PRESS RELEASE
January 2, 2014

The West Virginia Alleghenies unveiled their new logo and uniforms today during a press conference at Allegheny Field.

Lan-quing Li, the owner of the West Virginia franchise, announced the team’s new name during the Winter Meetings in Miami, Florida on December 17.  Li purchased the team on November 5, 2013 and immediately set out to transform the moribund franchise.  Renaming the team was one of his first plans upon officially taking control of the ballclub.

“It’s a new day in West Virginia,” Li stated at the opening of the press conference.  “After seven years, it’s time to reinvigorate this franchise and get the team to the next level.  What do people think of when they think of the ‘Coal Sox’?  Mediocrity.  We’re leaving all of that behind.”

West Virginia returned to the past for the new team nickname.  “Alleghenies” draws its inspiration from a legendary class of locomotives used by the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad in the 1940s and 50s.  These locomotives, the heaviest steam locomotives ever built, were used to haul heavy coal trains up the Allegheny Mountains.

“The name ‘Alleghenies’ allows us to retain our team’s connection to the area without being tied down to the old moniker.  It’ll also allow us some fantastic cross-company synergy opportunities,” explained Li.  Li is also the owner of the Dakota, Mississippi, and Mexico railroad, whose easternmost line terminates at Chicago, IL.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Li turned to a large easel and pulled down a sheet embroidered with the old Coal Sox logo.  Prominent in the new team logo is a front-on view of the mammoth locomotive from which the franchise now takes its name.  Local graphic design firm Kanawha Design incorporated several team-specific details into the new logo.  The number on the locomotive is “2007,” the founding year of the franchise.  Instead of the C&O logo, on the front plate is a silhouette of the state of West Virginia.  The circular design of the original Coal Sox logo is retained.

“And now, put your hands together for something old and something new,” Li stated and stepped aside from the podium once more, gesturing offstage as star second-baseman Rafael Suárez and recently signed free agent Carlos Mostas entered modeling the new team uniforms.

The jerseys are a simple, elegant design that hearkens back to the classic looks of the MLB.  Chesapeake blue, the new primary team color, forms the base of the jersey.  The nickname “Alleghenies” arches across the chest of the jersey in gold letters, adorned by a white silhouette of the state of West Virginia above the “I” in “Alleghenies.”  The ensemble is trimmed in locomotive gray and completed with the original West Virginia cap in the new team colors.

“What can I say?  I was a Cubs fan growing up,” Li grinned as Suárez and Mostas stood next to him.  Li personally requested that the font across the uniforms used the same lettering style as the 1960s Cubs jerseys that he remembered from his childhood.  The new jerseys will be available on alleghenies.com starting on Friday, as well as at all West Virginia team shops.

Season ticket holders invited to the press conference were all issued complimentary uniforms, caps, and tickets to a private reception for a special ceremony to be held at Allegheny Field on January 30.  “It’ll be worth your time,” Li winked before turning the podium over to general manager Travis Babcock.

The general manager took questions from the audience.  “How good will the team be next year?” asked Lawrence Reed, 67, of Parkersburg.

“We’re making every move possible to bring home the Rodriguez Cup in 2014,” Babcock replied.  “Our recent extension of Ronald Harmon shows that we’re committed to retaining our homegrown talent, and our signing of Mostas shows we’ll open up the purse strings when it makes sense for the club.”

The next question from the audience came from Harold Johnson, 49, of Huntington, who inquired about the high-profile free agent signings made by the Connecticut Nutmeggers.

“There’s a team that’s certainly committed to the coming seasons.  They’ve brought a tremendous amount of talent over the past few weeks and you certainly can’t write them off.  I think their moves put them on the same level as Arlington and New Jersey,” replied Babcock.

The question-and-answer segment ended as Li briefly retook the stage to announce that, from today until Opening Day, fans can trade in their old Coal Sox gear to get 50% off the same item in the new Alleghenies design at any team shop location.