Ray Gotto's Enduring New York Mets Logo: A Unifying Emblem

The logo of the New York Mets, created by cartoonist Ray Gotto in 1961, has remained mostly the same and symbolizes a sense of unity for supporters following the exits of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. Gotto, renowned for his works such as Ozark Ike and Cotton Woods, triumphed in a public contest with his design that showcases a skyline of iconic borough structures—including the Woolworth Building, Empire State Building, and United Nations headquarters—encased within a baseball. Initially featuring a black and pink color scheme, it was later modified to blue, orange, and white to reflect New York City's flag. Unveiled in November 1961, just five months prior to the Mets' inaugural game, Gotto received $1,000 (equivalent to around $11,000 today). In 2014, a temporary change was spotted on social media when the UN building appeared to transform into the Citigroup Center, but the Mets refuted any official modification. Walter Bernard, a former art director for New York, Time, and Fortune, commended the logo's lasting legacy. This article is authored by Anne Quito, a design critic and journalist based in Barcelona.