(FORT WAYNE) - The Fort Wayne TinCaps will adopt a new alternate identity during the 2026 season, taking the field as the "PufferBellies" for Wednesday night home games from May through August.
Team officials said the name pays tribute to Fort Wayne's railroad heritage. "PufferBellies" was a nickname given to steam-powered locomotives that emitted clouds of steam from large boilers in the engines' undersides.
The identity also honors the historic Nickel Plate Road No. 765 steam locomotive, which is maintained by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and housed in nearby New Haven. Built in 1944, the massive locomotive stands more than 15 feet tall, stretches over 100 feet long and weighs about 800,000 pounds.
TinCaps Vice President of Marketing Michael Limmer said partnering with the railroad society was a key part of the concept, noting the locomotive's long history of excursions and preservation efforts in the region.
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Executive Director Kelly Lynch said the collaboration brings together two passionate fan bases.
"Trains and baseball both have avid and dedicated fans," Lynch said. "A train-based identity like the PufferBellies will help connect people to this area's railroad history."
Fort Wayne has long served as a transportation hub, first through canal routes and later as a major railroad corridor connecting Midwest cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The new branding includes logos featuring a steam locomotive profile and design elements inspired by the Nickel Plate Road, including gold lettering on a black background. Special uniforms will feature black, gold and teal colors, with train-themed accents on jerseys and caps.
Minor League Baseball teams frequently adopt alternate identities as part of promotional events. Fort Wayne itself fielded a team known as the Railroaders in the early 1900s.
The TinCaps will wear the PufferBellies uniforms during Wednesday home games at Parkview Field throughout the summer.