MiLB teams celebrate 2020 invincibility
At 5 p.m. on June 30, the news that many had feared finally became official: there would be no 2020 Minor League Baseball season. Amid the immediate and inevitable outpouring of sadness for the present and anxiety for the future, the Bowie Baysox found a silver lining. The Baysox, the
At 5 p.m. on June 30, the news that many had feared finally became official: there would be no 2020 Minor League Baseball season. Amid the immediate and inevitable outpouring of sadness for the present and anxiety for the future, the Bowie Baysox found a silver lining.
The Baysox, the Orioles' Double-A affiliate that debuted in 1993, have lost at least 58 games in every season of their existence. But 2020 would be a different story. The inability to play games meant the inability to lose; therefore, the Baysox were, and would remain, undefeated. A T-shirt commemorating this unprecedented accomplishment went on sale less than a half-hour after the season was canceled, with the team humbly explaining -- or perhaps hoping -- that it was "THE HOTTEST T-SHIRT IN BAYSOX HISTORY." The scuttled season was rebranded as an "Undefeated Tour," with the back of the shirt listing the entire schedule that never was.
With the 2020 season being canceled, we bring you the HOTTEST T-SHIRT IN BAYSOX HISTORY! Pre-order yours NOW! https://t.co/NkTbAhTBwG pic.twitter.com/cN9FENGhOg
— Bowie Baysox (@BowieBaysox) June 30, 2020
Baysox assistant general manager Phil Wyre said the idea for the shirts had been hatched several weeks earlier, as the season's cancellation began to look more and more like a foregone conclusion.
"We [in the front office] were throwing the idea around," he said. "We contacted 108 Stitches, who do some of our merch. We knew they had a concert tour type of design already. We wanted our undefeated schedule to look like all the stops of a band's tour, all the stops we would have made in 2020."
The Baysox, working in concert with 108 Stitches, finalized the T-shirt's design on June 29. At 5:20 p.m. the following day, they joined the chorus of teams that tweeted the season had been canceled. Eleven minutes later, the tone abruptly shifted as Bowie announced that it was, in fact, undefeated.
"We've received orders from 30 states across the country. There have been news mentions all over the place and our local media picked it up and ran with it," Wrye said. "It's been really cool for us, not the sort of stuff we necessarily see a whole lot of. The adage is to take your lemons and make lemonade, and I think we did a pretty good job of that."
Even in these unprecedented times, a basic maxim still holds throughout the Minor League Baseball industry: if one team has a good idea, other teams will borrow it. After the Baysox announced their "Undefeated" T-shirt, 108 Stitches offered the same basic template to other MiLB clients. Thus, teams including the Greenville Drive and Portland Sea Dogs are selling similar shirts.
Meanwhile, a variety of teams offered variations on the theme. First up was the Salem Red Sox, who delivered an "Undefeated" shirt along with one designating 2020 as "The Longest Spring Training Ever."
Let's look for the silver lining, shall we?
— Salem Red Sox (@salemredsox) July 1, 2020
The history books will read: Salem Red Sox, undefeated in 2020. Let's go!
And while we await 2021 we can remember this as simply the longest Spring Training EVER.
No matter what, it's a year we truly will never forget. pic.twitter.com/GN7alQZRgA
A pair of International League icons, the Rochester Red Wings and Toledo Mud Hens, soon entered the fray. The latter took things further and declared themselves to be not just undefeated but 2020 International League champions. (One can only assume that the other IL clubs did not agree with the Mud Hens' brash declaration.)
We just finished the first undefeated season in the over 130 years of pro baseball in Rochester!!!! #ROC
— Rochester Red Wings (@RocRedWings) July 1, 2020
Own a piece of history: https://t.co/D8iMy2PgqY pic.twitter.com/NGuWF8RvwB
We 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 lost a game in 2020.
— Toledo Mud Hens (@MudHens) July 1, 2020
Thus, we are crowning ourselves as the International League CHAMPS. 🏆
Get your shirt today to commemorate our historic season ➡️ https://t.co/rdbo5a5Kvp pic.twitter.com/4AnqjwAvvT
Of course, not all teams decided to go the "Undefeated" route. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Durham Bulls, for example, took an antagonistic, not-quite-profane T-shirt stance toward this accursed year. "Unflockingbelievable," proclaimed the Pelicans. "This is some bullshirt," retorted the Bulls.
We're halfway through this unflockingbelievable year.
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans are looking forward to 2021 (@Pelicanbaseball) July 1, 2020
Here's to the second half: https://t.co/EM0bsXYfVH pic.twitter.com/aazEaPl4j7
Everyone saying they had "2020 vision" didn't see this Bull shirt coming.
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) July 7, 2020
PRE-ORDER YOURS » https://t.co/NHa3iiZpam pic.twitter.com/rZsn7OnmZs
The Class A Short Season Eugene Emeralds soon unveiled a saucy quartet of tees, simultaneously declaring themselves champions (of social distancing) while also turning the "Undefeated" concept on its head via the commemoration of an "0-76" season caused by COVID-19.
COVID sucks. 2020 sucks. The Ems don't. Buy cool merch. Thanks.
— Eugene Emeralds (@EugeneEmeralds) July 7, 2020
SHOP:https://t.co/k0nYwH5Vxd pic.twitter.com/zCSC5fYDiZ
But it all comes back to the Baysox, the first Minor League team to employ sartorial snark as a season cancellation coping mechanism.
"Sure, bragging rights are great," Wrye said, "but, especially now, it's great to do things that other teams can benefit from as well. We share everything in this business, because what works for one will work for others. We're all still looking for that next great idea."
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition: