Thank you to everyone who traveled from various parts of the Dune Coast to be with us and 150 other members of the community.
One of the team owners, Brian Williams, provided some additional background into the name and mascot.
“We chose Quillbacks for many reasons but we feel the uniqueness of the brand and logo stood out as we further developed each concept. Quillbacks represent the porcupine which historically thrived along the dune-crested coast of Lake Michigan.
At the turn of the 20th century porcupines were a natural inhabitant of these shores. They thrived in the forest and wooded ravines that flow from the dunes. Native Americans revered the porcupine for their resourceful survival in the wilderness and their unique ability to defend themselves without initiating conflict. To them the animal symbolized humility, playfulness, inner resilience and trust. Furthermore, porcupine quills were a vital natural resource for indigenous craft and artistry.
Population growth along the southern coast of Lake Michigan led this solitary animal to move north along the lake. Today the mammal still exists in the Northern Lower Peninsula and the UP. But in 2027 we will bring the porcupine back to its native habitat.
Which brings me back to this character, our mascot Warren. Yes, he is named after Warren Dunes. We like to think he was hiding in the State Park all these years and came out when he heard we were bringing a baseball team to the Dune Coast. Warren will become a big part of our identity. If you look down the left field line you will see a berm out there. We are naming that ‘Warren’s Dune’ – as a play on words. That will be a tiered berm where you can bring your beach chair and watch baseball for $5 a ticket.”
