Gastonia’s new professional baseball team reveals name, mascot

GASTONIA, N.C. — Introducing the Honey Hunters!

Gastonia’s professional baseball team released its new name and logo Wednesday morning in a virtual announcement.

The Atlantic League team is now the Gastonia Honey Hunters, and its mascot is a honey badger.

Gastonia Honey Hunters
The name of the new Gastonia baseball team. Owner Brandon Bellamy said the honey badger embodies the spirit of people in Gastonia, “fearless, determined and resilient”
The unveiling happened via zoom. Bellamy is just the 2nd Black owner ever in pro baseball pic.twitter.com/JTyyr4MbLX
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) January 13, 2021

The new team name pays homage to Ransom Hunter, Gaston County’s first freed slave and African-American landowner.

The name was chosen from five finalists selected in 2020: The Gastonia Fire Ants, Gastonia Hogzillas, Gastonia Honey Hunters, Gastonia Hotshots, and Gastonia Uppercuts.