By Marty Gordon
Appalachian League baseball teams started unveiling their new nicknames this week, and Pulaski’s team will be known as the River Turtles.
When Major League Baseball announced this past fall it would be pulling team affiliations from the historic Appalachian League that included Pulaski, fans were left to wonder what name would be associated with a new “wood play” league.
The change meant small towns like Pulaski, Bluefield, Kingsport and Bristol would still have some semblance of minor league baseball with rising college freshmen and sophomores spending summer in the area. But it also meant that nicknames associated with major-league teams like the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays and Twins would no longer be a part of the minor league teams’ names.
Pulaski General Manager J.W. Martin said when it came to considering the new nickname, the franchise weighed feedback from the local baseball community, Calfee Park’s history and other team’s location in the New River Valley.
“After thoughtful consideration, we wanted a brand that represents what our ballpark is really all about,” Martin said. “We have a welcoming, fun, family environment that puts smiles on faces. We think this brand captures that.”
Pulaski’s new brand identity is part of the evolution of the restructured Appalachian League. In September, the league announced it would transition to an elite, wood-bat summer league for the top 300 college players in America. Structurally, the Appalachian League will serve as an entity of Major League Baseball and USA Baseball’s Prospect Development Pipeline for the 2021 season and beyond.
Bristol will be the “Stateliners,” a play on the fact the city lies on the boundary of two states: Virginia. Burlington will be known as the “Sock Puppets” to tie in with the town’s rich history in making textiles and socks.
The Johnson City team will be the “Doughboys.” Zac Clark, the team’s general manager, said the inspiration for the name came from a statue in Memorial Park, which is just behind TVA Credit Union Ballpark. The statue is called “The Spirit of the American Doughboy” and was dedicated in 1935. Doughboy was a nickname given United States infantry men during World War I. The Doughboys players will stay in the dorms at East Tennessee State University during the summer.
Elizabethton baseball unveiled its new identity as the River Riders, reflecting the high level of recreation in the area. Other Appy League teams are expected to make announcements by next week.
“Our focus (in Pulaski) is to continue to build on the solid foundation of success this organization has enjoyed since 2015,” said Martin. “Our fans and corporate partners are an integral part of that success, and we hope everyone will join us in making the first season of River Turtles baseball a memorable one.”
The Appalachian League will become a part of the Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP), the effort between MLB and USA Baseball that establishes a player development pathway for amateur baseball players in the United States and will be part of the identification and development process for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and other future national teams.
Appalachian League players will be looked at by scouts from major league clubs. They will get instruction from former major league players and educational programming designed to prepare them for careers as professional athletes.
Dan Moushon, the President of the Appalachian League, said: “The communities of the Appalachian League have supported baseball since our founding in 1911. We are grateful to Major League Baseball and USA Baseball for bringing this exciting opportunity to our fans and look forward to welcoming players, coaches, major league scouts and fans into our cities next summer.”
Plans include a 54-game regular season and an annual All-Star Game. Major League Baseball and USA Baseball will provide support for the league’s staffing, player participation and administrative functions.
