March 23, 2023

Ranking the best MLB logos

Which MLB franchise has the best team logo? We rank all 30.

By Shamus Clancy
PhillyVoice Staff

During a grueling 162-game stretch, it's smart to have some fun with baseball. Not every game can feel like the state of the world hangs in the balance. The thrills of the World Baseball Classic and October are riveting, but you can't live like that all summer. Revel in the off-the-wall minutiae and the little things that separate a long season like this from the rest of the sports world.

On Wednesday, I ranked the best team names in all of baseball. I will now rank all 30 teams' primary logos for the 2023 season. As I wrote then, "This is not a list of the best, most talented teams overall. It's just a ranking of how cool a given franchise's name is, how it speaks to the region, its history, whether it's iconic and, simply, its appeal."

I'll provide a quick take on the logo after each ranking as well.

Let's get after it...

1. Yankees

It's the sport's most iconic logo. Easy choice.

2. Brewers

The 'M' and the 'B' forming a glove? Perfection.

3. Red Sox

Like with team names overall, the Red Sox are just a step below the Bronx Bombers in terms of their importance to MLB history.

4. Orioles

A cartoon bird wearing a little hat with a different Orioles logo on it? I love it.

5. Blue Jays

Less cartoonish than the Orioles' logo, but the maple leaf is the touch needed for baseball's lone Canadian team to stand out.

6. Twins

Twins is a name that could not be replicated outside of the Twin Cities. The conjoining 'T' and 'C' work well.

7. Mets

Philadelphians hate New York and the Mets in particular, but this logo sums up the Big Apple with the world's most well-known skyline in it.

8. Phillies

The Phillies' logo took a step back a couple of years ago, going from the diamond logo and a slightly lighter shade of blue to this. The bell is great and is obviously synonymous with this city's history and the way the bell rings out beyond centerfield after homers, but in comparison to what the Phils have had before, it's a downgrade.

9. Royals

Kansas City doesn't hit you in the face with the royalty themes. The crown on top is just the right amount.

10. Tigers

A classic from a bygone pre-WWII era of baseball.

11. Dodgers

This is higher simply because of how popular it is compared to its actual greatness.

12. Angels

I like subtly. The little halo? Subtle.

13. Mariners

A compass for a nautical-themed team? They understood the assignment.

14. Cardinals

Animal logos get it done for me!

15. Guardians

They're trying to do something different here and not be generic after the poor past of its previous name. I respect it. If we get some brand synergy with Guardians of the Galaxy and have a Rocket Raccoon logo, we'd be really cooking.

16. Marlins

It looks like the logo for a bait-and-tackle shop down the Jersey Shore. I mean that as a compliment!

17. White Sox

It's a mainstay in baseball, but "SOX" looks a little too like a different three-letter word that begins with an 'S' and ends with an 'X.'

18. Cubs

It's fine.

19. Pirates

Their alternate logo with a literal pirate is so, so much better and would have the Pirates top five otherwise.

"Go back to Treasure Island!"

20. Reds

Also fine.

21. Athletics

The elephant logo the A's have used intermittently as an alternate over the years is much better than this. I have a blue Philadelphia A's hat with the elephant logo and it's my favorite hat ever.

22. Rays