Already among the most recognizable and popular trademarks in the game of baseball, the Quad Cities River Bandits' logo is in the field of only 32 logos selected for Baseball America's Logo Mania, which gives fans the chance to vote for their favorite logos online in a bracket format to decide the top logo in the Minor League Baseball over the next two weeks.
Each round of Baseball America's Logo Mania (#BALogoMania) will consist of three days of online voting, with the winner of each head-to-head matchup moving to the next three-day round until a champion is crowned. Voting for the first round goes through Thursday, May 14, with the second round beginning at 9 a.m. Central on Friday, May 15. A link to vote is at riverbandits.com, and there is no limit to the number of votes cast per day.
Placed in the "Creatures" quadrant of the bracket, the River Bandits' primary logo features the team's raccoon mascot, Rascal the River Bandit, and two arches of the Centennial Bridge that is a signature of the ballpark's backdrop and an iconic feature within the Quad Cities.
"The selection of the River Bandits logo for Baseball America's Logo Mania is a further celebration of the special identity of our team with our great community," said team owner Dave Heller. "The image of Rascal the River Bandit is a beloved symbol in the Quad Cities, as it represents a region that has so many special characteristics and has become emblematic for affordable, fun, family-friendly entertainment."
Released anew in November 2013, the primary logo clearly grounds the River Bandits within the club's home community of the Quad Cities, while the secondary logos complete the story of the River Bandits by showing just the raccoon's head (adorned with his trademark fedora and bandana). The raccoon is shown taking batting practice, riding the team's 110-foot tall Ferris wheel, and holding a baseball in his paw. The final secondary logo is an homage to the old River Bandits logo of the baseball with a bandana, by showing it splashing into the Mississippi River.
"When we introduced the new River Bandits logos, we are excited to tell more of the story of the River Bandits and our unique location in the Quad Cities," said River Bandits General Manager Andrew Chesser. "We are thrilled to see these logos are already considered among the very best in the game of baseball."
In recent seasons, fans across the baseball world have recognized the River Bandits and Modern Woodmen Park. The ballpark was voted the Best Minor League Ballpark in a fan vote by USA TODAY and 10Best.com, the River Bandits' home cap was voted the best in all of Class-A baseball, and the team's name was voted as one of the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball in a Sporting News contest. Also, as of Wednesday morning, fans voting on MiLB.com had ranked Modern Woodmen Park's R.I.A. Federal Credit Union Hon. Lane Evans Patriot Seats as the No. 2 "Best Seat in the House" in a contest to decide the best seating view in minor league ballparks.
