The Railriders New Opportunity With Marvel and MiLB On the eve of the Major League Baseball’s Postseason, where baseball’s heroes shine bright, Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) and Marvel Entertainment today began releasing the team logos designed by Marvel’s legendary illustrators for the 96 teams participating in the “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” special event and content series. The Marvel-created logos featuring MiLB teams’ unique brands and mascots will be worn on-field for the first time in 2023. The initial release commenced today at Marvel Entertainment’s booth at New York Comic Con inside the Javits Center in Manhattan. The first eight MiLB team logos unveiled include the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Durham Bulls and El Paso Chihuahuas, the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, Midland RockHounds and Somerset Patriots, the High-A Lansing Lugnuts and the Class-A Stockton Ports. After today’s launch, MiLB and Marvel will unveil new logos from the “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” program throughout October and November until all 96 Marvel creations have been revealed, culminating with MiLB.com’s exclusive merchandise launch, including the New Era Cap Co. on-field game caps, on Friday, November 18, 2022. MiLB and Marvel first introduced the “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” three-year partnership last October, hinting at numerous opportunities to collaborate and co-create content for both sports and comic fans. “The first phase of MiLB’s groundbreaking partnership with Marvel Entertainment delivered on our promise to bring our unique brand of fun and entertainment to more fans across the country,” said Kurt Hunzeker, Major League Baseball’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “When you combine the creative power of these two storied brands, the promotions, events, and now merchandise fans will see in ballparks and retail stores in the years ahead will create memories that will be passed from generation to generation, and we are beyond excited to share these new team-specific logos and characters Marvel created as we build excitement for the 2023 baseball season.” All 96 participating MiLB teams will wear full uniforms featuring the Marvel-designed logos for at least one “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond”-themed game in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, Marvel has created a “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” comic book series for MiLB fans that will be distributed in participating MiLB ballparks throughout the next two seasons.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Joins New MiLB Initiative ‘The Nine” Minor League Baseball® (MiLB™) has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce that the franchise will participate in “The Nine” starting this season. Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021. “This is a truly important initiative from Minor League Baseball and we are excited to join so many other teams in participating,” stated John Adams, Team President of the RailRiders. “There are so many great players to honor and stories to be told with Northeastern Pennsylvania ties. This will become both educational and engaging for everyone involved, and we look forward to watching the program grow.’” Details on “The Nine” as well as other associated events will be available as the season approaches. For more information on the 2022 season, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-2255 or visit swbrailriders.com.
