The Hudson Valley Renegades, looking for to rejoice core features of their residence state, planted a seed that has now borne fruit. At a gala occasion on Friday morning, the New York Yankees’ Excessive-A affiliate unveiled their “Huge Apples” alternate id.
New York state is the second-largest producer of apples within the nation, and the Hudson Valley area is residence to a preponderance of apple orchards. On this regard, Huge Apples is a pure complement to the Renegades’ prior native food-themed id, the Cider Donuts. In fact, Huge Apples can also be a tribute to the Huge Apple itself, New York Metropolis, situated roughly 100 miles south of the Hudson Valley. The Renegades’ affiliation with the Yankees started in 2021, additional solidifying the connection between the 2 locales.
“The place Cider Donuts was very Hudson Valley-focused, this provides us a chance to department out,” mentioned Joe Vasile, the Renegades PR director and broadcaster. “That is extra of a broad celebration of the state of New York. … We wished to search out one thing that will tie collectively all these completely different components of the state, and Huge Apples appeared like the proper factor for that.”
The Renegades will play because the Huge Apples on three events in 2025 — July 26, Aug. 15 and Sept. 4 — modeling logos and uniforms designed by San Diego-based Brandiose. The Huge Apple depicted within the main brand is known as Empire, referencing New York’s nickname in addition to a wide range of apples first derived throughout the state. Empire carries the Statue of Liberty’s torch in his left hand and wears a large foam finger on his proper. The emblem is integrated right into a blue and gold coloration scheme modeled after the colours of the New York state flag.
“We have been actually intentional about once we wished the primary [Big Apples] sport to be,” mentioned Vasile. “July 26 coincides with the date in 1788 when New York signed the Structure and formally turned a state. … The New York ratifying conference occurred in Poughkeepsie on the Dutchess County courthouse. So, simply 25 miles north of the ballpark is the place that occurs.”
Friday morning’s Huge Apples unveiling, held on the Renegade’s residence of Heritage Monetary Park, featured representatives from apple orchards all through the area. The group additionally introduced a continuation of their partnership with Hudson North Cider, who beforehand labored with the Renegades on a Cider Donuts-inspired beverage.
“They’ll do a particular Huge Apple cider and it should use New Paltz apples, which is a city not that removed from us,” mentioned Vasile. “So, one other native tie-in with that.”
Huge Apples merchandise is now on sale, on the ballpark and on-line. Whereas the Renegades gained notoriety for its scented Cider Donuts merchandise, the Huge Apples choices are at the moment aroma free.
“We talked about it, however could not work out what we wished the odor to be,” mentioned Vasile. “Apple-scented would most likely be too near what we had with Cider Donuts after which it is, effectively, what sort of odor would make it odor like New York?”
