The Salem Red Sox are looking for a new name — and the perfect one is hiding in our rivers.
I grew up going to Salem Red Sox games, though I didn’t fully appreciate the stunning mountain views from the stadium back then. I left the region for college, but after our daughter turned one, my wife and I decided to move back to Southwest Virginia to raise our kids in a community deeply connected to nature. Now, as parents, outdoor lovers and baseball fans, we see this rebrand as a chance to celebrate what makes this region — and minor league baseball — so special.
So here’s our pitch: Rename the team the Salem Hellbenders.
What’s a Hellbender?
Hellbenders are giant salamanders that live in the clean, rushing streams and rivers of Southwest Virginia. Found only in Appalachia, they can grow over two feet long — making them the largest salamander in North America. These creatures are local legends, with unforgettable nicknames like “lasagna lizard,” “mud dog,” “grampus” and “Allegheny alligator.”
They’re weird, wild and wonderfully local — exactly what a minor league baseball team name should be.
This name isn’t just fun (though imagine the merch: foam tails, t-shirts, mascot antics even Hellbender beer!). It’s smart. Minor league teams across the country are embracing bold, nature-inspired branding to stand out and spark fan engagement. Grand Junction, Colorado, recently rebranded its team as the “Humpback Chubs,” after a local species of fish — earning national headlines and boosting local tourism.
We can do the same here.
Renaming the team the Hellbenders would turn heads, bring in visitors and align perfectly with our region’s efforts to boost the Blue Ridge as a premier outdoors destination. It spotlights our mountains, rivers and biodiversity — and connects the team to the broader push to build Southwest Virginia’s outdoor economy.
Beyond marketing appeal, the hellbender carries a powerful message. The Eastern Hellbender is a species of concern, threatened by habitat loss and pollution. By choosing it as our mascot, we’d be celebrating local wildlife and raising awareness about the need to protect it.
I didn’t realize it when growing up in Southwest Virginia, but now as a scientist, I’ve come to appreciate that the Appalachian region is perhaps the most biodiverse region in the U.S. The Hellbenders name would honor our natural heritage while inspiring future generations to care for it.
Enthusiasm for the name is growing. Our grassroots petition already has more than 60 signatures. Here’s what people are saying:
- “This possibility of this name makes me super excited to attend games and wear Hellbender Baseball themed clothes. (I do not currently wear Red Sox gear but I would sure as heck wear Hellbender gear!) The fact that it would raise awareness about a local species… priceless and genius!”
- “Best idea ever! The merchandise will be lit!”
- “The Hellbenders would be a great choice to the new team name. It open cool merch opportunities while informing folks about an endangered animal that needs our help”
- “Seeing a hellbender with my kids on a hike was one of the best moments of our summer! They’re so cool and a perfect way to tie to our amazing mountain home!”
When the team picks a new name, let’s go bold, original and rooted in place — one that tells our story, draws national attention and inspires pride in our natural heritage. Imagine our kids cheering on our “Salem-anders,” proud of the team and the mountains, rivers, biodiversity and community that make this place home.
Let’s become the Salem Hellbenders.
Join the movement — sign the open letter here.
Ben Strong, Ph.D., is a scientist, native Roanoker and outdoors enthusiast. He is the Science and Machine Learning Lead at the Earth Genome, an environmental nonprofit. He was named as a finalist for the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award and is an inaugural recipient of the World Wildlife Fund’s Boundless Conservation Leadership Fellowship.
