Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
When we last checked in with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the New York Mets’ Double-A affiliate had just released their Bathtub Donkeys alternate identity. This tribute to an archaic and perhaps apocryphal state law will be complemented on the team’s 2025 promotional calendar by another, perhaps even more absurd, alter-ego:
The Southern Tier Spicy Meatballs.
"The primary logo features a meatball portrayed as an Italian gondolier on a bed of pasta making its way through a river of sauce with a baseball bat fork," wrote the Rumble Ponies in their press release, providing a perfect example of how, in Minor League Baseball, even straightforward descriptions carry a strong whiff of the whimsical. "The secondary logo features the baseball bat fork of the meatball bat gondolier with spaghetti noodles wrapped around the utensil."
That’s what the Spicy Meatballs look like, but why do they exist in the first place?
There is a significant Italian population throughout central New York’s Southern Tier region, of which Binghamton is a part. The Rumble Ponies specifically single out nearby Endicott as an epicenter of Italian heritage; this locale, along with Binghamton and Johnson City, makes up the Southern Tier’s “Triple Cities” metropolitan area. (From 1923-68, Binghamton’s Minor League team was known as the Triplets, a reference to the Triple Cities.)
"In the early days of Endicott, N.Y., an area known as the North Side was huge with Italian roots," according to the press release. "Many of the Italian immigrants moving to the region worked at the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, Inc. However, many property owners would not sell land to Italian immigrants, so Endicott-Johnson purchased properties for their employees and along the cobblestone streets of Endicott grew the vibrant community of Little Italy..."
The Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, established in 1899, was for a time the largest manufacturer of footwear in the nation. Company president George Johnson, known for his philanthropy and generally enlightened approach to labor relations, bestowed the region with six carousels between 1919 and 1934. These carousels, still operating, inspired the Binghamton Mets to change their name from the Mets to the Rumble Ponies in 2016. A Rumble Pony, you see, is a slang for a carousel horse.
Despite the influence of the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company within the Southern Tier region, the Rumble Ponies have yet to unveil a footwear-themed alternate identity. For an example of such, one doesn’t have to leave the state of New York, or the Mets' farm system. In 2018, the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs (now known as the Mets) played as the Devices, an homage to the ubiquitous Brannock Device foot measuring tool that was invented in Syracuse.
As for the Southern Tier Spicy Meatballs, the aforementioned meatball gondolier will be depicted within a uniform featuring a green, red and white color scheme (in a nod to the Italian flag). The Rumble Ponies will adopt this identity from Aug. 14-16, in conjunction with the annual bazaar staged by the nearby St. Mary of the Assumption church.
Though it remains to be seen how the Spicy Meatballs will fare on the field, their mere existence has already generated plenty of online enthusiasm. No less an entity than the State of New York was moved to weigh in, simply tweeting, "This eats."
Mangia, mangia!
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Marshall Tucker Band in Concert
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are proud to present Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Marshall Tucker Band with Jefferson Starship in concert for the Roll On Down The Highway 2025 Tour at Neuroscience Group Field on Thursday, July 24. Tickets for the concert benefiting Heat and Housing For
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Fan Fest & Rummage Sale Set for April 2
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The 2025 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are ready for you! Fan Fest will be held at Neuroscience Group Field on Wednesday, April 2. A rummage sale will be held on the same day in the Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Club. Both events are scheduled to be
Timber Rattlers Present Granjeros de Wisconsin
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have combined two great promotions into one new alternate identity for Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversion. The Timber Rattlers incredibly popular Udder Tuggers identity provided the inspiration to celebrate baseball’s Hispanic heritage with the creation of Granjeros de Wisconsin!
Here’s Where to Find the Timber Rattlers on TV & Radio in 2025
GRAND CHUTE, WI – If you can’t make it out to Neuroscience Group Field for a Wisconsin Timber Rattlers game, the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers have lots of options to make sure you don’t miss a pitch this season. Broadcast partners WACY (tv32) and WCWF (CW-14) will
25th Anniversary Green Bay Charity Softball Game Hosted by Jordan Love presented by Network Health
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Jordan Love will host the 2025 Green Bay Charity Softball Game presented by Network Health. The Game will start at 7:05pm on Friday, May 23 at Neuroscience Group Field. The event will raise money for Love’s Hands of 10ve Foundation.
3 Little Pigs Grilled Cheese Victorious in 2025 Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats Food Fight
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The finalists of the 2025 Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats Food Fight huffed…and they puffed…and after the votes were counted, the 3 Little Pigs Grilled Cheese sandwich was left standing as the winner!
Timber Rattlers Bring Wisconsin Frozen Pizzas to Life
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Wisconsin is the “Frozen Pizza Capital of the World”. Now, the state has a baseball team to call its own. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have unveiled the Wisconsin Frozen Pizzas as a new identity for the team’s alternate arsenal.
2025 Timber Rattlers Promotional Calendar: Theme Night Ticket Packages
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Extras! Extras! Get all the extras with Theme Night Ticket packages from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers during the 2025 season. We have everything from Princesses to Wrestlers and Sitcom Stars to Hoop Heroes available to make your night at Neuroscience Group Field memorable when you attend
2025 Timber Rattlers Promotional Calendar: Theme Nights & Special Appearances
GRAND CHUTE, WI – It’s the final day of Promo Calendar Week for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers as we announce some theme nights and special guests who will be appearing at Neuroscience Group Field in 2025.
Final Five Announced for 2025 Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats Food Fight
GRAND CHUTE, WI – There were 58 bacony-good recipes submitted by Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fans to the 2025 Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats Food Fight. Those 58 have been whittled to a Final Five. Now, you get your say as you get to vote for your favorite Finalist.
2025 Timber Rattlers Promotional Calendar: Giveaways
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers continue announcing their 2025 promotional calendar today with the giveaways that are scheduled this season.
2025 Timber Rattlers Promotional Calendar: Daily Specials
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are ready to announce their promotional calendar for the 2025 season. There is so much going on this season that we are going to spread this out over the next four days. The week starts with the Daily Promotions. Keep your eyes
Victor Estevez Returns to Manage the Timber Rattlers in 2025
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Victor Estevez is back on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers bench for the 2025 Midwest League season. The Milwaukee Brewers have announced Estevez, who led the 2024 Timber Rattlers to the Midwest League Championship Series and won the Midwest League’s Manager of the Year award, will return
Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats Presents the 2025 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Food Fight
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Bacon makes everything better. That is why the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats are celebrating the tenth Food Fight with a bacon-infused challenge to fans of the Milwaukee Brewers Midwest League affiliate. Starting today – Thursday, February 6 – the public is invited
2025 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Bobblehead Ticket Package is Available
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers went to the lab at the end of the 2024 season to begin concocting their plans for an amazing 2025 season. They came up with a terrific bobblehead lineup that features former Rattlers players, mascots, and a few that are so secret
Salmon’s Becomes Official Bratwurst of the Timber Rattlers
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Fans will enjoy a new official bratwurst of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beginning this season. Salmon’s Meat Products is set to provide brats at Neuroscience Group Field.
New Official Hot Dog of the Timber Rattlers is FAMOUS….Nathan’s Famous
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs will be available at all events held at Neuroscience Group Field starting this year as the new official hot dog of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Timber Rattlers Announce New Staff Member and Promotion from Within
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are announcing two moves in their front office prior to the start of the 2025 Midwest League season. Samantha Hartman has been promoted to Senior Account Manager and Lindsay Krznarich joins the Timber Rattlers ticket team.
Gustafson Joins Timber Rattlers Front Office
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Aren Gustafson has been hired as the stadium operations manager for Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Gustafson spent the summer as an intern for the Timber Rattlers before joining the team in a full-time capacity. He will be responsible for stadium upkeep and maintenance along with overseeing interns
Cooper Pratt Honored with Gold Glove by Minor League Baseball and Rawlings™
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Cooper Pratt has a Gold Glove. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers shortstop made the shortlist of the best defenders in Minor League Baseball as the Gold Glove winner at his position. The full list was announced by MiLB and Rawlings™ earlier today.