The Lancaster Stormers, an unaffiliated team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, unveiled two alternate identities that celebrate two different aspects of the Pennsylvania city’s heritage.
The Lancaster Red Roses identity pays tribute to the city’s nickname, the Red Rose City, which is due to its historical link to Lancaster, England. The House of Lancaster adopted the red rose as its heraldic badge in the 14th century.
Per the team, “The identity celebrates local pride, tradition, and the deep connection between the team and the community it represents.”
When the Red Roses take the field April 25, it won’t be the first time a baseball team in Lancaster goes by that name—two separate Lancaster Red Roses teams played from 1906 to 1911 and 1940 to 1961.
A second alternate identity provides a cheekier look at Lancaster heritage. “Road Apple” is a slang term for piles of horse poop left by horses pulling carriages, which are prominent in Lancaster thanks to the town’s significant Amish population. The Lancaster Road Apples identity features a literal apple splattered on the ground while a carriage rides away in the distance.
“The use of the Road Apples name leans fully into humor, nostalgia and is the perfect fit for Lancaster’s hometown team,” the team said in a statement.
The Stormers will play as the Road Apples May 2.
