A small Canadian baseball team is being accused of committing a cardinal sin.
The Hamilton Cardinals of the Canadian Baseball League are in a legal battle with the St. Louis Cardinals over their name and trademark, the CBC reported on Wednesday.
Since the Hamilton club filed three trademark applications to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in 2023, the MLB Cardinals have opposed each application, through their Canadian lawyers, Gowling Canada.
In their statement responding to the applications, the St. Louis Cardinals wrote the trademark request "represents an attempt to take advantage of the reputation and goodwill associated with the (St. Louis Cardinals') trademarks, and to likely deceive consumers into the mistaken belief that the (Hamilton Cardinals') goods and services are in some way related to, associated with, or endorsed by the opponent, when that is not the case."
The Hamilton Cardinals changed their name from Thunderbirds in 2012 to more closely align with the minor-baseball program in the city of the same name. They were previously called the Cardinals and had a minor-league affiliation with the Major League Baseball club from 1988-92.
Hamilton native Eric Spearin became the majority owner of the club in 2022 and wanted to "freshen up the brand," as he told CBC Hamilton.
The Hamilton Cardinals' 48-game season begins May 15. The trademarks database shows that the St. Louis Cardinals have until April 26 to file more evidence.
