New Hampshire Primaries - Redux

I think that today is a good day to reiterate that the above logo and especially this logo are probably my favorite logos EVER. Click here to read my review from this past summer.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

When I saw the headline proclaiming that the New Hampshire Fisher Cats had changed their logos, I got a little excited. Could they possibly come to their senses and allow the New Hampshire Primaries to be set free? Sadly, it was not to be. They are still the Fisher Cats, but now they are Fisher Cats that have lost my respect.

Why? That has to be the question that you ask when thinking about this identity change. Other than the fact that they weren't the Primaries, I found virtually nothing wrong with their old logos. There were small things I didn't like and they weren't necessarily my style, but they were well done and logos that a team could be proud of for a very long time.

But the Fisher Cats have been lured to the dark side in search of a temporary increase in merchandising dollars. This identity set is incredible in it's trendiness.

First of all, the eye logo above that follows in the steps of the Lake Elsinore Storm originally (the best selling cap in baseball for a few years running) and the Orem Owlz last season. Thankfully, this logo isn't actually being used as one of their caps yet, but I'd be willing to bet that it's only because they know that they will sell a bunch of caps this season because of the identity change even without resorting to using this logo. But next season, when sales lag, it'll be slapped on a cap and peddled like crazy.


Secondly, the primary logo shown above. What is going on with this trend of having the mascot peer over a name or around something? The New Britain Rock Cats already has the Eastern League peering covered, not to mention the tail and the silver animal. In fact, I'm not convinced that the Fisher Cat isn't really the Rock Cat. Or maybe a twin? Separated at birth? Clone? Whatever, they are definitely related.


Thirdly, the cap/alternate logos. As much as I hate the eyes logo, they might actually be better than any of these wretched logos. You got your severed paw logo, your illegible and unproportionally itty-bitty"F" logo, and your "NM" or "NN" or, oh...that's supposed to be an "H" logo. Disasters all around.

And I haven't even mentioned this early 90's color scheme. To go from a simple and classy green and black to the same color scheme sported by the Sacramento Surge in 1991 dumbfounds me. I thought that this teal-ish, emerald green and yellow was something that we would never have to see again, but it rears it's ugly head in New Hampshire and I can't figure out why.

This set is an abject failure, in my opinion. It was a change that was totally unwarranted and unneeded and because it wasn't even executed well, it is completely unloved here at The Sports Logo Pundit.


Team: New Hampshire Fisher Cats
League: Eastern League
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Stadium: Merchantsauto.com Stadium

New Hampshire Primaries

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats announced this week that for one night only in August, they will become the New Hampshire Primaries. Woo Hoo!

For people like myself who have had a big crush on the Primaries logos since they were first released and public outrage made the new Manchester team dump the name in favor of, basically, anything else (eventually a name-the-team contest came up with Fisher Cats), this is great news. Not only because the Primaries will finally see the field but also because there is now an increased presence of this logo online including a whole Cafepress.com storefront selling t-shirts and other Primaries merchandise.

Like I said, I absolutely love these logos. The day that they were released in 2003 I thought that they were the most creative, well thought-out, interesting and well done logos that had been released in years, heck, maybe ever. You've got the whole package with this set. The word mark is beautiful, of course the donkey and the elephant represent the two parties and I love how they are seemingly getting along but are also keeping a wary eye on each other, and the crossed bats behind them is a very nice touch giving it great balance and good luck.

And then there's the secondary logo of Uncle Sam calling his shot. I still feel robbed that I was never able to get an official game hat featuring this logo it (I only wear 5950 fitted caps). It would've quickly become my favorite hat in my collection and when I wore it out I would've bought a new one. I rarely purchase a duplicate of a hat even if I've worn it out, but my man-crush on the Uncle Sam logo is so strong that I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to go without.

I've never been upset with the Fisher Cats management for dropping the Primaries name and logos because the people who didn't like it stood up and went crazy with their opposition. They did what they had to do at the time. Rather, I've always kind of felt bad for them. The fans were very shortsighted and couldn't see the big picture. This name and these logos were going to be so much fun to promote and market and get creative with that they ultimately missed out in the long run.

Anyway, if you are a Primaries fan and you are in the New Hampshire area, mark Saturday, August 25th on your calendar. The Primaries will be taking the field at MerchantAuto.com Stadium for one night only sporting the specially designed uniforms. The game will be followed by, I'm sure, a very patriotic and celebratory fireworks display.

Big thanks goes out to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats management for bringing back the Primaries even if for just one night and also for providing me with the logos on this page. Cheers!

Team: New Hampshire Fisher Cats/Primaries
League: Eastern League
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Stadium: Merchantsauto.com Stadium
Mascot: For the Fisher Cats, it's Fungo. But think of all the Primaries possibilities.
Merchandise: Fisher Cats and some Primaries stuff here. Primaries Cafepress store here.