Ball-in-glove: 1978-93. Chef's kiss. It's hard to even appreciate now how ahead of its time it was, using hidden imagery in an era when most sports logos were just block letters or little characters.

Analysis of data from the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows that although all sorts of sports balls have become more common in American logo design over the years, round basketballs ...

The Brewers logo was ahead of its time, hiding an 'M' and 'B' in plain sight. These other sports teams (and corporations) have their own logo magic.

Ball-in-glove: 1978-93. Chef's kiss. It's hard to even appreciate now how ahead of its time it was, using hidden imagery in an era when most sports logos were just block letters or little characters.

Ball-in-glove: 1978-93. Chef's kiss. It's hard to even appreciate now how ahead of its time it was, using hidden imagery in an era when most sports logos were just block letters or little characters.

Ball-in-glove: 1978-93. Chef's kiss. It's hard to even appreciate now how ahead of its time it was, using hidden imagery in an era when most sports logos were just block letters or little characters.

Ball-in-glove: 1978-93. Chef's kiss. It's hard to even appreciate now how ahead of its time it was, using hidden imagery in an era when most sports logos were just block letters or little characters.

Ball-in-glove: 1978-93. Chef's kiss. It's hard to even appreciate now how ahead of its time it was, using hidden imagery in an era when most sports logos were just block letters or little characters.