The Kane County Cougars, an American Association of Professional Baseball team based in Geneva, Illinois, will play three games as the Swedish Meatballs this season. The alternate identity, chosen by a fan vote, is a wink and a nod to the preponderance of Swedish immigrants who landed in the area in the late 1800s, inspiring the town’s name and earning it the nickname “Little Sweden.”Per the team, “By the late 1890s half of Geneva’s citizen’s first language was Swedish. Swedish lodges were formed in the area to preserve Swedish traditions, giving Geneva a lasting connection to Sweden and influencing its culture.”
One aspect of that culture, of course, is Swedish meatballs, a dish characterized by a sauce with allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon flavors. The logo features an anthropomorphic, one-armed meatball holding a fork over its should and wearing a Viking helmet. The blue and yellow color palette derives from the Swedish flag.The Swedish Meatballs will take the field Saturday, June 13; Friday, July 31; and Thursday, August 20.
