Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big...

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:23 pm

CAN FLORIDA SUPPORT 3 BASEBALL TEAMS?

In an unusual move, MLB added 2 expansion teams for the 2008 season, both in states that already have multiple teams - The Dukes in Sacramento and the Hickories in Jacksonville. California already has the Dodgers, Giants, Athletics, Angels, and Padres, so it is unclear how much support the Dukes will get. Similarly, Florida already has the Rays and Marlins. Perhaps the additional Florida team is even more confusing because the Rays have had trouble generating fan support in spite of several successful seasons, and the Marlins have not had consistent support either.

The Hickories' owner cites Jacksonville's large size (it is the largest city in Florida) and its proximity to Georgia, believing it will attract southeast Georgians who do not follow the Braves. There may also be other financial forces at play. The team's majority owner is PGA TOURS, which organizes professional golf events and is headquartered in a Jacksonville suburb. It is believed that the PGA is interested in cross-marketing, since golf and baseball are played in each season, but winter. Still, there was plenty of negotiating to bring this team to Florida, with the biggest opponent being the Tampa Bay Rays, who were concerned about watering down their thin fan base. In response, the Hickories will play in the tough AL East, while the Rays move to the Central division. The Dukes will play in the AL West.

Why not call the team the "Golfers" or the "Pars"? Perhaps the owners had not thought of that before going to print on the team name. Perhaps it is to avoid the cross-marketing being too obvious. Regardless, the team is called the "Hickories" in homage to Andrew Jackson, the famed revolutionary war commander and 7th president of the US, whose nickname was "old hickory." The City of Jacksonville is named in honor of Andrew Jackson. Hickory is also a hardwood historically used for some baseball bats.

Jacksonville Hickories Misc Info

Division:

Stadium:

Colors:

Medium Blue

Emerald Green

Home uniforms: white cap with green mark and brim. White pants, sleeves and shoes; blue shirts with green piping and numbers (outlined in white)

Away uniforms: blue cap with green brim and white mark; green shirt and pants with blue pinstripes, numbers (outlined in white), and sleeves

Prediction · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:26 pm

Ooh, a new erisadude log, sweet. I'm in, are you doing agents?

AgentP · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:29 pm

Certainly following based on the greatness of your Country log.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:33 pm

Lol - thanks, Dudes!

I'm going to pass on the agents. They didn't quite work for me with the Country and I have some definite ideas of how I want these players trained

BrewersFuzz · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:39 pm

Can we pick agents just for bragging rights?

And I'm confused. Are the Rays in the AL West, or the AL Central? You said Central first, then West later on in that opening post...

cooldude1045 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:47 pm

BrewersFuzz wrote:

Can we pick agents just for bragging rights?

I don't think he could stop you even if he didn't want it happening.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:54 pm

The Hickories are in the east; the Rays are in the central; the Dukes are in the west

Power Pros 27 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 3:55 pm

Yes, an ERISA Dude log! Definitely following.

BrewersFuzz · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:56 pm

cooldude1045 wrote:

BrewersFuzz wrote:

Can we pick agents just for bragging rights?

I don't think he could stop you even if he didn't want it happening.

Ah, true.

Paul McCartney15 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 5:04 pm

My client is the monster that destroys everyone's players so ha!

Anyway, great start. Love me some historical references so the name was great.

(Yeah, I already knew what the name was before he explained it. Why are you looking at me like that?)

philliesfan134 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 5:28 pm

Of course I'm in on this one. The Country log was unique and interesting.

ZeroGibson13 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 5:37 pm

Yes! ERISA Dude got another log going!

scott0530 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:16 pm

I have competition in Jacksonville

I'm following.

detroittigers15 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:23 pm

Following, of course.

Also, I like the name/the reasoning for it.

Tyquain · **Posted:** Sun Jul 21, 2013 7:58 pm

im following!

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Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big...

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