Local History + Baseball Tradition = Our New Team
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA (November 18, 2014) – The Tom Sox are born!
Charlottesville Community Baseball, Inc. announced today the Charlottesville team that will begin play in the Valley League in 2015 will be known as the “Tom Sox.” Tom Sox was chosen after the public participated in a team naming contest. From nearly a thousand posts on social media and 266 separate name submissions, the field was narrowed to four names. Tom Sox was chosen over Presidents, Sabres, and Vines.
“It’s a great day, a fun day for our team and for baseball in Charlottesville,” said Tom Sox General Manager Joe Koshansky. “We have coaches, we have players, and now we have a name. It’s unique and it’s a reflection of Charlottesville history and baseball.”
Along with the team name, an homage to both Thomas Jefferson and the game, the team announced its colors will be blue, green, and gray. A working version of a script logo was unveiled, loosely based on Jefferson’s signature and reminiscent of some well-known baseball logos. The logo is being designed by local firm Convoy, headed by Creative Director Matt Thomas.
Public input on the Tom Sox name included such descriptions as “different,” “fun,” “whimsical,” “clever,” “only in Charlottesville,” and “cool.” The Tom Sox name will be used on Twitter @tomsoxbaseball and with #tomsox; and the team’s website, currently in development, will be tomsox.com.
The naming contest’s grand prize goes to David Gordon, who suggested Tom Sox. He wins the “Check CHO First” package from Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport and American Airlines. The package includes an $800 American Airlines travel voucher and one week of VIP parking at CHO. He also receives two season tickets and will throw out the first pitch prior to a Tom Sox home game.
Today’s announcement was made at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. In October, CHO became the Tom Sox’ initial sponsor. Sponsorship/underwriting opportunities are available now and will be an important part of the team’s operations. For more information, contact Bob Schotta at bob63@wahoocom.com.
Upcoming operational objectives for the Tom Sox are to formally launch sponsorship and underwriting outreach to local businesses, including a meal program for the team; to complete the roster of host families for players and coaches; to build out a robust website to completion; and to begin work on game operations and volunteer recruitment related to game operations.
With work continuing towards finalizing the team’s logo, uniform design work has begun as well. There are also plans to offer team merchandise for sale. Details on merchandise will be coming soon.
The Tom Sox are expected to take the field for the first time on June 5, 2015, tentatively scheduled as Opening Day for the 2015 Valley League season. The team will play its home games at Charlottesville High School.
About the Valley Baseball League and Charlottesville Community Baseball, Inc.
The VBL, sanctioned by the NCAA since 1961, is funded in part by a grant from Major League Baseball and is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball, a national affiliation of 12 collegiate summer leagues. The VBL adopted wood bats in 1993. It has produced well over 1,000 professional baseball players, including a record 79 former players drafted in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Last year 27 Valley League alumni were playing in the major leagues.
The league played in an 11-team, one division format in 2014. With the addition of Charlottesville, it will return to a 12-team format in 2015. League members are the Covington Lumberjacks, Harrisonburg Turks, New Market Rebels, Staunton Braves, Waynesboro Generals, Front Royal Cardinals, Aldie Senators, Charles Town Canons, Strasburg Express, Winchester Royals, and Woodstock River Bandits. In the 2014 format, each team played a 40-game schedule June through August concluding with an eight team playoff to determine the Lineweaver Cup Championship.
Charlottesville Community Baseball, Inc. is a non-profit organization. In 2011, the VBL began a process of transitioning to not-for-profit status. All teams as well as the League are now not-for-profit organizations supported by numerous volunteers. Charlottesville Community Baseball has developed a mission statement for its new baseball program:
The mission of Charlottesville Community Baseball, Inc. is to promote the game of baseball in Central Virginia by providing a high quality collegiate summer team, a memorable fan experience, and opportunities for youth to grow in the game and in character.
