Why Did the Arizona Diamondbacks Change Their Name to Serpientes?

In 25 years of MLB existence, the Arizona Diamondbacks have not seen a season like 2023. On Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, they grabbed an unlikely NLCS victory. It was not a mere win, but one they achieved by defying all expectations. Not many could have fathomed it, but the Snakes believed in themselves. Or should we say Serpientes?

Sports uniforms are not just a tool for fans to recognize what team is playing, they’re synonymous with the city the players represent. Like the iconic pinstripes from the Bronx, the reptilian logo symbolizes the Grand Canyon State. But how did the change in name occur?

Snakes to Serpientes – Arizona Diamondbacks Pay Nod to State Culture

Arizona’s MLB club may have started out as an expansion team but their early growth was explosive. Although they were unable to repeat that success for years going forward, the Diamondbacks have kept themselves in the fray. Known for their original purple uniforms, the jerseys have changed over the years. But it never failed to feature the iconic snake they were named after. Then 2021 brought a major modification.

Showcasing the Hispanic culture and the Spanish population that inhabits Arizona, the team released special City Connect merch for fans to wear. All of them said ‘Serpientes,’ aka Spanish for snakes, across the front. The colors reflect the Sonoran Desert, while the state flag patch references Phoenix’s nickname as the Valley of the Sun.

Two years ago, the D-Backs debuted the alternate jerseys during games in the 2021 season. “If we have an overwhelmingly favorable reaction to it, then we are going to start working them in a little more,” Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall had said at the time. ?Our players are extremely superstitious, and if we turn the season around, you’ll see Serpientes out there a lot more, especially if we can rattle off some wins with it.?

Change in Jersey Designs Has Been the Only Constant in Arizona

After the initial success, the club’s postseason performance went down. But the uniform changes kept coming. Not always popular with fans, many preferred the original purple and teal, although the league had different ideas. “We were one of the first teams to completely abandon our original colors and we were purple and teal, and for years, we had MLB asking us to consider changing our colors,” added Hall.

READ MORE: What Animal Is the Arizona Diamondbacks? Mascot? Why Is It Not a Snake?

“We already had the Rockies with the purple. The purple never really matched up, and on TV, it looked more blue. The purple and teal was somewhat outdated.??Now wearing a deep red for Red Rock State Park near Sedona, the team is looking to turn around its fortunes.

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After first winning the Fall Classic Crown in 2001, the D-Backs now make the first trip back to the World Series.