Anyone familiar with the Boston Bees/Braves name change?

[mr2686]

Looks to me like they changed their name from the Bees back to the Braves in 1941, but on cards like the Max West/Carvel Rowell double header and also a couple of 1941 programs, they're still listed as the Bees...although I have also seen 1941 programs with the Braves on them. Is this just a case of having something printed up before the name change, or did they change during the season?

[Butch7999]

As far as we know, and as always we stand ready to be corrected by more expert historians, the Braves
(so called since about 1909) were previously known as the Beaneaters (and before that, the Red Stockings)
and, as both Beaneaters and Braves (and just for hailing from Boston), had often been nicknamed the Bees
all throughout their history.
We're unaware of any "official" name change at any point -- early on, all team names were pretty much
"unofficial" and more commonly bestowed upon them by the sporting media and to some extent their fans
than by the club itself. Trademarking, copyrighting, and branding of team names is a relatively recent
development. You'll find a lot of cards labellng the pre-1971 Senators as the Nationals or Nats, too,
their secondary nickname, although no "official" change of name was involved.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Butch7999

As far as we know, and as always we stand ready to be corrected by more expert historians...

I miss the Bruces.

[mr2686]

Actually, let me modify the question. I do know the officially changed from the Braves to the Bees in 1936 when new ownership took over. I know it lasted through 1940, but my question is did they change at the beginning of the 41 season or somewhere in the middle. I've seen programs from 1941 with both names on them, but maybe the Bee's version was from spring or already made up before the name changed back to the Braves. Just thought someone might know.

[cubman1941]

If memory serves me right (and it often doesn't) sometime around April 14, 1941 or so ownership of the Bees changed and the new owner went to Braves.

[mr2686]

Thanks Jim, that would make sense since that was right before the start of the season and they may have already printed up programs for the first couple of home stands. Was going to pick up a program and noticed the two variations so it got me curious.