GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — This season, the Grand Junction Jackalopes won’t just be the Jackalopes.
On Wednesdays this summer, the Jackalopes will be the Grand Junction Humpback Chubs. A new identity for Grand Junction’s baseball team is here.
The humpback chub is one of the four endangered fish in the Colorado River system. The fish is especially prevalent in the Grand Valley and Western Slope.
"We knew the name's deep connection to the community and obviously it’s hilarious," said Jackalopes' President and General Manager Harrison Shapiro, who joined the team in November after being a part of the Northern Colorado Owlz organization. “I’ve always loved the name and so once I got the opportunity to come here that was my first order of business."
You may remember back when the GJ Rockies were changing their name, many fans were hoping the name would be the Humpback Chubs. But the team’s management at the time was vehemently against being named the Chubs.
In a since-deleted series of Tweets, the Rockies expressed their distaste for the name:
But the new management, led by Shapiro, couldn’t feel any differently.
"Obviously, we saw the regrettable tweets that went out, which looking back now is quite funny. And so we’re gonna put [the tweets] on a Humpback Chub shirt because we just think that’s so funny," Shapiro said.
And the team is partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Palisade High School's Hatchery program to use the name to help the community.
As for the baseball side of things, Shapiro and the team staff are very excited for year one under new manager Frank Gonzales.
“His track record is well proven and he’s only gotten better every year so we’re going to be a very good team this year," Shapiro said. "We’re gonna be very competitive. I’m really happy about a lot of the guys that are coming in so the team itself is going to be phenomenal. We’re really excited about it.”
Jackalopes' season begins May 20 in Davis, California. The home opener is set for June 3 and the Humpback Chubs will make their debut on June 4 at Suplizio Field against the Idaho Falls Chukars.