It happens at every gas station between Birmingham and Atlanta. You see a guy in a red hat with a script "A" and you think, "Go Braves!" or "Roll Tide!" only to realize three seconds later you’ve totally misread the room. Honestly, if you aren’t staring directly at the details, the Braves vs Alabama logo debate feels like a "spot the difference" game designed by a chaotic neutral graphic designer.
People love to argue about who stole from whom. Fans will swear up and down that their team had it first, that the other one is a cheap knockoff, or that the curves on their "A" are "obviously" more sophisticated. But if you actually dig into the trademark filings and the jersey history, the truth is a lot more nuanced than just "one team copied the other." It’s a story of Southern geography, 1960s branding booms, and a very specific style of cursive that became the regional shorthand for "winners."
🔗 Read more: Cricket Org Live Score Explained: What Most Fans Get Wrong
The Mullet and the Serifs: How to Actually Tell Them Apart
Let’s get the visual shorthand out of the way first. If you’re ever confused, look at the top. The University of Alabama logo has what fans affectionately (or mockingly) call the "mullet." It’s that little extra flick or serif on the top-left of the letter. It looks like a small tuft of hair or a spur.
The Atlanta Braves "A," on the other hand, is much cleaner at the top. It’s a classic, smooth script. There’s no extra ornamentation up there. Basically, Alabama’s "A" is wearing a fancy hat, and the Braves "A" is going for that sleek, aerodynamic look.
Then there’s the crossbar. If you look at the horizontal line connecting the two sides of the Alabama "A," you’ll notice a distinct "v" shape or a dip in the middle. It’s sharp. The Braves version is usually a flatter, more traditional cursive swoop.
Colors help, but even that's tricky. Both use a heavy dose of red. However, Alabama is strictly Crimson—a deeper, blood-red—often paired with white. The Braves are Navy and Scarlet. If you see blue anywhere near that "A," you’re looking at baseball. If it’s just crimson and white (and maybe some grey), you’re in Saban country—or well, DeBoer country now.
Who Had the Script A First?
This is where the bar fights start. If you ask a Bama fan, they’ll point to the 1960s. And they aren't wrong. The University of Alabama officially copyrighted their version of the script "A" as an alternate logo around 1962.
But wait. The Braves didn't even move to Atlanta until 1966. Before that, they were in Milwaukee, and before that, Boston. When they arrived in Georgia, they weren't even wearing the script "A" on their hats yet. They were mostly using a lower-case "a" or different variations of a screaming warrior or a block letter.
The iconic Braves script "A" that we recognize today didn't really become the primary, permanent look until the late 1980s—specifically 1987.
So, does that mean the Braves stole it? Not necessarily. Sports branding in the mid-20th century was a bit of a Wild West. Teams often used "stock" lettering styles provided by uniform manufacturers like Wilson or Rawlings. It’s entirely possible—and likely—that both organizations were looking for a "classic Southern" feel and landed on similar cursive fonts that were popular with embroidery machines at the time.
The Lawsuits That Never Happened
You’d think with two of the biggest brands in the South using nearly identical logos, there would be a mountain of legal paperwork. Surprisingly, there hasn't been a massive "Braves vs Alabama logo" lawsuit.
Why? Because they operate in different sandboxes.
Trademarks aren't just about the "look"; they are about the market. The University of Alabama owns the "A" for "Collegiate Athletic Services" and "Educational Services." The Braves own it for "Professional Baseball Club Services." As long as Bama doesn't start a pro baseball team called the Crimson Tide Braves, and the Braves don't start a university in Tuscaloosa, the lawyers stay happy.
There’s also a massive overlap in the fanbases. A huge chunk of the people buying Braves hats are the same people buying Alabama gear. Launching a legal war against your own customers' favorite college team is a great way to commit brand suicide. Instead, they’ve reached a sort of "gentleman's agreement" where they coexist in the same cultural space.
Why the Script A Dominates the South
There is a psychological reason these two logos feel so similar. They both tap into a sense of tradition and "Old South" elegance. Cursive script implies history. It feels hand-drawn, personal, and established. In a region that prizes heritage, a blocky, modern "A" would feel too corporate.
The script "A" also creates a sense of "The Capital A." When you’re in Georgia or Alabama, you don't need to spell it out. The "A" stands for the state, the city, and the dominance of the program.
- The Braves "A" represents the only MLB team for hundreds of miles, a regional titan.
- The Alabama "A" represents a football program that has defined the SEC for decades.
Both logos are designed to look good on a wool cap. That’s the ultimate test. If it looks "tough" but "classy" on a hat, it wins. Both teams nailed that balance, even if it leads to some awkward double-takes at the airport.
Key Differences at a Glance
If you’re still struggling to tell the difference when you're buying a gift for a die-hard fan, keep these prose-based checks in mind:
Look for the "hook" on the top left. If there is a little extra piece of line sticking out like a cowlick, it is Alabama. The Braves logo is perfectly smooth on the top curve.
Check the middle crossbar. If it looks like a sharp "V" or a bird in flight, it's the Crimson Tide. If it’s a simple, wavy line, it’s the Braves.
Notice the thickness. The Alabama "A" is generally "chunkier." It has more weight to the lines, making it look a bit more "block-script." The Braves "A" is thinner and more elegant, looking more like actual handwriting.
The easiest way? Look for the Tomahawk. If there is a giant axe underneath the word "Braves," it’s obviously baseball. But on the hats—where it’s just the letter—use the "mullet" rule.
Actionable Tips for Fans and Collectors
Don't be the person who buys an Alabama hat for a Georgia Bulldogs fan who loves the Braves. It won't end well.
- Check the Side Patches: Modern hats usually have a league or conference logo on the side or back. Look for the "MLB" batterman logo or the "SEC" circle.
- Inspect the Under-Brim: Often, Alabama gear will have "Roll Tide" or the elephant mascot hidden on the taping inside the hat.
- Buy from Official Team Stores: If you’re shopping on second-hand sites like eBay or Poshmark, search specifically for "Script A" and look for the registered trademark symbol (®).
- Look for the "1871" or "1831": Sometimes teams will include their founding year in small print. 1871 is the Braves (as the Boston Red Stockings); 1831 is the University of Alabama.
Next time you’re at a tailgate or a watch party, you can be the expert who points out the "mullet" on the Alabama logo. Just don't expect the person in the other hat to admit their team's logo is any less "classic" than yours. History is written by the winners, and in the South, both of these "A"s have done plenty of winning.