The Arizona Diamondbacks are the MLB team based in Phoenix, AZ. As MLB franchises go, they are a relatively new one, seeing as how they started up in 1998. With that said, the Arizona Diamondbacks have nonetheless managed a number of impressive achievements over the course of their existence, with the best example being their World Series championship win over the New York Yankees in 2001. Something that made them not just the fastest expansion team to win a championship in the major leagues but also the sole Arizona men's major league team to win a championship so far. With that said, while the Arizona Diamondbacks have existed for no more than a couple of decades, it has nonetheless seen some changes to its logo.
What Is a Diamondback Anyways?
To understand the Arizona Diamondbacks logo, it can be worthwhile to consider the connotations of the name. For those who are unfamiliar, diamondback can refer to a terrapin, which is a term used for certain species of turtles that live in freshwater rather than saltwater. However, in this context, diamondback refers to the western diamondback rattlesnake.
In short, the western diamondback rattlesnake is one of the species of rattlesnakes that can be found in the United States. It is named thus to separate it from its close cousin in the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which is important because it lives in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico whereas its close cousin lives in the southeastern United States. Behavior-wise, the western diamondback rattlesnake is one of the more aggressive species of rattlesnake that can be found out there. However, this isn't because it will seek out targets so much as because of its defense strategy. In short, western diamondback rattlesnakes will coil up and start rattling to warn potential threats most of the time. Should the potential threats remain, said rattlesnakes will strike in its own defense, which can be pretty dangerous because its bigger venom glands and specialized fan structure enable it to deliver more venom per bite. As such, untreated bites from these rattlesnakes have a mortality rate that is estimated to be between 10 and 20 percent.
As for how the Arizona Diamondbacks winded up being called the Arizona Diamondbacks, well, suffice to say that it was one of a number of animal species that were proposed and then voted upon by interested individuals. Besides the western diamondback rattlesnake's iconic status for the state of Arizona, the diamondback was also supposed to serve as a reference to the diamond of the baseball field, thus enabling it to pull double-duty.
How Has the Arizona Diamondback Logo Changed Over Time?
For the most part, the Arizona Diamondback logos haven't see huge changes. The first version was an italicized A with a diamond pattern, which made use of black, copper, purple, and teal. By the second season, its logo had been changed to an actual copper-colored snake, which was laid out in the semblance of a D rather than an A. A few years later, the Arizona Diamondbacks started using both the A and the D. In the case of the D, it remained similar to its previous version but incorporated some minor changes. However, the A had a new set of colors, which were called black, Sedona Red, and Sonoran Sand. More recently still in 2016, the Arizona Diamondbacks incorporated teal into their latest designs, thus making for a familiar but nonetheless refreshed representation.
Symbolically, the Arizona Diamondbacks are making use of an iconic animal of the state, which has enough of a reputation for being both dangerous and glamorous to make it suitable for use by a major league team. Some people might wonder at the glamorous part, but it is interesting to note that rattlesnakes actually have a pretty long history of being associated with the United States. In fact, chances are good that a lot of people will have seen the image of a snake cut into eight sections to represent the colonies, which was labelled "Join, or Die." Said snake was supposed to be a rattlesnake, which was one of the symbols that became more and more popular in what would become the United States as the interest in uniquely American symbols grew because of the alienation from the British Empire.
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FAQs
The logo incorporates a rattlesnake to symbolize the Arizona Diamondbacks and a mountain to symbolize the Colorado Rockies. The logo also emphasizes the scenic mountain ranges that surround Salt River Fields at Talking Stick and illustrates the role of the rattlesnake in southwestern Native American legends.
What is the story behind the Diamondbacks mascot? ›
Yes, the Diamondbacks mascot is a bobcat – even though the team is named after a rattlesnake found here in the desert. The ballpark the Diamondbacks call home is Chase Field, but it used to be named Bank One Ballpark, or BOB for short. Then came Baxter, the BOB-cat, a play on words in homage to the stadium name.
What is the history of the Arizona Diamondbacks? ›
The franchise was established on March 9, 1995, and began play in 1998 as an expansion team. The team plays its home games at Chase Field. Along with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Diamondbacks are one of the newest teams in the MLB and are the youngest team to win a World Series.
Why is the Diamondbacks mascot a bobcat and not a snake? ›
The idea for the mascot came from Brantley Bell, son of former second baseman Jay Bell, who explained to his dad that the team should have a "BOB" cat as a mascot since the team played in the BOB (Bank One Ballpark). Bell informed management about his son's idea and Baxter was born.
Why are the Diamondbacks wearing shirts that say serpientes? ›
Why choose the name 'Serpientes'? The Diamondbacks' team name alludes to the rattlesnake indigenous to the Sonoran Desert. Serpientes is the Spanish-language plural translation of the word snake. The black typography of the word 'Serpientes' on the jersey resembles a semi-coiled rattlesnake, alert and ready to attack.
Why are the Arizona Diamondbacks called that? ›
First prize was a pair of lifetime season tickets awarded to the person who submitted the winning entry. The winning choice was "Diamondbacks", after the Western diamondback, a rattlesnake native to the region known for injecting a large amount of venom when it strikes.
What is Diamondbacks' new mascot? ›
Baxter the Bobcat is the furry but fiery Arizona Diamondbacks' mascot that fans rooting for the team's National League Championship Series pursuit are sure to have seen around Chase Field. Almost as old as the team itself, Baxter pays tribute to the Diamondbacks' 25 years in the Valley with his unique origin.
What is the word on the Diamondbacks uniform? ›
These jersey colors bring forward the Sonoran desert sand from the D-backs' brand and have “Serpientes” winding across the chest. Serpientes, the Spanish translation of Snakes, was used to pay tribute to the Hispanic Culture so prominent in Arizona.
Why is there a pool at Diamondbacks Stadium? ›
“I thought the fans would get a great kick out of it when a home run ball hit the pool,” he says. “But I'm not sure I'd thought it would ever be players jumping in the pool.” His focus while building it was instead on the fan experience. This is the reason for the pool, after all: It's a place to watch the game.
Who owns the Arizona Diamondbacks? ›
Earl Gentry "Ken" Kendrick, Jr. (born September 2, 1943) is an American billionaire businessman who is the principal owner and managing general partner of the National League's Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona Diamondbacks' All-Time Top 12 players, based on WAR
- Randy Johnson (50.9 WAR) In eight years with Diamondbacks had a 2.83 ERA, while striking out 2,077 batters. ...
- Paul Goldschmidt (39.9) 0:25. ...
- Brandon Webb (31.1) ...
- Luis Gonzalez (30.0) ...
- Curt Schilling (25.3) ...
- Ketel Marte (21.9) ...
- A.J. Pollock (18.7) ...
- Zack Greinke (18.6)
They have a rat. Its full name is Rat Leon, a play on the team's social hashtag #RattleOn. You may think it may not make much sense to have a rat as a baseball mascot, but rats and baseball actually have a long, storied history together. -The Tennessee Rats were a successful all-Black baseball team in the early 1900s.
Are the Diamondbacks called the snakes? ›
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks nickname refers to a heavy-bodied snake with a triangle-shaped head, indigenous to Arizona, and the D-backs have used a snakehead as a secondary logo -- the block A is the primary one -- since their inaugural 1998 season. Their mascot, though, is a bobcat.
How much does the Diamondbacks mascot get paid? ›
How much does a Mascot make at Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix? The estimated average pay for Mascot at this company in Phoenix is $19.57 per hour, which is 15% above the national average.
Why are Diamondbacks called Diamondbacks? ›
The winning choice was "Diamondbacks", after the Western diamondback, a rattlesnake native to the region known for injecting a large amount of venom when it strikes.
What animal is the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot? ›
Baxter the Bobcat, mascot of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a photo shoot on March 20, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona.
What is Diamondbacks new mascot? ›
Baxter The Bobcat (@dbacksbaxter) • Instagram photos and videos.
Who is the Diamondbacks player with tattoos? ›
Third Baseman: Ryan Roberts (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Admittedly, fan favorite Roberts looks more like a tattoo artist than a baseball player.
