Braves Bring Back Controversial Chief Noc-A-Homa Logo For BP Caps

The batting practice caps MLB teams will use during the '13 season were unveiled on Thursday, and the "most newsworthy revelation" is that the Braves' cap "features the return of the 'screaming savage'" that served as part of the team's logo from '67-89, according to Kevin Kaduk of YAHOO SPORTS. The re-emergence of the "questionable logo is surprising given that the Cleveland Indians have been distancing themselves from Chief Wahoo in recent years." The Indians' BP cap for '13 "features the increasingly familiar block 'C.'" Even the Braves have "landed on the right side of sensitivity, replacing an offensive savage patch" on the throwback jerseys the team introduced in '12. Kaduk: "It really is a wonder that the Braves are going with these caps. As far as I can tell, there was no real groundswell to bring this logo back. ... Also, will the sales numbers for these caps really make it worth the bad PR the team and league are going to take over this?" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/27). The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION is running an online poll asking readers for their reaction to the use of the logo. At presstime, 73% of respondents voted they like the cap and "might even buy it." Eighteen percent voted they "couldn't care less," while 9% are "offended" (AJC.com, 12/28).

MAKING THE GRADE? ESPN.com's Paul Lukas on his Uni Watch blog reviewed all 30 MLB teams' new batting practice caps, noting there are 36 new caps in all, "because some teams have separate designs for home and away." Lukas wrote it is "disappointing" that the Braves' throwback logo "hasn't been permanently mothballed." Lukas offered his grade for each new BP cap, and gave the Braves' cap an "F." Meanwhile, Lukas gave the Astros' cap an "A+" and wrote, "The circle around the logo has a tequila sunrise gradation -- genius!" Lukas gave the A's cap an "A" and wrote, "Always loved that elephant logo, and the gold squatchee is the cherry on top." The D'Backs' new cap is a "really nice mix of the team's original logo and its current color scheme." The Mets' new cap features the team's Mr. Met mascot, which has "appeared only one time on a Mets uni component, so it's cool to see him on the BP cap." The Nationals' multi-colored panel treatment "totally works here, because the red-white-blue effect seems appropriate for a team in Washington" (ESPN.com, 12/27).