Chicago has sports teams named after animals, Native Americans, footwear, symbols, combustion -- and now encased meat sandwiches.



The Chicago Dogs will play next year in the new $60-million, 6,300-seat ballpark being built in Rosemont, at the corner of Balmoral Avenue and Pearl Street.



"We wanted a name that captures the spirit and culture of Chicago," Chicago Dogs co-owner Shawn Hunter said. "It had to be fun and authentic."



The team's red-white-and-blue logo, designed by Denver-based Adrenalin Inc., incorporates a hot dog, baseball and the colors and stars from the Chicago flag.



So why not just call the team the Hot Dogs?



"The Chicago Dogs was our first and only real consideration for this team's name," Hunter said. "It captured our hearts immediately the day we decided to commit to the vision."



The Dogs will play in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, but will not be first "dog" in the league.



Other teams in the AA with classic minor-league names include: Sioux Falls Canaries, Wichita Wingnuts, Texas Airhogs, Kansas City T-Bones, Gary Southshore Railcats, and, of course, the league-leading Lincoln (Nebraska) Saltdogs.