Some people call us the Gangsters of Glove. Some people call us Maurice…
Wait… Did You Say Space Cowboys?
Yes. And no, Steve Miller had nothing to do with this. Nor did Clint Eastwood. It’s not that exciting. At least not to you, maybe. In all seriousness, though, rebranding is all the rage these days. Facebook is now Meta. The former Washington Football Team is now the Washington Commanders. At first glance, neither of those rebrands is looking all that great right now. But I digress…
Now Who Exactly ARE the Space Cowboys?
I’m glad you asked. Let me introduce you to a little place called Sugar Land, Texas. A suburb of my hometown of Houston, named for the famed Imperial Sugar Company headquartered there since 1843, Sugar Land (two words, NOT one) boasts everything you’d expect from a city just outside of a major city. Restaurants, entertainment venues, residential communities, but prior to 2012, no sports (outside of high school sports, of course). Sure, the Astros are quite literally up the highway in Downtown Houston, but I’m talking smaller scale.
The Atlantic League Years
Originally an independent minor league team in the Atlantic League from 2012-2020, the Sugar Land Skeeters (appropriate name for the region, by the way) began play in their newly built Constellation Field, providing an affordable and family-focused environment to watch some baseball. Seriously, this place is catered to families with small children. There’s a full playground and splash pad in the outfield for those proverbial “dog days of summer”. While independent ball doesn’t really boast of big names to watch for tomorrow, they did win the league championship in 2016 and 2018. Furthermore, there are some notable players that donned the Skeeters’ jersey in the twilights of their respective careers. Such notable alumni include Scott Kazmir, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens, and former NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady.
Triple A and the Houston Astros
In 2021, the Astros officially purchased the Sugar Land Skeeters, acquiring and extending their lease through the 2045 season. They were now the official AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros, following a trend of in-state minor league affiliates that also includes the Astros’ AA team, the Corpus Christi Hooks. No longer subject to indy ball, we locals can now watch the future of the organization in guys like Korey Lee in our own backyard, while also getting the chance to see MLB All-Stars like Alex Bregman in rehab stints. Notably, Jim Crane, the majority owner of the Astros, took a major first step in MLB-MiLB relations in 2021 when he announced that the big league club would be providing furnished housing for all minor league players.
Rebrand and Beyond
Sugar Land Space Cowboys players show off new uniforms at Constellation Field.
Enter 2022. Word came out about a Launch Party to come at Constellation Field that promised players, music, fireworks and… a new brand reveal?
? We’ve got ??? news. ?
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) January 18, 2022
A new era of baseball is on its way to Sugar Land – and you’re invited! Be the first to see the new look of Sugar Land baseball at our Launch Party happening on January 29th here at @ConstellationEG Field!
?: https://t.co/3cSXyPm7OJ pic.twitter.com/M2PjK1WOmx
Then came the leaks (including from Houston’s favorite sports reporter/airport greeter, Mark Berman of Fox 26)…
MLB source confirms the #Astros will announce they have changed the name of the Sugar Land Skeeters (@SL_Skeeters) to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 19, 2022
Leaks don’t always work out the way they’re intended. But low and behold, everyone was right. The team formerly known as the Sugar Land Skeeters was now the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Gone were the days of Swatson, the Skeeters’ aptly named mosquito-like mascot. Welcome Orion, an out-of-this-world canine creature who might actually be the Astros’ mascot Orbit‘s distant cousin from another galaxy. It would appear that the organization decided to stick with the space-y theme that the Astros have had since their own rebrand (if it was called that) in 1965 from the Colt 45s to the present-day name. It works, and a new journey of Sugar Land baseball begins.
A new journey begins.
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) January 29, 2022
We are the Space Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/LvU3UqHHZs
Now For the Important Part… LET’S TALK ABOUT THE UNIFORMS
Let me get this out of the way right now. I’m an Astros fan. Have been for as long as I can remember. I was an Astros Buddy back in the 90s (my kids are starting this season, too, if it happens) and I would annually attend games with my brothers, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. This is my team, so I admit my bias. But when your team has arguably one of the greatest baseball uniforms of all time, there’s a certain standard you come to expect. Let’s just say that they did not disappoint.
The Reveal
A new era. A new look. pic.twitter.com/8EqZFpLpD6
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) January 29, 2022
There’s a lot to take in here. First, there’s the main logo which is the astronaut with a cowboy hat. Then there’s the alternate SL logo for Sugar Land. There’s also the rocket set on a Texas flag motif background (my favorite hat of the bunch). Look at the color scheme. The sleekness of the logos. I can’t find a damn thing wrong with any of it.
Perhaps my most favorite part is the on the light blue jersey’s shoulders and the home Space Cowboys jersey’s sides. Recall my mention of the greatest uniform earlier. That rainbow patterned jersey came to be known as the “Tequila Sunrise” jersey. Whoever took that concept and applied it here… I’d like to buy them a beer. The smooth gradient with the team’s colors on the jerseys I highlighted above acts as an homage to the “Tequila Sunrise” with what is now affectionately being called a “Tequila Sunset”. I mean, even the guys at Barstool weighed in with a ringing endorsement…
The Astros Have A New Triple-A Team And They Already Have The Best Uniforms In Minor League Baseball: Say Hello To The Sugar Land Space Cowboys https://t.co/TV4CFVpeny pic.twitter.com/4yzDadiQJw
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 31, 2022
Basically, I want all of these. So, if anyone from the Space Cowboys’ social media team sees this… I wear a size large jersey and a size 7-5/8 hat.
Don’t you worry, though. Don’t worry. ‘Cause these Space Cowboys? They’re right here, right here, right here, right here at home (plate) in Sugar Land.
If you enjoy this article and Texas sports, specifically high school sports, please check out the 2021-22 Arlington High Schools Basketball Yearbook.
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