The Name Game

Minnesota Twins were named after the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

When they are not doing well, some (unfaithful) fans call them the Twinkies. I'm guessing there are a few fans calling them Twinkies this season!

Julie

The Los Angles Dodgers got their name from back in the day when they were the Brooklyn Dodgers. Now one might wonder what a Dodger is, because few remember that they were actually called the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers.
They got that name because people living in Brooklyn were always dodging the multiple trolleys while walking in the city. Eventually the name was shortened to just the Dodgers.

The San Francisco Giants were the New York Giants, but the original name was the New York Gothams. John McGraw was talking to a reporter one day and said something like look at my players their all Giants ( don't remember the actual quote and didn't take time to look it up) which became their nickname. After a couple of years the name was changed to the Giants.

This is a great topic, something different, good idea!

My fav team the Florida Marlins, will soon be changing their name to the Miami Marlins, when they take up residence in their new stadium.
But for us they will always be, the "fish".

Last year my son brought home a book which was a give away at a promotion one night called Cardinal Fever. After reading it I got really involved in looking up the history of many teams, it's a lot of fun to read about teams like the Yankees (back then ), Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants, Cubs, Boston.

BTW, for you Oriole fans, they were the STL Browns before they Baltimore Orioles.

quote:

BTW, for you Oriole fans, they were the STL Browns before they Baltimore Orioles.

That I did not know.

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:

quote:

BTW, for you Oriole fans, they were the STL Browns before they Baltimore Orioles.

That I did not know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H..._St._Louis_Cardinals

Most of this is pretty accurate according to true Card fans as I was directed to it by one hard core fan, some interesting stuff.

The New York Yankees were originally the Baltimore Orioles. They were moved to New York and renamed the Highlanders.

The Brooklyn Dodgers were originally the Bridegrooms and then the Superbas.

My team, Red Sox were originally the Americans.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
The Brooklyn Dodgers were originally the Bridegrooms and then the Superbas.

Also the Dodgers were called the "Trolley Dodgers," after the trolleys that populated Brooklyn before the subways, then shortened to the "Dodgers."

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
The Brooklyn Dodgers were originally the Bridegrooms and then the Superbas

lol, the what (and then the what)?

One of my favorite college teams, the Stanford Cardinal was originally the Stanford Indians into the early 70's but later became the Stanford Cardinals after the color, not the bird. They changed it in the early eighties to Stanford Cardinal so not to confuse it any longer with the bird.

WinBuc44,
It was the Stanford Indian, no S that's why it's Cardinal not Cardinals. Everyone always called them the Indians and Cardinals but it's always be singular.

Los Angeles Angels

Arizona Diamondbacks

Atlanta Braves
Milwaukee Braves
Boston Braves
Boston Doves
Boston Beaneaters
Boston Red Caps

Baltimore Orioles
St Louis Browns
Milwaukee Brewers

Boston Red Sox
Boston Americans

Chicago Cubs
Chicago Orphans
Chicago Colts
Chicago White Stockings

Chicago White Sox

Cincinatti Reds
Cincinatti Redlegs
Cincinatti Red Stockings

Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Naps
Cleveland Bronchos
Cleveland Blues

Colorado Rockies

Detroit Tigers

Florida Marlins

Houston Astros
Houston Colt .45's

Kansas City Royals

Los Angeles Angels
California Angels
Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Dodgers
Brooklyn Dodgers
Brooklyn Robins
Brooklyn Superbas
Brooklyn Bridegrooms
Brooklyn Grooms
Broolyn Grays
Brooklyn Atlantics

Milwaukee Brewers
Seattle Pilots

Minnesota Twins
Washington Senators

New York Mets (Metropolitans)

Oakland Athletics
Kansas City Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics

Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Quakers

Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Alleghenys

San Diego Padres

San Francisco Giants
New York Giants
New York Gothams

Seattle Mariners

St Louis Cardinals
St Louis Perfectos
St Louis Browns
St Louis Brown Stockings

Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Texas Rangers
Washngton Senators

Toronto Blue Jays

Washington Nationals
Montreal Expos

The Los Angeles Lakers were originally the Minneapolis Lakers, aptly named because Minnesota is the "land of 10,000 lakes".
With that same logic,the team should now be called the Los Angeles Fruits and Nuts.

Here are some other team names that just wouldn't work if the team relocated to another area.

New Orleans Canucks?

New York Cowboys?

Atlanta Yankees?

Portland Suns?

San Francisco Steelers?

Boston Texans?

Tampa Bay Penguins?

Green Bay Heat?

Houston Canadiens?

Miami Rockies?

Minnesota Marlins?

Oakland Angels?

Phoenix Maple Leafs?

Chicago Senators? (they would give away all their tickets and go broke!)

Utah Jazz? (still can't figure that one?)

The Jazz originated as the New Orleans Jazz.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
The Jazz originated as the New Orleans Jazz.

I know, but why didn't they change the name to the Salts, or the Latter Day Saints?

One thing is for sure!

We will never see a WNBA team in Idaho!

(you may have to think about that one for a while?)

RJM,

The whole name is The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Even though the team is in another county 25 miles or more miles from LA.

gitnby, funny stuff!

Expo '67 was a world's fair type event in Montreal. (Jarry Park) The Expos never won much, but they had a cool cap insignia. I never realized Montreal means Mount Royal.

Every National League East guy my age remembers this one from their childhood:

"Hey, I got free tickets to the ball game. Wanna go?"

"Sure. Who are they playing?"

"The Expos."

"Awww... "

I think I saw the Expos more than all other teams combined (from every sport!).

Dennis Martinez told son the BEST organization he ever played for was the Expos, the BEST city he played in was Montreal and he didn't speak french.

Has anyone seen the program on PBS the history of baseball, great stuff, I think you can get it on DVD.

quote:

Originally posted by Tooldforthis:
WinBuc44,
It was the Stanford Indian, no S that's why it's Cardinal not Cardinals. Everyone always called them the Indians and Cardinals but it's always be singular.

Toold - I'll give you the Indian but I'm pretty sure they were the Cardinals with an S most of the 70's til 80 or 81 when the S was dropped. But seein' how you're from up that way I'll give it to you.

TPM, Pixann, Capt. Noah, Gene London, Sally Star- they always gave away tickets, always for the Expos.

Coco LaBoy!

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:
gitnby, funny stuff!

Expo '67 was a world's fair type event in Montreal. (Jarry Park) The Expos never won much, but they had a cool cap insignia. I never realized Montreal means Mount Royal.

Every National League East guy my age remembers this one from their childhood:

"Hey, I got free tickets to the ball game. Wanna go?"

"Sure. Who are they playing?"

"The Expos."

"Awww... "

I think I saw the Expos more than all other teams combined (from every sport!).

Andre Dawson was my favorite Expo, even though it seemed like he batted .600 against my Cardinals.

Remember the Montreal PA announcer?

"Now batting....Catcher John BOCK-a-BELLLLLLL-A"

Trolley dodger:

that's a good one. Nice find Antz, i enjoyed the read.

Some additions to RJM's excellent list are the Boston Braves were known as the Bees between 1936 and 1940, and the Phillies were known as the Blues or Blue Jays for a couple of years in the mid 1940's. The Dodgers were commonly known as the Robins, after manager Wilbert Robinson in the mid 1920's through 1930.

Here's a name related trivia question for you guys:

Why, after being known as the Reds throughout the 1920's, 30's and 40's did the Cincinnati team become known as the RedLegs for a few years in the early 1950's?

quote:

Originally posted by gitnby:
One thing is for sure!

We will never see a WNBA team in Idaho!

(you may have to think about that one for a while?)

quote:

Originally posted by Tooldforthis:
RJM,

The whole name is The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Even though the team is in another county 25 miles or more miles from LA.

I used to live thirty miles from Anaheim. Growing up an American League fan the Angels were a second team for me. Plus they signed Lynn and Burleson. The "of Anaheim" is too weird. I realize the idea was to take market share from the Dodgers. The McCourts are doing more for the Angels than "of Anaheim."

RJM,

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
Here's a name related trivia question for you guys:

Why, after being known as the Reds throughout the 1920's, 30's and 40's did the Cincinnati team become known as the RedLegs for a few years in the early 1950's?

Cold War?
Reference to the Russians?

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
Has anyone seen the program on PBS the history of baseball, great stuff, I think you can get it on DVD.

Ken Burns' "Baseball" documentary? If you have Netflix you can get it. I've been watching on demand with Netflix. I think I'm on inning 4?

GREAT SHOW!!

Some of the quotes from sport writers, famous writers and players are just great.

Even my kid started watching when they were showing and talking about Walter Johnson.

A batter swung and missed at Johnson's fastball twice. After the second miss,he batter just started walking back towards the dugout. The umpire told the batter there was only two strikes. The batter said, "Go ahead and keep it..it's not like it's going to do me any good."

gitnby,

You're on the right track as the Reds went to Redlegs at the time the famous "Red" hunting senator Joe McCarthy was accusing everyone of being communist sympathizers in the early 1950's. Just goes to show how one errant voice and false accusations can lead to all kinds of ridiculous things.

"How did Long Beach State come up with Dirtbags?"

Anybody know this?

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:
TPM, Pixann, Capt. Noah, Gene London, Sally Star- they always gave away tickets, always for the Expos.

Coco LaBoy!

I loved Pixann, Gene London and my gal Sal ( Sally Starr just retired from her local radio show in April of this yr, she is 88)....Capt. Noah came later...not a fan
Hey do you remember Chief Halftown?

quote:

Originally posted by gitnby:
The Los Angeles Lakers were originally the Minneapolis Lakers, aptly named because Minnesota is the "land of 10,000 lakes".
With that same logic,the team should now be called the Los Angeles Fruits and Nuts.

Here are some other team names that just wouldn't work if the team relocated to another area.

New Orleans Canucks?

New York Cowboys?

Atlanta Yankees?

Portland Suns?

San Francisco Steelers?

Boston Texans?

Tampa Bay Penguins?

Green Bay Heat?

Houston Canadiens?

Miami Rockies?

Minnesota Marlins?

Oakland Angels?

Phoenix Maple Leafs?

Chicago Senators? (they would give away all their tickets and go broke!)

Utah Jazz? (still can't figure that one?)

From "BASEketball," one of my favorite movies:

"Soon it was commonplace for entire teams to change cities in search of greater profits. The Minneapolis Lakers moved to Los Angeles where there are no lakes. The Oilers moved to Tennessee where there is no oil. The Jazz moved to Salt Lake City where they don't allow music."

Ok guys, can't go without mentioning these great team names of the old Negro Baseball League. These teams were affiliated with the following leagues.
ANL-American Negro League
ECL-Eastern Colored League
IND-Independent Club, no league
LCBC-League of Colored Baseball Clubs
MSL-Middle States League

Atlanta Black Crackers
Baltimore Black Sox
Baltimore Elite Giants
Birmingham Black Barons
Brooklyn Royal Giants
Chattanooga Black Lookouts
Chicago American Giants
Cincinnati Tigers
Cleveland Buckeyes
Dayton Marcos
Detroit Stars
Detroit Wolves
Hilldale
Homestead Grays
Houston Eagles
Indianapolis ABC's
Indianapolis Clowns
Jacksonville Red Caps
Kansas City Monarchs my favorite
Memphis Red Sox
Montgomery Grey Sox
Newark Eagles
New York Black Yankees
New York Cubans
Nashville Elite Giants
Philadelphia Stars
Pittsburg Crawfords
Saint Louis Stars
Seattle Steelheads
Washington/Wilminton Potomacs

and Pre Negro League team names:
Cuban Giants
Buffalo
Page Fence Giants
Cuban "X" Giants
Chicago Union Giants
Columbia Giants of Chicago
New York Lincoln Giants
Philadelphia Giants
Leland Giants
Royal Poinciana Team

After looking this all up makes me think there is a trend as to team naming.............a lot of Giants!

quote:

Originally posted by njbb:
Hey do you remember Chief Halftown?

I sure do. Met him and Happy the Clown at the Devon Horse Show. Uncle Rex and Our Gal Sal were there too. That was a banner day for me.