NEW YORK — The Detroit Tigers’ Double-A Erie SeaWolves will probably be renamed the Erie Moon Mammoths after being picked by John Oliver of HBO’s “Final Week Tonight.”
Oliver devoted a Could 4 section to names and promotions of minor league baseball groups, saying: “We’re keen to make use of all of our sources and stupidity to offer one Minor League Baseball staff a complete rebrand. We provides you with a brand new staff identify, a brand new mascot. We’ll even throw you a theme night time. Will probably be customized and it is going to be bespoke.”
Two weeks later, Oliver chosen Erie from amongst 47 staff submissions. Oliver mentioned the northwestern Pennsylvania staff had given 11 causes it needs to be picked, together with that the staff had pioneered cotton sweet sizzling canines and “The SeaWolves play baseball nowhere close to the ocean.”
Oliver introduced Sunday that he had chosen to name the staff the Moon Mammoths. Longtime sportscaster Bob Costas narrated a promotional video introducing the moniker.
The identify was impressed by the 1991 discovery of woolly mammoth stays by George Moon, a Summit Township resident who discovered a bone whereas scuba diving in Lake Nice, about eight miles south of Erie. The mammoth stays are housed within the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.
Erie, which has received the previous two Japanese League championships, will probably be renamed the Moon Mammoths for video games on July 19, Aug. 19, Sept. 12 and Sept. 13.
Main League Baseball mentioned on Monday the staff will put on jerseys with a rising moon, the staff’s identify throughout the chest, a moon on the sleeves and a patch with a woolly mammoth sporting an area helmet.
Oliver is predicted to attend the July 19 recreation in opposition to the Chesapeake Baysox, themed a “Mammoth Enjoyable” night time. The primary 1,000 ticketed followers will obtain a Moon Mammoths squishy toy and there will probably be postgame fireworks. George Moon was additionally invited to attend.