2025 Program layout - Flipbook - Page 35
What is an Isotope?
Since the team’s inception in 2003, the nickname “Isotopes” has become one
of the most popular and unique monikers in all of baseball.
Webster’s Dictionary and Nuclear Scientists de昀椀ne an Isotope as:
i•so•tope n : any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with
the same atomic number and position in the periodic table and nearly identical
chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass and different physical properties.
Homer Simpson and baseball fans, on the other hand, de昀椀ne “Isotopes” as the
nickname of a 昀椀ctional Minor League baseball team in the popular animated
sitcom The Simpsons. In the 2001 Simpsons episode “Hungry, Hungry Homer,”
the Spring昀椀eld Isotopes threatened to move to Albuquerque until Homer went on
a hunger strike, ultimately preventing the team from moving.
The name Isotopes was chosen for its originality and popularity after it won a
“Name the Team” contest, garnering 57% of over 120,000 votes. Other suggested
names in the contest included Atoms, Dukes, Roadrunners, and 66ers. The
extensive amount of nuclear research in the Albuquerque area provides another
great link to the team name.
The distinctive “A” logo and the “Isotopes” wordmark incorporate both the nickname’s scienti昀椀c
and 昀椀ctional inspirations, creating a brand that is unique and fun. Both logos were originally
conceived by Kevin Kierst, who at the time was working as the clubhouse manager for the
Norfolk Tides and now serves as an Equipment Manager for the New York Mets. After the
design’s conception, both logos were then tweaked by local designer Vaughn Weeden to create
the brand that has become a favorite throughout the Land of Enchantment and beyond.
Fans across the nation seem to agree, making Isotopes merchandise annually one of the top 10
sellers in Minor League Baseball since the team began in 2003.
Atomic Isotope
ISOTOPES PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE GENEALOGY
The Paci昀椀c Coast League added the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers to the 10-team circuit in 1963, before the club changed their name to
the Dallas Rangers in 1964. The franchise moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1965, playing as the Vancouver Mounties until
1969. Following the 1969 campaign, the Mounties relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah where they were known as the Bees (1970), Angels
(1971-74) and the Gulls (1975-84). The franchise moved north of the border once again in 1985, emerging as the Calgary Cannons.
The franchise played in Calgary for 18 years before relocating in 2003 to their current home in Albuquerque and became the Isotopes.
2025 ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES SOUVENIR PROGRAM
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