Carnival season is in full swing, and the countdown to Mardi Gras is upon us! On Wednesday, the Biloxi Shuckers announced a new alternate identity: The King Cakes. The alternate identity celebrates over 110 years of Mardi Gras magic along the Gulf Coast.
King cakes are a carnival season staple, traditionally consumed on King’s Day (hence the name) and Fat Tuesday. Bakeries can’t keep King Cakes in stock during Carnival, as Mississippians from near and far love to enjoy this Mardi Gras tradition. The Shuckers — Milwaukee’s Double-A affiliate — created the King Cakes’ identity to pay tribute to the culture of their Gulf Coast home. For a limited time, the beloved Biloxi Shuckers will be the King Cakes four times throughout the 2024 season.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is where Mardi Gras began in the Magnolia State, with the first parade held in Biloxi in 1908. The Shuckers wanted to honor their city and this tradition through this alternate identity that is fun but also honors the history of the area.
The King Cakes’ identity is the first alternate for the Shuckers, who played their first season in 2015 after relocating from Huntsville, Alabama. Brandiose, the San Diego-based studio responsible for Biloxi’s primary logo, also created the new alternate logos. The King Cakes’ logo features a creative and anthropomorphic rendition of the traditional yellow, green, and purple king cake with a baseball bat, and the uniform sleeves feature striping resembling Mardi Gras beads.
On Wednesday, the Shuckers unveiled their new King Cakes alter ego as part of an open-to-the-public party at the park. One more Biloxi Mardi Gras celebration for the books. Fans also got a sneak peek at the park’s current renovations while Mardi Gras festivities such as beads, bunting, king cakes, and king cake-flavored beer were enjoyed.
The Shuckers will make their King Cakes debut on May 11, with additional games scheduled in June, July, and August, tying Mardi Gras themes and Mississippi Gulf Coast culture into each game.