Within hours of the news Wednesday that the Twin Cities’ two professional baseball teams would be partnering, the Saints released a new logo. In a spin off the Twins’ emblem featuring Minnie and Paul shaking hands over the Mississippi River, the Saints made sure to add their own flair.
On one side of the river, there’s T.C. Bear, the Twins’ longtime mascot. On the other side, Saints mascot Mudonna is dragging along a wagon full of goodies — a pig, fireworks and more — as if to say, “The fun isn’t going anywhere. We’re bringing it with us.”
The Saints have lived by co-owner Mike Veeck’s “Fun is Good” mantra for 28 years in St. Paul, and though they dropped their independent status to become the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate, don’t expect them to change from their quirky, zany selves.
“I think the Saints have always been considered a part of the anti-establishment historically, and if there’s a concern that we are becoming a part of the establishment, I’d like to look at it a little differently,” Saints executive vice president and general manager Derek Sharrer said. “I’d like to look at it from the perspective of the Twins. Let’s give the Twins credit for stepping closer to the anti-establishment, not the Saints moving toward the establishment.”
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— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) December 10, 2020
The Saints’ promotions for the 2020 season, scotched by the COVID-19 pandemic, tell the story: An “Astro the Grouch” talking bobblehead in a trash can, a nod to the Houston Astros’ electronic sign-stealing scandal; a “Bobblection” vote conducted by fans by choosing which presidential candidate bobblehead they wanted; and “Anything on a Leash Night.”
All that is in addition to the daily presence of the team’s ball pig, chosen and named each season, and the Ushertainers that entertain fans during the game.
“My only concern is that some of the fun and irreverence will go out,” Saints partial season ticket holder David Karpinski said. “Mike Veeck is known for putting on not only a ballgame but a good show, and I fear it may get a little more conservative in their approach to fan entertainment once it becomes part of Major League Baseball’s organized system.”
The Saints and the Twins say they are committed to making sure that’s not the case. Twins president Dave St. Peter on Wednesday predicted that over time, the Saints’ approach would wear off on his club rather than the other way around.
The Twins now own an ownership stake in the Saints, though majority partnership remains with Veeck, Marv Goldklang and actor Bill Murray. All parties involve agree: The fun won’t change.
“I have always admired the Saints,” Twins owner Jim Pohlad said. “I have no desire to change the personality of the club at all, because I like it.”
Veeck said one of the things that sold him on this partnership was a conversation he had with Pohlad in which the Twins owner told him he wanted the Saints to just keep continuing to do what they did.
“That was delightful to hear because I think there are things that can be edgy and not cross any lines but create new lines, and I think it’s terribly important right now for the game’s overall health,” Veeck said.
In addition to making sure none of the team’s character disappears, the Saints pledged Wednesday not to raise ticket prices. Sharrer gave a firm “No,” when asked if ticket prices would rise, allaying concerns of fans like Paul Nyberg, a former Saints season ticket holder who still attends around six games per year.
“The Saints were really accessible for families and for people, and I know there was a price increase when they moved from Midway to the new digs, which is great — the new stadium is absolutely fantastic,” Nyberg said. “But are we going to see that same sort of price because now we have sort of Major League Baseball at the Triple-A level? Are we going to have (it where) it’s not accessible? Because that’s really what the beauty of it was.”
The Saints say no. They will still provide an affordable option — with plenty of fun; but now it comes with the added benefit of seeing future major leaguers. That is likely to soothe concerns of fans worried they might start to see changes with their beloved team.
“I would sense that there’s probably a contingency of folks who are probably more worried, but I also think at the same time, the fans have enough trust and respect for the Saints that they kind of know deep down that things aren’t going to change that much,” said Julian Loscalzo, a Saints season ticket holder since the first season in 1993.
“I’ve been talking to a lot of other folks that go to games and they’re like, ‘Hey, man, this is great. We’re going to see better quality ball and we’re still going to have the fun of being at a Saints game.’ ”
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