutti as President – Wilson Warbirds, Class A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The announcement was made by Brewers President – Business Operations Rick Schlesinger.

 

Ricciutti will serve as the lead executive for the Wilson/Carolina Class A franchise including business and ballpark operations and will provide leadership and vision for the organization as the team begins play in a new city and new downtown Wilson stadium in 2026. Ricciutti will begin his role on January 6 and will oversee the transition of the franchise (currently the Carolina Mudcats) from Zebulon, N.C. to Wilson, N.C. following the 2025 season. David Lawrence, the current Mudcats General Manager – Business Development and Brand Marketing, will remain with the organization in a leadership role.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers committed to bringing professional baseball back to Wilson and announced the re-brand of the Brewers Class A Affiliate in late November. The Wilson Warbirds name, logos and uniforms were all unveiled in November at a community ceremony at the Wilson Industrial Air Center. The Wilson Warbirds are owned and operated by the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

“Joe has a demonstrated record of great success in the industry, and his wealth of experience will prove invaluable in building business relationships, operating a beautiful new ballpark and developing a world-class fan experience,” said Schlesinger. “We look forward to the leadership and vision Joe will bring to our Warbirds as they prepare to move to their new home in Wilson.”

 

Ricciutti comes to the Warbirds after seven years with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, High-A Affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, where he most recently served the organization as President. Ricciutti served as the main liaison between the team and key stakeholders, including Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies, and local elected officials at the state, county, and city levels, concerning the funding and completion of the PDL Facility Compliance capital construction project. Additionally, Ricciutti led a rebranding initiative in 2020, transitioning the Lakewood BlueClaws to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Ricciutti directed all business functions including ticket sales, sponsorship sales, finance, marketing, stadium operations, gameday operations, food and beverage, human resources, retail and grounds.

 

Ricciutti also served seven years as Assistant Vice President, University Event Management at Columbia University in New York City and previously was President of the Staten Island Yankees from 2007-2011.

 

“It is an honor to join the Milwaukee Brewers organization as the President of the Wilson Warbirds. I look forward to building a best-in-class organization that Wilson will be proud to call their hometown team,” said Ricciutti.

 

Ricciutti serves as an Adjunct Professor, teaching a master’s degree class in Sports Administration at Rutgers University and Principles of Management and Applied Sports Management at his alma mater, College of Staten Island.

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

On 12/16/2024 at 1:34 PM, Jim Goulart said:

 

I'm in this! I have the cream fitted hat and navy coat beyond the kid in the black hoodie! So glad I was there now(:

[Playing Catch]

Those jerseys are all dynamite.

[TURBO]

The jerseys look like they are made of rubber...

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

16 hours ago, TURBO said:

The jerseys look like they are made of rubber...

Its juat the Rendering(: The ones at the Name drop looked great!

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

I want to thank Chris Edwards for a great 2024 season behind the mic from coming in a pinch.

We all know by now that after the 2023 season the 8 year Voice of the Mudcats and fan favorite.... Greg Young stepped down for personal reasons away from baseball.

Greg was always fun as well. He even was apart the scary story of the bus crash through the backroads of Whiteville, NC heading to MB " when radio crews went to road game(;"

Chris came in May as the Colin Casey ride came to a end after the month of April(; Chris was always allowing fans to email in to him starting in the 4th inning for shoutouts, questions, and more! He also did a "this day in baseball history" every game he did.

Chris had a great voice and kept us fans in to the game. Feel free to put below your favorite memory from this past season with Chris behind the mic!

Even though if we had Evan Budrovich for the week of the U.S Open in Pinehurst, NC, We still had a great Mudcats season on Bally Live, MILB.TV, or www.carolinamudcats.com/listenlive! 

Chris... If you ever read this....

THANK YOU! 

MudcatsfaninBrunsCo or Finn for his shoutouts(: 

[Jim Goulart]

Coming along...

Baseball stadium construction goes vertical