MiLB team to adopt alternate identity following 'Last Week Tonight' contest

NEW YORK -- The Detroit Tigers' Double-A Erie SeaWolves volition beryllium renamed the Erie Moon Mammoths aft being picked by John Oliver of HBO's "Last Week Tonight."

Oliver devoted a May 4 conception to names and promotions of insignificant league shot teams, announcing: "We are consenting to usage each of our resources and stupidity to springiness 1 Minor League Baseball squad a full rebrand. We volition springiness you a caller squad name, a caller mascot. We volition adjacent propulsion you a taxable night. It volition beryllium personalized and it volition beryllium bespoke."

Two weeks later, Oliver selected Erie from among 47 squad submissions. Oliver said the northwestern Pennsylvania squad had fixed 11 reasons it should beryllium picked, including that the squad had pioneered fabric candy blistery dogs and "The SeaWolves play shot obscurity adjacent the sea."

Oliver announced Sunday that helium had chosen to telephone the squad the Moon Mammoths. Longtime sportscaster Bob Costas narrated a promotional video introducing the moniker.

The sanction was inspired by the 1991 find of woolly mammoth remains by George Moon, a Summit Township nonmigratory who recovered a bony portion scuba diving successful Lake Pleasant, astir 8 miles southbound of Erie. The mammoth remains are housed successful the State Museum of Pennsylvania successful Harrisburg.

Erie, which has won the past 2 Eastern League championships, volition beryllium renamed the Moon Mammoths for games connected July 19, Aug. 19, Sept. 12 and Sept. 13.

Major League Baseball said connected Monday the squad volition deterioration jerseys with a rising moon, the team's sanction crossed the chest, a satellite connected the sleeves and a spot with a woolly mammoth wearing a abstraction helmet.

Oliver is expected to be the July 19 crippled against the Chesapeake Baysox, themed a "Mammoth Fun" night. The archetypal 1,000 ticketed fans volition person a Moon Mammoths squishy artifact and determination volition beryllium postgame fireworks. George Moon was besides invited to attend.