Copa de la Diversión
Copa de la Diversión (transl. Fun Cup) is an initiative by Minor League Baseball to promote the sport and connect its teams to their Hispanic/Latinx communities.[1] Teams adopt a culturally-relevant on-field persona for certain games each season.[2]
Copa de la Diversión logo
A 2019 Copa game between the Margaritas de El Paso (yellow) and Cazadores de Tormentas de Omaha (green)
The promotion started in 2017 with the Es Divertido Ser Un Fan ("It's Fun to Be a Fan") fan engagement program.[3] Four teams participated: the Las Vegas 51s, who took the field as the Reyes de Plata ("Silver Kings");[4] the Charlotte Knights as the Charlotte Caballeros;[5] the Visalia Rawhide, who played as the Visalia Toros;[6] and the Kane County Cougars, who did not change their name for the promotion.
In 2018, the program was renamed Copa de la Diversión and expanded to 33 teams.[7] A trophy (the "Fun Cup") was awarded to the Albuquerque Isotopes franchise, who played as the Mariachis de Nuevo México and set new attendance records during Copa games.[8][9] In 2019, participation increased to 72 teams.[10] Six teams that participated in 2018 using direct Spanish translations of their usual team name adopted new identities for 2019.[11] The number of participants increased to 92 for the 2020 season.[12]
In addition to changing monickers for Copa games, teams also utilize alternate logos, color schemes, jerseys, and hats.[13] The re-branding inspirations have ranged from historical, such as the Reyes de Plata in reference to the contributions migrant workers made to the mining industry of Nevada,[14] to culinary, with the Columbia Fireflies playing as the Chicharrones de Columbia.[15]
Table key
| Start | The team's first season of Copa participation under the given identity |
|---|
Participating teams
| Copa name | Official name | Class | League | Start | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abejas de Salt Lake | Salt Lake Bees | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018 | "Abejas" is a direct translation of "Bees". | [16] |
| Alces de Maine | Portland Sea Dogs | Double-A | Eastern League | 2020 | ||
| Alebrijes de Modesto | Modesto Nuts | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2019 | ||
| Ardillas Voladoras de Richmond | Richmond Flying Squirrels | Double-A | Eastern League | 2019 | ||
| Avocados Luchadores de Down East[lower-alpha 1] | Down East Wood Ducks | Class A-Advanced | Carolina League | 2020 | ||
| Boise Papas Fritas | Boise Hawks | Class A Short Season | Northwest League | 2020 | ||
| Bólidos de Bowling Green | Bowling Green Hot Rods | Class A | Midwest League | 2020 | ||
| Bradenton Barbanegras | Bradenton Marauders | Class A-Advanced | Florida State League | 2019 | ||
| Brooklyn Jefes | Brooklyn Cyclones | Class A Short Season | New York–Penn League | 2018 | ||
| Caballeros de Charlotte | Charlotte Knights | Triple-A | International League | 2017 | ||
| Caballos de Stockton | Stockton Ports | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2018 | ||
| Cabritos Maldichos de South Bend | South Bend Cubs | Class A | Midwest League | 2020 | ||
| Cadejos de Lake Elsinore[lower-alpha 2] | Lake Elsinore Storm | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2019 | ||
| Calaveras de West Michigan | West Michigan Whitecaps | Class A | Midwest League | 2019 | ||
| Campesinos de Salem-Keizer | Salem-Keizer Volcanoes | Class A Short Season | Northwest League | 2020 | ||
| Cangrejos Fantasmas de Chesapeake | Bowie Baysox | Double-A | Eastern League | 2018 | ||
| Cardenales de Springfield | Springfield Cardinals | Double-A | Texas League | 2020 | ||
| Carnívoros de Ogden | Ogden Raptors | Rookie | Pioneer League | 2020 | ||
| Cascabeles de Wisconsin | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Class A | Midwest League | 2019 | ||
| Cazadores de Tormentas de Omaha | Omaha Storm Chasers | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018 | ||
| Cervezas de Durham[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] | Durham Bulls | Triple-A | International League | 2020 | ||
| Chicharrones de Columbia | Columbia Fireflies | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2019 | ||
| Chivos de Hartford | Hartford Yard Goats | Double-A | Eastern League | 2018 | ||
| Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City Dodgers | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018 | Cielo Azul translates to "Blue Sky" and is a reference to the Oklahoma sky. It also alludes to the color Dodger blue from parent organization the Los Angeles Dodgers and former Dodgers player Fernando Valenzuela—a Mexican-born pitcher who distinctively looked to the sky during his wind-up. | [20] |
| Cinco Estaciones de Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids Kernels | Class A | Midwest League | 2020 | ||
| Clinton Elotes | Clinton LumberKings | Class A | Midwest League | 2019 | ||
| Cocos Locos de Rochester | Rochester Red Wings | Triple-A | International League | 2020 | ||
| Coquís de Florida | Florida Fire Frogs | Class A-Advanced | Florida State League | 2019 | ||
| Coquís de Lehigh Valley[lower-alpha 5] | Lehigh Valley IronPigs | Triple-A | International League | 2019 | ||
| Corazones de Reno | Reno Aces | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2019 | ||
| Corpus Christi Raspas | Corpus Christi Hooks | Double-A | Texas League | 2018 | ||
| Cucuys de San Bernardino | Inland Empire 66ers | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2018 | ||
| Demonios de Des Moines | Iowa Cubs | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2019 | ||
| Diamantes de Arkansas | Arkansas Travelers | Double-A | Texas League | 2019 | ||
| Energía de Greenville | Greenville Drive | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2018 | ||
| Everett Conquistadores | Everett AquaSox | Class A Short Season | Northwest League | 2018 | ||
| Familia de Tacoma | Tacoma Rainiers | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2019 | ||
| Fenómenos Enmascarados del Valle de Hudson | Hudson Valley Renegades | Class A Short Season | New York–Penn League | 2020 | ||
| Frijoles Saltarines de Puerto Carlota | Charlotte Stone Crabs | Class A-Advanced | Florida State League | 2020 | ||
| Gallos de Delmarva | Delmarva Shorebirds | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2019 | ||
| Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Double-A | Eastern League | 2019 | ||
| Guerreros de Fayetteville | Fayetteville Woodpeckers | Class A-Advanced | Carolina League | 2020 | ||
| Kane County Cougars | Kane County Cougars | Class A | Midwest League | 2017 | ||
| Leyendas de Lexington | Lexington Legends | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2019 | ||
| Llamas de Hickory | Hickory Crawdads | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2019 | ||
| Lloronas de Montaña Rocosa | Rocky Mountain Vibes | Rookie | Pioneer League | 2020 | ||
| Locos de Lansing | Lansing Lugnuts | Class A | Midwest League | 2019 | ||
| Lowriders de Fresno | Fresno Grizzlies | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2019 | ||
| Luchadores de Reading[lower-alpha 6] | Reading Fightin Phils | Double-A | Eastern League | 2020 | ||
| Madres de Idaho Falls | Idaho Falls Chukars | Rookie | Pioneer League | 2020 | ||
| Manzanas Luchadores de Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Class A | Midwest League | 2020 | ||
| Margaritas de El Paso[lower-alpha 7] | El Paso Chihuahuas | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2019 | Copa name is a reference to the Margarita cocktail which traces its origins to the El Paso-Juárez region. | [23] |
| Mariachis de Nuevo México | Albuquerque Isotopes | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018 | ||
| Matamoscas de Midessa | Midland RockHounds | Double-A | Texas League | 2019 | ||
| Medusas de Lakewood | Lakewood BlueClaws | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2019 | ||
| Molinos de Burlington | Burlington Royals | Rookie | Appalachian League | 2020 | ||
| Monarcas de Eugene | Eugene Emeralds | Class A Short Season | Northwest League | 2018 | ||
| Montañas de Chattanooga | Chattanooga Lookouts | Double-A | Southern League | 2019 | ||
| Murciélagos de Louisville | Louisville Bats | Triple-A | International League | 2019 | ||
| Naturales del Noroeste de Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Double-A | Texas League | 2020 | ||
| Ocelotes de Greensboro | Greensboro Grasshoppers | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2019 | ||
| Osos Polares de Pawtucket | Pawtucket Red Sox | Triple-A | International League | 2018 | ||
| Pajaritos de Norfolk | Norfolk Tides | Triple-A | International League | 2019 | ||
| Pelícanos de Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Class A-Advanced | Carolina League | 2019 | ||
| Peoria en el Río | Peoria Chiefs | Class A | Midwest League | 2020 | ||
| Perros Santos de Charleston | Charleston RiverDogs | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2019 | ||
| Pescados de Carolina | Carolina Mudcats | Class A-Advanced | Carolina League | 2019 | ||
| Picantes de Lake County | Lake County Captains | Class A | Midwest League | 2019 | ||
| Piñatas de Erie | Erie SeaWolves | Double-A | Eastern League | 2019 | ||
| Playeros de Harrisburg | Harrisburg Senators | Double-A | Eastern League | 2020 | ||
| Pointy Boots de Amarillo | Amarillo Sod Poodles | Double-A | Texas League | 2020 | ||
| Puentes de Tri-City | Tri-City ValleyCats | Class A Short Season | New York–Penn League | 2020 | ||
| Rancho Cucamonga Temblores | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2018 | ||
| Rápidos de Kannapolis | Kannapolis Cannon Ballers[lower-alpha 8] | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2018 | ||
| Reyes de Plata de Las Vegas | Las Vegas Aviators[lower-alpha 9] | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2017 | "Reyes de Plata" or "Silver Kings" honors migrant workers in the silver mining industry who helped Nevada earn its "Silver State" nickname. | [24] |
| Round Rock Chupacabras | Round Rock Express | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018 | ||
| Sacramento Dorados | Sacramento River Cats | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018 | ||
| San Antonio Flying Chanclas | San Antonio Missions[lower-alpha 10] | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018 | ||
| San Bernardos de Salem | Salem Red Sox | Class A-Advanced | Carolina League | 2019 | ||
| San Jose Churros[lower-alpha 11] | San Jose Giants | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2019 | ||
| Soñadores de Hillsboro[lower-alpha 12] | Hillsboro Hops | Class A Short Season | Northwest League | 2019 | "Soñadores" translates to "Dreamers" and its Copa logo is an Alebrije with embedded graduation caps and a tail that symbolizes the flame on the Statue of Liberty. | [27] |
| Tortugas de Daytona | Daytona Tortugas | Class A-Advanced | Florida State League | 2018 | ||
| Trueno de Trenton | Trenton Thunder | Double-A | Eastern League | 2019 | ||
| Vejigantes de Scranton/Wilkes-Barre | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders | Triple-A | International League | 2019 | ||
| Veleros de Columbus | Columbus Clippers | Triple-A | International League | 2019 | ||
| Viento de Lancaster | Lancaster JetHawks | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2019 | ||
| Vihuelas de Nashville | Nashville Sounds | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2019 | The vihuela, a high-pitched Mexican guitar popular with Mariachi groups, reflects Nashville's musical heritage. | [28] |
| Viñeros de Tri-City | Tri-City Dust Devils | Class A Short Season | Northwest League | 2019 | ||
| Visalia Toros | Visalia Rawhide | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2017 | ||
| Winston-Salem Rayados | Winston-Salem Dash | Class A-Advanced | Carolina League | 2018 | ||
| Xolos de Gwinnett | Gwinnett Stripers | Triple-A | International League | 2019 | ||
| Yacumamas de Asheville | Asheville Tourists | Class A | South Atlantic League | 2020 |
Former identities
| Copa name | Official name | Class | League | Season(s) | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso Chihuahuas | El Paso Chihuahuas | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018 | The Chihuahuas retained their official moniker and logo, but utilized an alternate color scheme. | [22] |
| Lake Elsinore Storm | Lake Elsinore Storm | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2018 | The Storm retained their official moniker and logo, but utilized an alternate color scheme. | [17] |
| Lehigh Valley Tocino | Lehigh Valley IronPigs | Triple-A | International League | 2018 | "Tocino", Spanish for "Bacon", continued the incorporation of pork-related food products in Lehigh Valley's branding. | [21] |
| Lúpulos de Hillsboro | Hillsboro Hops | Class A Short Season | Northwest League | 2018 | "Lúpulos" is a direct translation of "Hops". | [26] |
| Mal de Ojo de Durham | Durham Bulls | Triple-A | International League | 2019 | ||
| Música de Memphis | Memphis Redbirds | Triple-A | Pacific Coast League | 2018–2019 | ||
| Patos Joyuyos de Down East | Down East Wood Ducks | Class A-Advanced | Carolina League | 2019 | ||
| Peleadores de Reading | Reading Fightin Phils | Double-A | Eastern League | 2019 | ||
| Petroleros de Tulsa | Tulsa Drillers | Double-A | Texas League | 2018–2019 | ||
| San Jose Gigantes | San Jose Giants | Class A-Advanced | California League | 2018 | "Gigantes" is a direct translation of "Giants". | [25] |
| Toros de Durham | Durham Bulls | Triple-A | International League | 2017–2018 | "Toros" is a direct translation of "Bulls". | [18][19] |
Notes
- Down East competed as the "Patos Joyuyos de Down East" in 2019
- Lake Elsinore competed as the "Lake Elsinore Storm" in 2018.[17]
- Durham competed as the "Toros de Durham" in 2017 and 2018.[18][19]
- Durham competed as the "Mal de Ojo de Durham" in 2019.
- Lehigh Valley competed as the "Lehigh Valley Tocino" in 2018.[21]
- Reading competed as the "Peleadores de Reading" in 2019.
- El Paso competed as the "El Paso Chihuahuas" in 2018.[22]
- The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers were known as the Kannapolis Intimidators in 2018 and 2019.
- The Las Vegas Aviators were known as the Las Vegas 51s in 2017 and 2018.
- The San Antonio Missions competed in the Double-A Texas League in 2018.
- San Jose competed as the "San Jose Gigantes" in 2018.[25]
- Hillsboro competed as the "Lúpulos de Hillsboro" in 2018.[26]
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References
- "Minor League Baseball reveals full schedule of games and date of Unveiling Day for 2019 Copa de la Diversión". MiLB.com. February 18, 2019.
- "Minor League Baseball's 'Copa De La Diversión' Hispanic Fan Engagement Initiative Expands to 72 Teams for 2019". Minor League Baseball. September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
- "MiLB launches Hispanic-focused initiative 'Es Divertido Ser Un Fan'". MiLB.com. July 24, 2017.
- "51s debut special 'Reyes de Plata' uniforms during Tuesday's game". Las Vegas Review Journal. August 2, 2017.
- "The Charlotte Knights Are About To Change Their Name To The Charlotte Caballeros". charlottestories.com. July 25, 2017.
- "Rawhide change name to Toros for Latino heritage event". Visalia Times Delta. July 24, 2017.
- "Minor League Baseball To Have 'Copa De La Diversión' In Effort To Reach Latino Communities". Forbes. March 20, 2018.
- "Minor League Baseball Announces 2019 Copa de la Diversión". La Vida Baseball. March 18, 2019.
- "How the numbers stacked up for Mariachi nights at Isotopes Park". bizjournals.com. August 21, 2018.
- "2019 Copa de la Diversión Identities Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. March 18, 2019.
- "Copa de la Diversión 2019: Same Team, New Identity". Ben's Biz. March 21, 2019.
- "Copa Ready to Reach Higher in Third Season". MiLB.com. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- "MiLB unveils Copa de la Diversion logos: Part 2". sportslogos.net. March 18, 2019.
- "Las Vegas Reyes de Plata Copa Branding". milbcopa.mlblogs.com. March 20, 2018.
- "Big on the Pig: Why the Columbia Fireflies Will Become the Chicharrones For Several Games". Post and Courier: Free Times. March 21, 2019.
- "Bees Unveil New Abejas de Salt Lake Logos". Salt Lake Bees. Minor League Baseball. March 18, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Lake Elsinore Storm Copa Branding". MiLB Copa de la Diversión. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Toros de Durham to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night". Durham Bulls. Minor League Baseball. July 24, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Toros de Durham Copa Branding". Durham Bulls. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City play inaugural game at Bricktown". okcfox.com. May 31, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- "Lehigh Valley Tocino Copa Branding". MiLB Copa de la Diversión. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "El Paso Chihuahuas Copa Branding". Durham Bulls. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "The Man Who Invented the Margarita". Texas Monthly. October 1974. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- Kantowski, Ron (July 24, 2017). "51s to Be Known as 'Las Vegas Silver Kings' as Part of Hispanic Initiative". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "San Jose Gigantes Copa Branding". MiLB Copa de la Diversión. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Hillsboro Hops To Transform Into "Los Lúpulos de Hillsboro" for Five Games During 2018 Season". Hillsboro Hops. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Hillsboro Hops Will Become 'Dreamers' for Four Games This Season". OregonLive. March 18, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Copa Nashville". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. March 18, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
External links
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