They were named the Thunderbirds when Drew Brady purchased the franchise on January 1, 2005, and the club adopted a new look with revitalized facilities and new uniforms.
[2] Shortly after the ownership change, the Hamilton Cardinals unveiled a new primary logo and uniforms for the 2023 season.
[3] Under Spearin's leadership, the 2023 season heralded significant advancements for the organization, as evidenced by the Cardinals setting new benchmarks in attendance, television viewership, and merchandise sales.
On the field, outfielder Tyler Duncan was awarded the franchise's first IBL Most Valuable Player and John Bell Memorial Trophy, boasting a .355 batting average, 6 doubles, 5 triples, a league-leading 16 home runs, and 51 RBIs over all 42 regular season games.
Off the field, Spearin's contributions were recognized with the League's Executive of the Year award at the end of the 2023 season.