IronPigs introduce primary logo
The IronPigs, who next season replace the Ottawa Lynx as the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, displayed their new emblem at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Allentown.
"Today marks the birth of the IronPigs identity," Lehigh Valley general manager Kurt Landes said. "Our primary logo is part of our continuing effort to embody the spirit and tradition of the Lehigh Valley."
The logo features a galvanized pig's head, complete with rivets and an aggressive sneer, splitting the words "Lehigh Valley." The words "IronPigs" are bolted together in bold letters with a slight arc.
Team colors are brick red, furnace blue and IronPigs steel, the same colors that will adorn Coca-Cola Park and that used to be seen at old Bethlehem Steel mills. Lehigh Valley will be the first professional sports team to use this color combination.
Plan B Branding, a San Diego-based creative ideas company, was charged with the creation of the logo and also is developing secondary logos, uniforms and the IronPigs' mascot.
"One of the things that makes Plan B such a tremendous partner is their ability to have such a successful impact marketing the team's identity beyond just the official logo," Landes said. "Our fans will appreciate all the creativity that enhances our brand."
Plan B partners Jason Klein and Casey White also developed fresh looks for the Cincinnati Reds as well as the Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League and the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League.
"Take one step into the old Bethlehem Steel mills and you instantly know you're at the birthplace of much of America," Klein said. "Our goal is to capture this heritage and communicate it through the look and feel of the IronPigs brand."
The team came up with the nickname IronPigs last October following a month-long contest that drew more than 10,000 entries. The field was narrowed to the winning submission by -- ironically -- Ron Steele, a 31-year-old Allentown resident. IronPigs is a reversed form of the phrase "pig iron," which is the raw material used to make steel. The Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania provided most of the country's steel during the early- and mid-20th century.
Fans can purchase new IronPigs merchandise through the team's website, www.ironpigsbaseball.com, beginning Thursday. The team will continue the process of introducing their brand identity, including its uniforms, in the near future.
Michael Echan is a contributor to MLB.com.