Tampa Yankees Change Name To Tampa Tarpons In Nod To History

TAMPA, FL - The Tampa Yankees, the Single A team of the New York Yankees, will take the field for the 2018 season as the Tampa Tarpons, a name used by a former Florida State League team 30 years ago. The Tampa Tarpons played in the league from 1957 through 1987, winning titles in 1957, 1959 and 1961.

"We have great fans in Tampa," noted Vance Smith, Tarpons general manager. "This is Tampa's team, and this name and brand identity honor the community and celebrate Tampa's rich baseball history."

The Tampa Bay Rays have worn replica Tampa Tarpons uniforms for some of their Turn Back The Clock promotional games in the past. Tarpons are one of the most prized catches for anglers who fish Florida's Gulf Coast.

Assistant general manager Matt Gess said the name change was an opportunity to reconnect with Tampa's baseball heritage.

The principal team colors of the new identity are Legends Navy, Tarpon Silver and Gulf Blue. The comprehensive brand system, developed by Studio Simon, features a primary logo that was inspired by previous iterations of Tampa Tarpon logos. The club is scheduled to unveil their new caps and uniforms in January. Merchandise featuring the Tarpons' logo is now available at www.tarponsbaseball.com.

The city of Tampa has hosted spring training for more than 100 years, beginning in 1913. It has been the spring training home of seven major league teams, including the Yankees. Tampa has also been a minor league baseball town since 1919, when the Tampa Smokers were a charter franchise in the original Florida State League.

Noteworthy players with Tampa roots include Hall of Fame catcher and manager Al Lopez-the first Tampa-area native to play and manage in the major leagues and be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame-Tony LaRussa, Wade Boggs, Lou Piniella, Tino Martinez, Gary Sheffield, Dwight Gooden and Fred McGriff.

For more information, call (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tarponsbaseball.com.

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Caption: The sun sets behind George M. Steinbrenner Field during a spring training baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)