Copa_de_la_Diversión

Copa de la Diversión

Copa de la Diversión

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Copa de la Diversión (transl. Fun Cup) is an initiative by Minor League Baseball to promote the sport and connect its teams to their Hispanic/Latino communities.[1] Teams adopt a culturally-relevant on-field persona for certain games each season.[2]

Copa de la Diversión logo
A 2019 Copa game between the Margaritas de El Paso (yellow) and Cazadores de Tormentas de Omaha (green)

History

The promotion started in 2017 with the Es Divertido Ser Un Fan ("It's Fun to Be a Fan") fan engagement program.[3] Four teams participated: the Las Vegas 51s, who took the field as the Reyes de Plata ("Silver Kings");[4] the Charlotte Knights as the Charlotte Caballeros;[5] the Visalia Rawhide, who played as the Visalia Toros;[6] and the Kane County Cougars, who did not change their name for the promotion.

In 2018, the program was renamed Copa de la Diversión and expanded to 33 teams.[7] A trophy (the "Fun Cup") was awarded to the Albuquerque Isotopes franchise, who played as the Mariachis de Nuevo México and set new attendance records during Copa games.[8][9] In 2019, participation increased to 72 teams.[10] Six teams that participated in 2018 using direct Spanish translations of their usual team name adopted new identities for 2019.[11] The number of participants increased to 92 for the 2020 season.[12]

In addition to changing monikers for Copa games, teams also utilize alternate logos, color schemes, jerseys, and hats.[13] The re-branding inspirations have ranged from historical, such as the Reyes de Plata in reference to the contributions migrant workers made to the mining industry of Nevada,[14] to culinary, with the Columbia Fireflies playing as the Chicharrones de Columbia.[15]

The 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] Following the 2020 season, Major League Baseball assumed control of Minor League Baseball in a move to increase player salaries, modernize facility standards, and reduce travel.[17] This reorganization and elimination of some teams reduced Copa participants to 76 clubs in 2021.[18] Following the 2021 season, the Worcester Red Sox, who played Copa games as "Los Wepas de Worcester", were awarded the Fun Cup trophy.[19]

In 2022, participation grew to 85 teams.[20]

Participating teams

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Former identities

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Notes

  1. Down East competed as the "Patos Joyuyos de Down East" in 2019
  2. Durham competed as the "Toros de Durham" in 2017 and 2018.[23][24]
  3. Durham competed as the "Mal de Ojo de Durham" in 2019.
  4. San Jose competed as the "San Jose Gigantes" in 2018.[25]
  5. Corpus Christi competed as the "Raspas de Corpus Christi" from 2018 to 2021.
  6. Lehigh Valley competed as the "Lehigh Valley Tocino" in 2018.[28]
  7. Reading competed as the "Peleadores de Reading" in 2019.
  8. El Paso competed as the "El Paso Chihuahuas" in 2018.[29]
  9. Midland competed as the "Matamoscas de Midessa" from 2019 to 2023.
  10. Jersey Shore competed as the "Medusas de Lakewood" from 2019 to 2020.
  11. Memphis did not participate from 2020 to 2021.
  12. Peoria competed as "En El Rio" from 2020 to 2023.
  13. Greenville competed as the "Energía de Greenville" from 2018 to 2020.
  14. The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers were known as the Kannapolis Intimidators in 2018 and 2019.
  15. The Las Vegas Aviators were known as the Las Vegas 51s in 2017 and 2018.
  16. Winton-Salem competed as the "Rayados de Winston-Salem" from 2018 to 2021.
  17. Hillsboro competed as the "Lúpulos de Hillsboro" in 2018.[32]
  18. Rancho Cucamonga competed as the "Temblores de Rancho Cucamonga" from 2018 to 2023.
  19. Nashville did not participate in 2021.

References

  1. [1]
    "Minor League Baseball reveals full schedule of games and date of Unveiling Day for 2019 Copa de la Diversión". MiLB.com. February 18, 2019.
  2. [2]
    "Minor League Baseball's 'Copa De La Diversión' Hispanic Fan Engagement Initiative Expands to 72 Teams for 2019". Minor League Baseball. September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  3. [3]
    "MiLB launches Hispanic-focused initiative 'Es Divertido Ser Un Fan'". MiLB.com. July 24, 2017.
  4. [4]
    "51s debut special 'Reyes de Plata' uniforms during Tuesday's game". Las Vegas Review Journal. August 2, 2017.
  5. [5]
    "The Charlotte Knights Are About To Change Their Name To The Charlotte Caballeros". charlottestories.com. July 25, 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Rawhide change name to Toros for Latino heritage event". Visalia Times Delta. July 24, 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Minor League Baseball To Have 'Copa De La Diversión' In Effort To Reach Latino Communities". Forbes. March 20, 2018.
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    "Minor League Baseball Announces 2019 Copa de la Diversión". La Vida Baseball. March 18, 2019.
  9. [9]
    "How the numbers stacked up for Mariachi nights at Isotopes Park". bizjournals.com. August 21, 2018.
  10. [10]
    "2019 Copa de la Diversión Identities Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. March 18, 2019.
  11. [11]
    "Copa de la Diversión 2019: Same Team, New Identity". Ben's Biz. March 21, 2019.
  12. [12]
    "Copa Ready to Reach Higher in Third Season". MiLB.com. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  13. [13]
    "MiLB unveils Copa de la Diversion logos: Part 2". sportslogos.net. March 18, 2019.
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    "Las Vegas Reyes de Plata Copa Branding". milbcopa.mlblogs.com. March 20, 2018.
  15. [15]
    "Big on the Pig: Why the Columbia Fireflies Will Become the Chicharrones For Several Games". Post and Courier: Free Times. March 21, 2019.
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    "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
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    Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
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    Mann, Tyler (April 19, 2021). "Copa de la Diversión Back With a Bang in 2021". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
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    Heneghan, Kelsie (December 7, 2021). "Wepa! WooSox Win Copa de la Diversión". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
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    "Copa Brings Celebration to Even More Communities". Minor League Baseball. March 31, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  21. [21]
    "Bees Unveil New Abejas de Salt Lake Logos". Salt Lake Bees. Minor League Baseball. March 18, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
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    "Los Cabritos Maldichos | South Bend".
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    "Toros de Durham to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night". Durham Bulls. Minor League Baseball. July 24, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  24. [24]
    "Toros de Durham Copa Branding". Durham Bulls. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  25. [25]
    "San Jose Gigantes Copa Branding". MiLB Copa de la Diversión. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  26. [26]
    "Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City play inaugural game at Bricktown". okcfox.com. May 31, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  27. [27]
    "Syracuse Mets to Become Congueros de Syracuse for Copa de la Diversión Series". Minor League Baseball. March 31, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  28. [28]
    "Lehigh Valley Tocino Copa Branding". MiLB Copa de la Diversión. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  29. [29]
    "El Paso Chihuahuas Copa Branding". Durham Bulls. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  30. [30]
    "The Man Who Invented the Margarita". Texas Monthly. October 1974. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  31. [31]
    Kantowski, Ron (July 24, 2017). "51s to Be Known as 'Las Vegas Silver Kings' as Part of Hispanic Initiative". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  32. [32]
    "Hillsboro Hops To Transform Into "Los Lúpulos de Hillsboro" for Five Games During 2018 Season". Hillsboro Hops. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  33. [33]
    "Hillsboro Hops Will Become 'Dreamers' for Four Games This Season". OregonLive. March 18, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  34. [34]
    "Copa Nashville". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. March 18, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  35. [35]
    Caputo, Paul (April 18, 2021). "Woosox Likely to Play As Los Wepas de Worcester in Copa Games". Sports Logos. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  36. [36]
    "Lake Elsinore Storm Copa Branding". MiLB Copa de la Diversión. Minor League Baseball. March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  37. [37]
    Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
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