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 1, 2022 - the first day of Black History Month - Minor League Baseball announced[1] a similar effort to engage the Black community. It was 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. Farm team operators are therefore 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 that is announced during the subsequent Winter Meetings. Thus far, they are:

Season	Regular Locale Name	Copa Brand
2018	Albuquerque, NM	Mariachis de Nuevo México
2019	Albuquerque, NM	Mariachis de Nuevo México
2020	No season played	No award
2021	Worcester, MA	Los Wepas de Worcester
2022	Hillsboro, OR	Soñadores de Hillsboro

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%; 2023, 90*/75%.

Teams come and go, and they can and often do change their alternate brands. The upcoming teams and their alternate IDs are announced every March.

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].

• To keep the percentage series apples-to-apples, this is the number of participating affiliated teams. Because - for the first time since the contraction - some teams from MLB Partner Leagues are participating in 2023, the total number is actually 95. The five Partner League teams are listed separately below the affiliated ones.

Participating Teams

Team	Alternate Name	Translation	Year(s)
Akron RubberDucks	Perros Calientes de Akron	Akron Hot Dogs	2021-2024
Albuquerque Isotopes	Mariachis de Nuevo México	New Mexico Mariachis	2018-2024
Altoona Curve	Peces Dorados de Altoona	Altoona Golden Fish	2024
Amarillo Sod Poodles	Pointy Boots de Amarillo	Amarillo Pointy Boots (because the footwear originated in North-Central Mexico)	2020-2024
Arkansas Travelers	Diamantes de Arkansas	Arkansas Diamonds	2020-2024
Asheville Tourists	Yacumamas de Asheville	a yacumama is a mythical snakelike creature	2020-2023
Augusta GreenJackets	Pavos Salvajes de Augusta	Augusta Wild Turkeys	2023-2014
Beloit Sky Carp	Paletas de Beloit	a paleta is a frozen treat similar to a popsickle	2023-2024
Binghamton Rumble Ponies	Cóndores de Binghamton	Binghamton Condors	2023-2024
Bowie Baysox	Cangrejos Fantasmas de Chesapeake	Chesapeake Ghost Crabs	2020-2024
Bowling Green Hot Rods	Bólidos de Bowling Green	Bowling Green Racing Cars	2020-2024
Bradenton Marauders	Bradenton Barbanegras	Bradenton Blackbeards	2019-2024
Brooklyn Cyclones	Brooklyn Jefes	Brooklyn Bosses	2018-2024
Buffalo Bisons	Luces de Buffalo	Buffalo Lights	2024
Burlington Royals	Molinos de Burlington	Burlington Windmills	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Carolina Mudcats	Pescados de Carolina	Carolina Fish	2019-2024
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
Cedar Rapids Kernels	Granos de Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Corn	2023-2024
Charleston RiverDogs	Perros Santos de Charleston	Charleston Holy Dogs	2019-2024
Charlotte Knights	Caballeros de Charlotte	Charlotte Cavaliers (can also translate as Gentlemen, and the team says it refers to "gentlemanly horseman" - or, Knight)	2017-2024
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	2019-2024
Clinton LumberKings	Clinton Elotes	Clinton Corns	2019-2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Columbia Fireflies	Chicharrones de Columbia	Columbia Pork Rinds	2019-2024
Columbus Clippers	Veleros de Columbus	Columbus Sailboats	2019-2024
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 Colombian folk dance	2022-2023
Corpus Christi Hooks	Dia de los Hooks	Day of the Hooks (referring to the Dia de los Muertos)	2024
Daytona Tortugas	Tortugas de Daytona	Daytona Turtles	2019-2022
Daytona Tortugas	Rumberos de Daytona	Daytona Partygoers	2023-2024
Delmarva Shorebirds	Gallos de Delmarva	Delmarva Roosters	2019-2024
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 Wrestling Avocados	2020-2024
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
Durham Bulls	Toros Bravos de Durham	Durham Brave Bulls	2023-2024
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	2019-2024
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	2019-2024
Eugene Emeralds	Monarcas de Eugene	Eugene Monarchs (as in monarch butterfly)	2018-2024
Everett AquaSox	Conquistadores de Everett	Everett Conquerors	2018-2022
Fayetteville Woodpeckers	Guerreros de Fayetteville	Fayetteville Warriors	2020-2024
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 Wrestling Apples	2020, 2023-2024
Fredericksburg Nationals	Fundadores de Fredericksburg	Fredericksburg Founders	2023-2024
Fresno Grizzlies	Lowriders de Fresno	Fresno Lowriders	2019-2022, 2024
Frisco RoughRiders	Quesos de Frisco	Frisco Cheese	2022-2024
Great Lakes Loons	Pepinillos Picantes del Norte	Northern Spicy Pickles	2022-2024
Greensboro Grasshoppers	Ocelotes de Greensboro	Greensboro Ocelots	2019-2022
Greenville Drive	Energia de Greenville	Greenville Energy	2018-2020
Greenville Drive	Ranas de Rio de Greenville	Greenville River Frogs	2021-2024
Gwinnett Stripers	Xolos de Gwinnett	"xolo" - pronounced SHO-lo - is short for Xoloitzcuintlil, the national dog of Mexico often called the "Mexican Hairless"	2019-2024
Harrisburg Senators	Playeros de Harrisburg	Harrisburg Beachgoers	2020-2024
Hartford Yard Goats	Los Chivos de Hartford	Hartford Billy Goats	2018-2024
Hickory Crawdads	Llamas de Hickory	Hickory Llamas	2019-2024
Hillsboro Hops	Los Lúpulos de Hillsboro	Hillsboro Hoppers	2018
Hillsboro Hops	Soñadores de Hillsboro	Hillsboro Dreamers	2019-2024
Hudson Valley Renegades	Fenómenos Enmascarados del Valle de Hudson	Hudson Valley Masked Phenoms	2020-2024
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	2018-2024
Iowa Cubs	Demonios de Des Moines	Des Moines Demons	2019-2024
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, 2024
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 Hot Peppers	2019-2024
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, 2023-2024
Lancaster JetHawks	Viento de Lancaster	Lancaster Wind	2019-2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Lansing Lugnuts	Lansing Locos	Lansing Fools (a play on team battle cry “Let’s Go Nuts!”)	2019-2022, 2024
Las Vegas Aviators	Reyes de Plata de Las Vegas	Las Vegas Silver Kings	2017-2024
Lehigh Valley IronPigs	Leigh Valley Tocino	Lehigh Valley Bacon	2018
Lehigh Valley IronPigs	Coquís de Leigh Valley	Leigh Valley Tree Frogs	2019-2024
Lehigh Valley IronPigs	Lehigh Valley Mamajuana	a blend of a Dominican distilled spirit and European alcohol	2023-2024 - first team to use two Copa brands
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)	2019-2024
Lynchburg Hillcats	Limonadas de Hill City	Lynchburg Lemonades	2019-2024
Memphis Redbirds	Música de Memphis	Memphis Music	2018-2019, 2022-2024
Midland RockHounds	Matamoscas de Midessa	Midland-Odessa Fly Swatters	2019-2023
Midland RockHounds	Midland Amigos	Midland Friends	2024
Modesto Nuts	Alebrijes de Modesto	Modesto Spirit Guides	2019-2024
Myrtle Beach Pelicans	Pelícanos de Myrtle Beach	Myrtle Beach Pelicans	2019-2024
Nashville Sounds	Vihuelas de Nashville	a vihuela is a guitar-like instrument that originated in Spain	2019-2020, 2022-2024
New Hampshire Fisher Cats	Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire	New Hampshire Fierce Cats	2019-2024
Norfolk Tides	Pajaritos de Norfolk	Norfolk Little Birds	2020-2024
Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Naturales del Noroeste de Arkansas	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	2020-2024
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	2018-2024
Omaha Storm Chasers	Cazadores de Tormentas de Omaha	Omaha Storm Hunters	2018-2022
Pawtucket Red Sox	Osos Polares de Pawtucket	Pawtucket Polar Bears	2020 moved to Worcester in 2021
Pensacola Blue Wahoos	Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok	pok-ta-pok was a game akin to basketball played by the ancient Mayas	2023-2024
Peoria Chiefs	Peoria en el Río	Peoria on the River	2020-2023
Peoria Chiefs	Perros Bomberos de Peoria	Peoria Fire Dogs	2024
Portland Sea Dogs	Alces de Maine	Maine Moose	2020-2023
Quad Cities River Bandits	Bandidos del Río de las Ciudades Cuádruples	Quad Cities River Bandits	2022-2024
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes	Temblores de Rancho Cucamonga	Rancho Cucamonga Tremors	2018-2023
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes	Chaquetas de Rancho Cucamonga	Rancho Cucamonga Jackets	2024
Reading Fightin Phils	Peleadores de Reading	Reading Fighters	2019
Reading Fightin Phils	Luchadores de Reading	Reading Wrestlers	2020-2024
Reno Aces	Corazones de Reno	Reno Hearts	2019-2022
Reno Aces	Micheladas de Reno	a Michelada is a beer and tomato juice-based drink	2023-2024
Richmond Flying Squirrels	Ardillas Voladores de Richmond	Richmond Flying Squirrels	2019-2024
Rochester Red Wings	Cocos Locos de Rochester	Rochester Crazy Coconuts	2020-2024
Rocket City Trash Pandas	Lunaticos de Rocket City	Rocket City Lunatics	2023-2024
Rocky Mountain Vibes	Lloronas de Montana Rocosa	La Llorana is a folkloric figure representing a crying ghost woman	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Rome Emperors	Duraznos de Roma	Rome Peaches	2024
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	2018-2024
Sacramento River Cats	Sacramento Dorados	Sacramento Goldens	2018-2024
St. Paul Saints	Santos de San Pablo	St. Paul Saints	2022-2024
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 Lago Salado	Salt Lake Bees	2018-2024
San Antonio Missions	Flying Chanclas de San Antonio	San Antonio Flying Slippers	2018-2024
San Jose Giants	San Jose Gigantes	San Jose Giants	2018
San Jose Giants	Churros de San José	San Jose Fritters	2019-2024
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders	Vejigantes de Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	a vejigante is a folkloric masked jester-like character	2019-2024
Somerset Patriots	Zorros de Somerset	Somerset Foxes	2022-2024
South Bend Cubs	Cabritos Maldichos de South Bend	South Bend Cursed Kid Goats (refers to the big Cubs' Curse of the Billy Goat)	2020-2024
Spokane Indians	Cafecitos de Spokane	Spokane Coffees	2024
Springfield Cardinals	Cardenales de Springfield	Springfield Cardinals	2020-2024
Stockton Ports	Caballos de Stockton	Stockton Horses	2018-2024
Sugar Land Space Cowboys	Dulces de Sugar Land	Sugar Land Sweets	2023-2024
Syracuse Mets	Congueros de Syracuse	Syracuse Conga Drums	2022-2024
Tacoma Rainiers	La Familia de Tacoma	Tacoma Family	2019-2024
Trenton Thunder	Trueno de Trenton	Trenton Thunder	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Tri-City Dust Devils	Viñeros de Tri-City	Tri-City Winemakers	2019-2024
Tri-City ValleyCats	Los Puentes de Tri-City	Tri-City Bridges	2020 (contracted in pre-2021 reorganization)
Tulsa Drillers	Petroleros de Tulsa	Tulsa Oilers	2018-2019
Visalia Rawhide	Toros de Visalia	Visalia Bulls	2017-2024
West Michigan Whitecaps	Calaveras de West Michigan	West Michigan Skulls	2019-2024
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)	2022-2024
Wilmington Blue Rocks	Rocas Azules de Wilmington	Wilmington Blue Rocks	2024
Winston-Salem Dash	Rayados de Winston-Salem	Winston-Salem Striped Ones	2018-2021
Winston-Salem Dash	Salsa de Winston-Salem	Winston-Salem Salsa	2022, 2024
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers	Cascabeles de Wisconsin	Wisconsin Jingle Bells	2019-2024
Worcester Red Sox	Los Wepas de Worcester	Worcester Wows (a loose translation; wepa is a slang exclamation of approval or encouragement)	2021-2024

2023 Partner League Participating Teams

Team	Alternate Name	Translation	Year(s)
Boise Hawks	Boise Papas Fritas	Boise French Fries	2023
Gateway Grizzlies	Oso Pardo de Gateway	Gateway Grizzly Bears	2023
Milwaukee Milkmen	Lecheros de Milwaukee	Milwaukee Milkmen	2023
Rocky Mountain Vibes	Lloronas de Montaña Rocosa	La Llorana is a folkloric figure representing a crying ghost woman	2023
Tri-City ValleyCats	Los Puentes de Tri-City	Tri-City Bridges	2023