Over the last decade, Minor League Baseball teams across the nation have made it a habit to temporarily change their name to one that pays homage to a regionally beloved delicacy. When considered as a whole, this array of food-based identities makes a smorgasbord too rich and marvelous for a single meal, but one certainly worthy of admiration.
Here are the most appetizing alternate identities from every Major League club’s farm system. Grab some napkins and dig in.
Blue Jays: Manchester Chicken Tenders (Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats)
Did you know? The Puritan Backroom, a diner in Manchester, N.H., is the birthplace of the chicken tender. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats made their Manchester Chicken Tenders debut in in 2022, following a fan vote to determine which flavor of chicken tender should be depicted on the uniforms. “Classic” was the winner, beating out Buffalo and Coconut.
Orioles: Lumpia (Triple-A Norfolk Tides)
Norfolk, Va., has a large Filipino population, many representatives of which settled in the area after serving in the military. This prompted the Tides to unveil Minor League Baseball’s first Filipino-themed alternate identity, the Lumpia. A spring roll-like snack, lumpia is a staple of Filipino cuisine.
Rays: Kimchi (Double-A Montgomery Biscuits)
The Montgomery Biscuits represent food every time they take the field, but that doesn’t mean they can’t switch things up once in a while. Their Kimchi identity, which debuted in 2021, is a key component of their annual Korean heritage theme night.
Red Sox: Maine Bean Suppahs (Double-A Portland Sea Dogs)
The Sea Dogs are major players in the alternate food identity game, as their roster includes Red Snappers, Clambakes, Whoopie Pies and, yes, Bean Suppahs. This moniker, spelled as a Mainer would pronounce it, celebrates communal Saturday night dinners of baked beans, red snapper hot dogs and brown bread.
