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Cleveland Catfish

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Growing up in Northeast Ohio, I've supported the Cleveland Indians for pretty much my entire life. I never gave it a second thought. After taking my son to a game, it finally hit me — 1) I've inherited a poor-taste, brand identity without actually questioning it and 2) if I wanted my son to support Cleveland baseball, I'd have to push for a better way than the current, Block C quick fix.

This made me ask the questions — What makes Cleveland baseball great? Is it the current name and identity, or is it the great team, the great city, the colors and fans? Then the challenge became simple — can Cleveland's baseball team swap identity and still feel like the face of Cleveland baseball.

Is this the answer? Maybe not. But if it was, I wouldn't mind.

As a note, the Cleveland Catfish was a proactive project. Since then the Baseball in Cleveland has been rebranded to the Cleveland Guardians. Not a single thing has been made for sale. The beautiful fonts used in this project are slightly modified versions of Greycliff and GT America.

Providing Cleveland baseball fans with a proactive pitch for change.

Cleveland Catfish

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Why A Catfish?

Why not? Although the catfish is not the state fish of Ohio, a Catfish does personify qualities synonymous for our wonderful city — respectfully tough, mildly dangerous, delectably intimidating. Cleveland has been synonymous with skimming the bottom of the sports world, but we are proud, and spitefully poised to rise to the top.

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What about the Team?

Well, if the Catfish did take the mound, they would be wearing slick uniforms like these.

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What about the city?

They'd catch your eye with posters. Lots of posters.

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And the fans?

They'd choose to celebrate baseball in a tougher and tastier kind of way.

Cleveland Catfish
Cleveland Catfish
Cleveland Catfish
Cleveland Catfish
Cleveland Catfish
Cleveland Catfish

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Pantone 289 C

C - 100

M - 64

Y - 0

K - 60

HEX - #002B5C

Pantone 186 C

C - 0

M - 100

Y - 81

K - 4

HEX - #E21837

White

C - 0

M - 0

Y - 0

K - 0

HEX - #FFFFFF

Pantone Cool Grey 2 C

C - 14

M - 12

Y - 13

K - 0

HEX - #D8D5D3

A pitch for change in Cleveland.

Ⓒ 2023