The Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, an affiliate of the Washington Nationals in the International League, will play one game as the White Hots this season. The alternate brand is a tribute to a local species of sausage that is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The sausage, which contains pork, beef, and veal in pork casing, was created in 1925 by a company called Zweigle’s for the Rochester Tribe, a baseball team that played from 1922 to 1928.
“There aren’t many food items that Rochesterians are more proud of or that are more unique, and celebrated in our city than the White Hot,” said Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason, “and we can’t wait to take the field as the White Hots.”
The alternate brand, designed by Brandiose, features an anthropomorphic sausage character. The jersey and cap are black with yellow and red elements meant to represent mustard and ketchup. The White Hots wordmark is set in the same font as Zweigle’s iconic packaging, while the red, yellow, and black color palette is used by both the Red Wings and Zweigle’s.
The Red Wings are one of the longest-tenured teams in Minor League Baseball, with the franchise dating back to 1899 and the name Red Wings debuting in 1929—two years before the hockey team from Detroit. They’ll take the field as the White Hots August 20 against the Toledo Mudhens.
