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Columbia Education Reporter Ian Grenier covers K-12 and higher education in the Columbiaarea. Originally from Charleston, he studied history and politicalscience at USC and reported for the Victoria Advocate in SouthTexas before joining The Post and Courier.
Ian Grenier
The baseball cap for the Carolina Grits, the Fireflies' alter ego.
Provided/Columbia Fireflies
COLUMBIA— The Columbia Fireflies will don a new identity six times during their 2024 minor league baseball season: The Carolina Grits.
Their alternate logo features an anthropomorphic, upside down baseball cap filled with grits— including the mandatory melting butter— with a spoon co*cked over its shoulder like a baseball bat.
The matching white and gold jersey reads "grits" across the front, the "i" dotted with a square pat of butter.
Columbia News
Viewing days set for Congaree National Park synchronous fireflies event
- By Josh Archotejarchote@postandcourier.com
The Fireflies' delicious new mascot does not yet have a name, and the team will be accepting suggestions for an upcoming naming contest through March 29.
The capital city's Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate announced March 22 that it will debut the new logos, jerseys and hats the weekend of April 26-28, which the team has dubbed "Grits Weekend."
A full array of Carolina Grits gear will be available for sale at the ballpark that same weekend, the team said, with some merchandise already available for online pre-sale.
It's not the first time that a South Carolina minor league team has made a southern staple into an identity. In 2018, the Charleston RiverDogs became the Boiled Peanuts for the first time, paying tribute to the late Anthony Wright, a legendary local boiled peanut seller known as Tony the Peanut Man.
Minor Leagues
Larger bases, shift ban in 2022 for RiverDogs, other SC minor league baseball teams
- By Gene Sapakoff
At the Fireflies' Segra Park, fans will also be able to eat the real thing, with a new "Grits, Y’all!" food cart serving Adluh grits in the form of plain cheesy grits, loaded grits, chicken and grits, and shrimp and grits.
And yes, hardcore fans will be able to get their fix served up in a souvenir baseball helmet, the team said.
"Food is such a big part of the ballpark experience, and ultimately food, and namely grits, has brought people together at the breakfast, lunch and dinner table, so why not let grits bring people together at the ballpark too," Fireflies Team President Brad Shank said in a statement.
The Fireflies' home season kicks off April 9 against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Columbia Business
Royals pledge to bring aggressive style of baseball to Columbia as Fireflies' new partner
- By Mike Fittsmfitts@postandcourier.com
Reach Ian Grenier at 803-968-1951. Follow him on Twitter@IanGrenier1.
More information
- Back on the pork grind: Fireflies temporarily changing name, logo to honor Latino community
Ian Grenier
Columbia Education Reporter
Ian Grenier covers K-12 and higher education in the Columbiaarea. Originally from Charleston, he studied history and politicalscience at USC and reported for the Victoria Advocate in SouthTexas before joining The Post and Courier.
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