Cubs minor league team to be renamed Iowa Caucuses for game on Labor Day weekend

The Iowa Cubs minor league baseball team will change their name to the Iowa Caucuses for one of their last games of the season in honor of the state’s key primary race.

During their Aug. 30 game to open Labor Day weekend, the team will change its name and uniforms to celebrate The Hawkeye State’s caucus system which will feature the first official election of the 2020 Democratic primary.

The team said the temporary change offers the chance to “celebrate the history, culture and economy of their communities in a really unique way,” in a Wednesday statement.

{mosads}“Iowa’s ‘first in the nation’ voting status is nationally recognized as an integral part of the election process, and that is a great source of pride for many Iowans,” the team’s statement said. “The Iowa Cubs staff recognized a fun opportunity to blend our organization with one of the signature events of our state.”

The team caps will be red, white and blue and feature a character in the shape of the state with a foam finger that says “1st” on it, in addition to changes to the players’ uniforms.

“The uniforms retain the iconic Cubs pinstripes while incorporating stars and stripes as a tribute to our nation’s flag,” the statement said. “The uniforms will also feature a special ‘First in the Nation’ alternate logo worn above the numbers on the back of the uniform.”

The team will also offer Iowans the opportunity to register to vote at their home stadium, Principal Park, during the game.

The Cubs are not alone in changing their names in honor of an event. Earlier in this baseball season, the Louisville Bats changed their name to the Mint Juleps to honor the Kentucky Derby. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers also changed their name to the Udder Tuggers to honor the state’s dairy farming community.