BATTLE CREEK, MI: A new era of baseball in Battle Creek has officially begun as the Battle Creek Battle Jacks was unveiled as the new name of the local Northwoods League franchise. During an event held at Vale Street Venue in Battle Creek, the organization revealed the new name in front of a crowd of 250 who were excitedly awaiting the results of the Name the Team Vote.
With four finalists to choose from, nearly 3,000 votes were cast for the new team name. The Battle Jacks received the resounding majority of votes for the new moniker of the team. Crunchers finished in second place, followed by Blue Collars and Doughnuts.
The Battle Jacks pays respect to the beloved Battle Cats moniker in a new, fun way. What was once a cat, is now a Jack Russell dog. With ties to the city’s cereal background, Jacks connects to the popular Kellogg’s cereal “Apple Jacks.” A “Jack of All Trades” is also a figure of speech relating to someone with multiple skills which is prevalent for many community members in the Battle Creek Area. Finally, a “jack” is a popular term for a home run, and “Cracker Jacks” are one of the most commonly associated snacks with the game of baseball.
“Battle Jacks clearly resonated with the Battle Creek community, and we are incredibly excited to begin this new era for the organization. We have a new owner, a new name, a new logo, and a new vision for what we want this team to be and we can’t wait to share that with the community we call home” said General Manager, Tyler Shore.
The new logo depicts a fierce Jack Rusell Terrier heading into battle, carrying a flag bearing the new team moniker. The dog also has a chest protector as part of his battle attire along with a blue collar, which is a homage to the blue collar work ethic of the residents of Battle Creek.
The new team colors include a light royal blue, black, silver, white and brown.
In comments made while addressing the crowd in attendance at the reveal event, Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke said “We are thrilled to welcome this new team, this new owner, and these new players and coaches to the city of Battle Creek. They will continue the rich history of baseball in our city, and we look forward to seeing them on the field this summer.” The mayor then led the excited crowd in a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”
The Battle Jacks will kick off their inaugural season on Monday, May 30th at 6:35pm against the defending Northwoods League Champion Traverse City Pit Spitters. The full 2022 baseball schedule can be found at BattleJacksBaseball.com
The Battle Creek Battle Jacks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.battlejacksbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set Battle Creek as your favorite team.
