The Origins of All 30 MLB Team Names

[Eric_the_Red]

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/51678

The Cincinnati Red Stockings, so named because they wore red socks, were baseball’s first openly all-professional team. In 1882, Cincinnati’s entry in the newly formed American Association took the same name and retained it after moving to the National League in 1890. Red Stockings eventually became Redlegs, and Redlegs was shortened to Reds. Before the 1953 season, club officials announced that the team would once again officially be known as the Cincinnati Redlegs. Around the same time, the team temporarily removed “Reds” from its uniforms. As the AP reported in 1953, “The political significance of the word ‘Reds’ these days and its effect on the change was not discussed by management.”

[Tom Servo]

The Marlins are actually going to become the Miami Marlins? I don't like it.


And everyone knows the Houston Colt .45's and the Washington Bullets in the NBA were the coolest names ever.

[RichRed]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

The Marlins are actually going to become the Miami Marlins? I don't like it.


And everyone knows the Houston Colt .45's and the Washington Bullets in the NBA were the coolest names ever.

Most of us Bullets fans still refuse to acknowledge the name change to that W-word.

[Redsfan320]

Oops. Sorry about starting another thread on this, wasn't aware one had already been started. As for the Marlins, they need to do something to get attendance up. It has to be the league worst. I don't know how they afford to pay the players, even with MLB's lowest payroll.

320

[westofyou]

My favorite defunct names


Braves:
Boston Beaneaters
Boston Doves
Boston Rustlers
Boston Bees

Cardinals:
St Louis Perfectos

Phillies:
Philadelphia Quakers

Dodgers:
Brooklyn Bridegrooms
Brooklyn Suburbas

[membengal]

Gilbert Arenas certainly doesn't.

[RichRed]

Originally Posted by membengal

Gilbert Arenas certainly doesn't.

The Bullets nickname has never been more apropos.

Cleveland Indians
Cleveland’s baseball team was originally nicknamed the Naps after star player-manager Napoleon Lajoie, so when the team cut ties with Lajoie after the 1914 season, it was in the market for a new name. Club officials and sportswriters agreed on Indians in January 1915. The Boston Braves’ miraculous World Series triumph may have been part of the inspiration behind Cleveland’s new moniker.

I thought the Cleveland team was originally called the Spiders but changed the name to Indians in honor of Native American player Louis Sockalexis. Pretty sure that's what I read in Ken Burns' "Baseball" book anyway.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by RichRed

The Bullets nickname has never been more apropos.



I thought the Cleveland team was originally called the Spiders but changed the name to Indians in honor of Native American player Louis Sockalexis. Pretty sure that's what I read in Ken Burns' "Baseball" book anyway.

It's a nifty story, but not true.

They were the Spiders in the 90's the NL version. Contracted in 1899 and merged with St. Louis the AL team was called the Blues and the Naps until a newspaper vote gave them the Indians.

While they did have Louis Sockalexis in the 90's in reality the name had nothing to do with him other than the fact that he was a Spider at one time and an Indian.

[RichRed]

Originally Posted by westofyou

It's a nifty story, but not true.

They were the Spiders in the 90's the NL version. Contracted in 1899 and merged with St. Louis the AL team was called the Blues and the Naps until a newspaper vote gave them the Indians.

While they did have Louis Sockalexis in the 90's in reality the name had nothing to do with him other than the fact that he was a Spider at one time and an Indian.

Ahh, thanks for clarifying.

[Yachtzee]

Originally Posted by RichRed

The Bullets nickname has never been more apropos.



I thought the Cleveland team was originally called the Spiders but changed the name to Indians in honor of Native American player Louis Sockalexis. Pretty sure that's what I read in Ken Burns' "Baseball" book anyway.

The Sockalexis myth gets dug up every time Native Americans come to Cleveland to protest the Indians name and, more specifically, the Chief Wahoo logo. Tribe fans like to cling to the myth as a justification for their argument that they are "honoring" Native American culture by continuing to use a goofy looking charicature.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by Yachtzee

The Sockalexis myth gets dug up every time Native Americans come to Cleveland to protest the Indians name and, more specifically, the Chief Wahoo logo. Tribe fans like to cling to the myth as a justification for their argument that they are "honoring" Native American culture by continuing to use a goofy looking charicature.

We need our myths too. Like the one that the 1869 Red Stockings are the ancestors of the current Reds franchise.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Chip R

We need our myths too. Like the one that the 1869 Red Stockings are the ancestors of the current Reds franchise.

Biggest lie in Cincinnati sports hands down

[reds1869]

Originally Posted by Chip R

We need our myths too. Like the one that the 1869 Red Stockings are the ancestors of the current Reds franchise.

Hey now, I like that myth. I need a screen name, you know.

In all honesty, the 1869 Red Stockings are the spiritual ancestors of this franchise. The Reds would not be here without them and the name of the modern day franchise is a direct reflection of that fact. Now, if you really want to make your head hurt, consider this fact: The 1869 Red Stockings are now the Atlanta Braves.

[Redsfan320]

The 1869 Red Stockings are now the Atlanta Braves.

Yes indeed. They moved to Boston, where they eventually became the Boston Braves, then moved to Milwaukee, then Atlanta. Still though, they were the first pro baseball team in Cincy (or anywhere else), and, as r1869 said, they were the ancestors of the Reds, just not directly.

320

[yab1112]

Myth:Busted. I didn't know all that. Now I'll be forced to question all my deeply-rooted baseball beliefs

I guess sometimes ignorance is bliss