Copa de la Diversión

Copa de la Diversión is a promotion originally launched by Minor League Baseball to encourage engagement around their local baseball team by members of the Latin community. It has been a strong success since its launch - on a small scale under a different name - in 2017.

On February 1st, 2022 - the first day of Black History Month - Minor League Baseball announced[1] a similar effort to engage the Black community. It will be named "The Nine" - the uniform number Jackie Robinson wore during his single season in the minor leagues - and involve all 120 affiliated clubs.

History

A Minor Difference

Minor League Baseball needs fans in the stands to produce revenue. With little to no income from broadcast rights, that has always been true - but the Coronavirus pandemic made it more widely known by forcing the minors to shut down completely while MLB played a delayed and shortened 2020 season without fans. As such, its operators are always looking for two things: how to bring new customers into their ballparks, and how to bring existing customers in more often.

Untapped Customers?

First a basic demographic fact: the Latin share of the U.S. population doubled between 1990 and 2015, and more than tripled since 1960.

Latins have been involved in baseball since its very beginnings. In 1864, a Cuban student returning home from college in the U.S. took baseball along. In only four years, Cuba had its first professional team - a year before the Cincinnati Red Stockings went pro in the U.S. From there, the game spread exponentially around the Caribbean and throughout Central and South America.

The game would evolve somewhat differently there. As recently as 1990, the fact that minor league rosters had much higher ratios of Hispanic players than in the big leagues was thought to be because Latin America tended toward "small-ball" or "inside" baseball - playing the game one base at a time versus swinging to clear fences. However, that is not the only reason: in particular, Latin players are often seen as cheap labor or roster fillers, as they will agree to play for minimal salaries for a longer time than most Americans, especially college graduates who usually want to move on to a real career as soon as it becomes clear that they will not make it in the major leagues.

In 2015, Minor League Baseball - the legal entity that still, at the time, existed - realized it had a largely untapped market. The Latino love for baseball remained obvious, and nearly one in five Americans was now Hispanic, but executives had noticed that the number of Latino spectators was nowhere near one in five.

Two seasons later, starting small and announced in the middle of the year, four teams tried something new.[2] Reviving and translating an old slogan used off and on between the 1960s and 2006 - "It’s Fun to be a Fan" becoming "Es Divertido Ser Un Fan" - they set about finding ways to bring Hispanics to their games.

Alternate IDs

For three of the four teams, the most visible way was an alternate brand. Then and now, that has not usually meant directly translating the existing brand. The Las Vegas 51s became the Las Vegas Reyes de Plata (Las Vegas Silver Kings), the Charlotte Knights became the Charlotte Caballeros (Charlotte Gentlemen), and the Visalia Rawhide became the Visalia Toros (Visalia Bulls). The Kane County Cougars chose not to rebrand - probably because "Cougars" translates to the equally English-sounding/reading "Pumas" and possibly accounting for the fact that many sources mistakenly say Copa started with three teams. The ball club pointed out that Kane County has more Hispanics than any other county that borders Chicago's Cook County.

All four teams did other things on Copa days, ranging from public service announcements in Spanish to Hispanic menu choices to culturally relevant music - and, of course, selling Copa-specific merchandise.

The July 2017 announcement[3] said Minor League Baseball had chosen the four markets and that the program would be expanded the next season. That confidence was born out when the number of participating teams jumped to 33 the next year.

The 2018 campaign brought two other new things: a new name, and the creation of a contest around it.

Becoming the Copa

Copa de la Diversión replaced Es Divertido Ser Un Fan and continues today.

The phrase loosely translates as "Fun Cup" - because it can now bring a trophy.

Teams work up a Copa plan, which seem to be as diverse as the concept itself with the number of dates set aside for Copa varying widely from team to team. Minor League Baseball's Latinx Advisory Committee reviews the plans and results, nominates a slate of finalists, and votes a winner. The Albuquerque Isotopes won the first two as the Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico, with of course no winner in the pandemic-cancelled 2020 season. The 2021 award went to the Worcester Red Sox as Los Wepas de Worcester. The 2022 Copa includes 86 teams, and brands were announced on March 31st.

Participating teams have been an increasing share of all teams every year the cup has been held, with one downturn in raw numbers that resulted from the 2021 contraction. From four teams in 2017 - just one-quarter of one percent of the then total of 160 - the numbers and percentages have been: 2018, 33/21%; 2019, 72/45%; 2020, 92/58%; 2021, 76/63%; 2022, 86/72%.

Copa nicknames, both current and past, are listed below. The Minor League Baseball website lists the current ones with each team's statement about its choice[4].

Participating Teams

Team	Alternate Name	Translation	Year(s)
Akron RubberDucks	Perros Calientes de Akron	Akron Hot Dogs	2021-2022
Albuquerque Isotopes	Mariachis de Nuevo México	New Mexico Mariachis	2018-2022
Amarillo Sod Poodles	Pointy Boots de Amarillo	Amarillo Pointy Boots (because the footwear originated in North-Central Mexico)	2020-2022
Arkansas Travelers	Diamantes de Arkansas	Arkansas Diamonds	2020-2022
Asheville Tourists	Yacumamas de Asheville	a yacumama is a mythical snakelike creature	2020-2022
Boise Hawks	Boise Papas Fritas	Boise French Fries	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Bowie Baysox	Cangrejos Fantasmas de Chesapeake	Chesapeake Ghost Crabs	2020-2022
Bowling Green Hot Rods	Bólidos de Bowling Green	Bowling Green Racing Cars	2020-2022
Bradenton Marauders	Bradenton Barbanegras	Bradenton Blackbeards	2019-2022
Brooklyn Cyclones	Brooklyn Jefes	Brooklyn Bosses	2018-2022
Burlington Royals	Molinos de Burlington	Burlington Windmills	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Carolina Mudcats	Pescados de Carolina	Carolina Fish	2019-2022
Cedar Rapids Kernels	Cinco Estaciones de Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Five Seasons (CR's nickname is the City of the Five Seasons[5])	2020-2022
Charleston RiverDogs	Perros Santos de Charleston	Charleston Holy Dogs	2019-2022
Charlotte Knights	Caballeros de Charlotte	Charlotte Cavaliers (can also translate as Gentlemen, and the team says it refers to "gentlemanly horseman" - or, Knight)	2017-2022
Charlotte Stone Crabs	Frijoles Saltarines de Puerto Carlota	Port Charlotte Jumping Beans	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Chattanooga Lookouts	Montañas de Chattanooga	Chattanooga Mountains	2019-2022
Clinton LumberKings	Clinton Elotes	Clinton Corns	2019-2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Columbia Fireflies	Chicharrones de Columbia	Columbia Pork Rinds	2019-2022
Columbus Clippers	Veleros de Columbus	Columbus Sailboats	2019-2022
Corpus Christi Hooks	Raspas de Corpus Christi	a raspa is a refreshing cold dessert	2018-2021
Corpus Christi Hooks	Corpus Christi Cumbias	Cumbia is a style of music that originated as a Columbian folk dance	2022
Daytona Tortugas	Tortugas de Daytona	Daytona Turtles	2019-2022
Delmarva Shorebirds	Gallos de Delmarva	Delmarva Roosters	2019-2022
Down East Wood Ducks	Patos Joyuyos de Down East	Down East Wood Ducks	2019
Down East Wood Ducks	Avocados Luchadores de Down East	Down East Fighting Avocados	2020-2022
Durham Bulls	Toros de Durham	Durham Bulls	2017-2018
Durham Bulls	Mal de Ojo de Durham	Durham Evil Eyes	2019
Durham Bulls	Cervezas de Durham	Durham Beers	2020-2022
El Paso Chihuahuas	El Paso Chihuahuas	El Paso Chihuahuas	2018
El Paso Chihuahuas	Margaritas de El Paso	translates to "daisy flowers" but refers to the cocktail	2019-2022
Erie SeaWolves	Piñatas de Erie	a piñata is a hanging bag at children’s parties that is broken and rains sweets or small toys down on them	2019-2022
Eugene Emeralds	Monarcas de Eugene	Eugene Monarchs (as in monarch butterfly)	2018-2022
Everett AquaSox	Conquistadores de Everett	Everett Conquerors	2018-2022
Fayetteville Woodpeckers	Guerreos de Fayetteville	Fayetteville Warriors	2020-2022
Florida Fire Frogs	Coquis de Florida	Florida Tree Frogs	2019-2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Fort Wayne TinCaps	Manzanas Luchadores de Fort Wayne	Fort Wayne Fighting Apples	2020, 2022
Fresno Grizzlies	Lowriders de Fresno	Fresno Lowriders	2019-2022
Frisco RoughRiders	Los Quesos de Frisco	Frisco Cheese	2022
Great Lakes Loons	Pepinillos Picantes del Norte	Northern Spicy Pickles	2022
Greensboro Grasshoppers	Ocelotes de Greensboro	Greensboro Ocelots	2019-2022
Greenville Drive	Energia de Greenville	Greenville Energy	2018-2020
Greenville Drive	Ranas de Rio	River Frogs	2021-2022
Gwinnett Stripers	Xolos de Gwinnett	"xolo" - pronounced SHO-lo - is short for Xoloitzcuintlil, the national dog of Mexico often called the "Mexican Hairless"	2019-2022
Harrisburg Senators	Playeros de Harrisburg	Harrisburg Beachgoers	2020-2022
Hartford Yard Goats	Chivos de Hartford	Hartford Billy Goats	2018-2022
Hickory Crawdads	Llamas de Hickory	Hickory Llamas	2019-2022
Hillsboro Hops	Los Lúpulos de Hillsboro	Hillsboro Hoppers	2018
Hillsboro Hops	Soñadores de Hillsboro	Hillsboro Dreamers	2019-2022
Hudson Valley Renegades	Fenómenos Enmascarados del Valle de Hudson	Hudson Valley Masked Phenoms	2020-2022
Idaho Falls Chukars	Madres de Idaho Falls	Idaho Falls Mothers	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino	Cucuys de San Bernardino	a cucuy is a mythical Hispanic character like the American boogeyman	2018-2022
Iowa Cubs	Demonios de Des Moines	Des Moines Demons	2019-2022
Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Lakewood BlueClaws through 2020)	Medusas de Jersey Shore (Medusas de Lakewood through 2020)	Jersey Shore Jellyfish (Lakewood Jellyfish through 2020)	2019-2022
Kane County Cougars	Kane County Cougars	Kane County Cougars	2017-2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers	Rápidos de Kannapolis	Kannapolis Speedsters	2018-2022
Lake County Captains	Picantes de Lake County	Lake County Spicies	2019-2022
Lake Elsinore Storm	Lake Elsinore Storm	Lake Elsinore Storm	2018
Lake Elsinore Storm	Cadejos de Lake Elsinore	a cadejo is a mythic wolf	2019-2020
Lancaster JetHawks	Viento de Lancaster	Lancaster Wind	2019-2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Lansing Lugnuts	Locos de Lansing	Lansing Fools or Nuts (a play on team battle cry “Let’s Go Nuts!”)	2019-2022
Las Vegas Aviators	Reyes de Plata de Las Vegas	Las Vegas Silver Kings	2017-2022
Lehigh Valley IronPigs	Leigh Valley Tocino	Lehigh Valley Bacon	2018
Lehigh Valley IronPigs	Coquís de Leigh Valley	Leigh Valley Tree Frogs	2019-2022
Lexington Legends	Leyendas de Lexington	Lexington Legends	2019-2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Louisville Bats	Murciélagos de Louisville	Louisville Bats (the mammal, not the stick)	2019-2022
Memphis Redbirds	Música de Memphis	Memphis Music	2018-2019, 2022
Midland RockHounds	Matamoscas de Midessa	Midland-Odessa Fly Swatters	2019-2022
Modesto Nuts	Alebrijes de Modesto	Modesto Spirit Guides	2019-2022
Myrtle Beach Pelicans	Pelícanos de Myrtle Beach	Myrtle Beach Pelicans	2019-2022
Nashville Sounds	Vihuelas de Nashville	a vihuela is a guitar-like instrument that originated in Spain	2019-2020, 2022
New Hampshire Fisher Cats	Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire	New Hampshire Fierce Cats	2019-2022
Norfolk Tides	Pajaritos de Norfolk	Norfolk Small Birds	2020-2022
Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Naturales del Noroeste de Arkansas	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	2020-2022
Ogden Raptors	Carnivoros de Ogden	Ogden Carnivores	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Oklahoma City Dodgers	Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City	Oklahoma City Blue Skies	2018-2022
Omaha Storm Chasers	Cazadores de Tormentas de Omaha	Omaha Storm Hunters	2018-2022
Pawtucket Red Sox	Osos Polares de Pawtucket	Pawtucket Polar Bears	2019-2020
Pensacola Blue Wahoos will join the Copa in 2023
Peoria Chiefs	Peoria en el Río	Peoria on the River	2020-2022
Portland Sea Dogs	Alces de Maine	Maine Moose	2020-2022
Quad Cities River Bandits	Bandidos del Río de las Ciudades Cuádruples	Quad Cities River Bandits	2022
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes	Temblores de Rancho Cucamonga	Rancho Cucamonga Tremors	2018-2022
Reading Fightin Phils	Peleadores de Reading	Reading Fighters	2019
Reading Fightin Phils	Luchadores de Reading	Reading Fighters	2020-2022
Reno Aces	Corazones de Reno	Reno Hearts	2019-2022
Richmond Flying Squirrels	Ardillas Voladores de Richmond	Richmond Flying Squirrels	2019-2022
Rochester Red Wings	Cocos Locos de Rochester	Rochester Crazy Coconuts	2020-2022
Rocky Mountain Vibes	Lloronas de Montana Rocosa	La Llorana is a folkloric figure representing a crying ghost woman	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Round Rock Express	Chupacabras de Round Rock	a chupacabra - a compound of the Spanish words for "goat" and "sucker" - is a legendary creature that feeds on the blood of small animals	2018-2022
Sacramento River Cats	Sacramento Dorados	Sacramento Goldens	2018-2022
St. Paul Saints	Santos de San Pablo	St. Paul Saints	2022
Salem Red Sox	San Bernardos de Salem	Salem St. Bernards (the dog breed, not the saint)	2019-2022
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes	Campesinos de Salem-Keizer	Salem-Keizer Farmers	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Salt Lake Bees	Abejas de Salt Lake	Salt Lake Bees	2018-2022
San Antonio Missions	Flying Chanclas de San Antonio	San Antonio Flying Slippers	2018-2022
San Jose Giants	San Jose Gigantes	San Jose Giants	2018
San Jose Giants	Churros de San José	San Jose Fritters	2019-2022
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders	Vejigantes de Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	a vejigante is a folkloric masked jester-like character	2019-2022
Somerset Patriots	Zorros de Somerset	Somerset Foxes	2019-2022
South Bend Cubs	Cabritos Maldichos de South Bend	South Bend Cursed Kid Goats (refers to the big Cubs' Curse of the Billy Goat)	2020-2022
Springfield Cardinals	Cardenales de Springfield	Springfield Cardinals	2020-2022
Stockton Ports	Caballos de Stockton	Stockton Horses	2018-2022
Syracuse Mets	Congueros de Syracuse	Syracuse Conga Drums	2022
Tacoma Rainiers	Familia de Tacoma	Tacoma Family	2019-2022
Trenton Thunder	Trueno de Trenton	Trenton Thunder	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Tri-City ValleyCats	Los Puentes de Tri-City	Tri-City Bridges	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Tri-City Dust Devils	Viñeros de Tri-City	Tri-City Winemakers	2019-2022
Tulsa Drillers	Petroleros de Tulsa	Tulsa Oilers	2018-2019
Visalia Rawhide	Toros de Visalia	Visalia Bulls	2017-2022
West Michigan Whitecaps	Calaveras de West Michigan	West Michigan Skulls	2019-2022
Wichita Wind Surge	Tumba Vacas de Wichita	Wichita Cow Tippers (loosely translated; honors the Mexican national sport "La Charreria" that arose from equestrian activities and livestock traditions used in the haciendas of old Mexico)	2022
Winston-Salem Dash	Rayados de Winston-Salem	Winston-Salem Striped Ones	2018-2021
Winston-Salem Dash	Salsa de Winston-Salem	Winston-Salem Salsa	2022
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers	Cascabeles de Wisconsin	Wisconsin Jingle Bells	2019-2022
Worcester Red Sox	Los Wepas	Worcester Wows (a loose translation; a wepa is a slang exclamation of approval or encouragement)	2019-2022