The Welland Jackfish, an Ontario-based independent team in the Intercounty Baseball League, announced this week that they will play as the Niagara Lawn Cocks. The identity, unveiled April 1 (so you’ll excuse us if we were skeptical), is meant to support community members who want to keep chickens at home but are prevented by laws restricting the ownership of chickens outside of agricultural zones.
“While I don’t own chickens personally, I can feel for the residents of the Rose City who would like to own our feather friends themselves,” said Jackfish President and Director of Fun Ryan Harrison in a statement. “At the end of the day, with inflation the way it is, why not have a couple of hens in the backyard making grade-A Canadian eggs? Come to think of it, I kind of want a coop.”
Per the team, the temporary brand was inspired by teams like the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Hartford Yard Goats, whose Bathtub Donkeys and Bouncing Pickles alternate identities derive from obscure blue laws on the books in their hometowns.
The suite of logos, created by Ryan Foose of Fooser Sports Design, centers around a rooster character sitting on a lawn chair, holding a baseball bat and sipping a beverage.
The Lawn Cocks will debut against the Brantford Red Sox on August 7, which the team promises will be a “clucking good time.” During the game, the team will attempt to break the world record for most people in chicken costumes. The Jackfish will auction the jerseys off online during the week of the game with proceeds to benefit the Niagara Children’s Centre.
