The Miami Marlins triple-A affiliate has made a pretty bold change. From this day forward, the New Orleans Zephyrs will be known as the New Orleans Baby Cakes.
Let’s all just take a moment to imagine what that’s going to sound like in the context of talking about baseball.
Got it? Okay, let’s continue.
The franchise announced back in April that they would be conducting a fan vote to select a new name. The previous name, Zephyrs, had been used since the team moved from Denver to New Orleans in 1993.
The official unveiling came in the form of a tweet:
We’re proud to introduce our new identity – the New Orleans Baby Cakes! pic.twitter.com/6kWLXkRmCf
— NOLA Baby Cakes (@cakesbaseball) November 15, 2016
The name “Baby Cakes,” for those who don’t know, is a reference to King Cake babies. A King Cake is a traditional desert served in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. It’s a cake with a small porcelean baby doll baked inside, served at Mardi Gras parties. The person who gets the baby in their slice gets crowed the king or queen of the party and is said to receive good luck.
Of course, “Baby Cakes” will probably be a pretty polarizing name, which was surely what the team was hoping for. Some folks will like the connection to regional history and culture. Others—mostly journalists—will loath actually having to use the phrase “Baby Cakes” on a daily basis.
“(Player) has been optioned from Triple-A Baby Cakes to Double-A Jumbo Shrimp” is a real future transaction in the Marlins organization.
— Brady Fredericksen (@Brady_Fred) November 16, 2016
Congratulations, Iowa Chops. You’re off the hook – no longer the worst team nickname in sports. #BabyCakes
— Andy Garman (@GarmanSports) November 16, 2016
“I play professional baseball.”
“Oh cool. For what team?”
“The New Orleans…Baby Cakes.” https://t.co/qkGghDpJll
— Jordan Ray (@JordanLRay) November 16, 2016
Can just imagine when a Marlins player is being told he’s being optioned back to the Baby Cakes.
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) November 16, 2016
Delete your marketing department https://t.co/TsqXCzGGqw
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) November 16, 2016
What do you think? Is “Baby Cakes” ridiculous in a good way, or a bad way?
Hat Tip – [The Score]