Visalia what now?

The Visalia Oaks are what now?

No, really.

Tulare County's only professional sports franchise unveiled a brand new look today, as the ballclub officially became "The Visalia Rawhide."

The name change, along with a sweeping rebranding of club logos, colors, mascot and uniforms, and the renovation of Recreation Ballpark, represents the start of a new era for the 63-year-old ballclub.

"Minor League Baseball has become the most popular form of family entertainment in the country," said club president Tom Seidler. "The new golden age of the true national pastime has been spearheaded by modern facilities and a heightened level of family entertainment. The ballclub identity plays a critical role in our goal of becoming the premier summer entertainment option in Visalia and the surrounding communities."

The club spent more than two years soliciting input from fans, players, and others in the industry for ideas on everything from the name to the colors to the mascot. Hundreds of names were discussed, but ultimately "Rawhide" was chosen for several reasons:

• Original (the first sports team to use the nickname)
• Represents the City of Visalia and the surrounding area
• Something players will be proud to wear
• Fun

Let me respond with bullet points:

• It's original all right.
• From Wikipedia...Enjoying and caring for oak trees has been a Visalia tradition for nearly 100 years. City neighborhoods lined with these graceful trees show the foresight of early community leaders. When Visalia was founded in 1852, it was located in the largest valley oak woodland in California. Nourished in the fertile soils of the Kaweah River delta, valley oaks covered a 400-square-mile (1,000 km²) area. As Visalia's population grew, more trees were cut down for firewood and to make room for new crops. Fewer trees remained. In the 1890s, Visalians saw the oak tree as a renewable source of community pride and identity that deserved preservation. Community leaders worked together to protect the valley oak. In 1909 they proposed that Tulare County purchase 100 acres (0.40 km²) of oak trees in a grove on Mooney Ranch and preserve the land as a park. Mooney Grove Park is still one of the largest valley oak woodlands in California. In 1922, local groups started the first tree planting program, putting into the ground the oak sentinels now lining Highway 198. In 1971, the city passed an ordinance requiring a permit to remove an oak tree. In 1974, maintenance and preservation guidelines were added. Removing a Valley oak tree without a permit can be a $1,000 fine. Source: Visalia Beautification Committee website.
• Proud to be a Rawhide where at least I know I'm a Diamondback farmhand
• Fun! Like This:
  

Two years? Really?

RAWHIDE!