Baseball Team Names

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Posted By: Dan Mathewson

Always a curiosity of mine. What is the history behind some of the baseball team names? How/Why/Where did they originate?

Some are obvious, like the Washington Senators, etc.

One I've always wondered about is the Dodgers. Where did that name come from and why?

I though this might be a fun thread to start.

-dan

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Posted By: Andy Baran

Dan,

I believe that the Dodgers name came from the fact that Ebbets Field in Brooklyn was surrounded by Trolly Tracks, and in order to get to the field, you had to Dodge the Trolly's. In fact, I think that I've heard them referred to Trolly Dodgers in the past. Can anyone verify if this is correct?

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Posted By: Dan Mathewson

...I love that sorta history behind a name. Thanks Andy.

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Posted By: David

I like team names that become incongruous due to the team moving.

Los Angeles Lakers (Southern California leaders wish)
Arizona Cardinals

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

(the Jazz came from New orleans, the Hornets came from Charlotte, and the Grizzleys came from Vancouver)

Yes, it was Roger Kahn in "The Boys of Summer" who said the "Dodgers" proabably came from having to dodge trollyes around the stadium. But he had no written proof. Or oral oath, either.

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Posted By: Jeff S

but I think there is evidence that "Dodgers" is, as Andy said, derived from "Trolley Dodgers."

I always thought it was odd that teams were named after their sock colors. I mean, when we talk about armies, we sometimes refer to them as "red shirts," "blue shirts," and the like, because, well, it's a pretty good way of telling people apart.

But the "White Stockings"? Seems like an unnecessary burden on 19th century player to keep their socks clean.

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Posted By: David

In the real old days, teams were identified by their belts-- perhaps this meant that the players had to polish their belt buckles between innings.

One of the neatest baseball things I ever owned was an engraved silver belt buckle that was given as an award in 1866 to a Rockford IL Player. This shows the importance of the belt and belt buckle in the old days.

The belt buckle can be viewed (bottom picture) at the below page.
http://www.cycleback.com/gallery3.htm

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Here are a few that I read about:

Giants: Got the name because of the size of their players at the time (Big if you need that help).

Boston Rustlers ( T202 fame): Named after previous owner that died, his first name was Russ.

Reds: short for Red Legs, but don't know where that came from.

Twins: The Twin Cities Minneapolis, St. Paul. Had to put that in.

My favorite team name was the Boston Beaneaters, I bet they always had gas in their tanks.

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Posted By: jay behrens

legend has it the Indians were named that in honor of Lou Sockalexis, a hard drinking, but very talented Native American with a very brief career, over the curent team name, Naps, in honor of napleon Lajoie.

Ja

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Posted By: Dan Mathewson

...i had heard once that the "reds" name came from the red stockings they used to wear as part of their uniforms...

...anyone know if there is any truth to that?

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Posted By: Brian H

In the mid 1890's when Cap Anson -- then known as "Pop" because of his realtively advanced age -- left the Chicago team now known as the Cubs the team was briefly known as the "Orphans" -- since they had lost their "Pop."
.... BTW Anson left for the Giants after some arguments with Spaulding etc.

There are some other fun origin stories that escape my recollection at present for the Pirates etc.

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Posted By: john(z28jd)

I know someone on this site writes a daily article for a Pirates website(onlybucs.net) called "This Date in Pirates History" and they would probably know how the Pirates got their name

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Posted By: Harry

American Association team in hte 1880's. They were also known as the Bridegrooms, but never as solely the Dodgers.

The Brooklyn Dodgers (The National League Team) simply shortened the name of the previous Brooklyn club (which as very popular in the day) and came up with Dodgers.

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Posted By: Harry

I am by no means an expert, but this is what the info that I have gathered regarding a few of the mentioned teams:

Boston Rustlers- myopic name given by owner Hepburn Russell.

NY Giants- Mutrie used to refer to the team as "My Giants"

Pit. Pirates- Raided the American Association of some players in 1891 and were refered to as being pirates.

It is also interesting that the Chicago Cubs were originally called the White Sox in the early days of the National League.

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Posted By: scott

The Baltimore orioles are named after Marylands state bird the oriole-ask anyone from Md and they will tell you that they have never seen a real oriole in bird there whole life! Thats true!

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Posted By: Elliot

I understand the teams being called the White Stockings or the Red Socks, but how did the team name come to me shortened to Sox? Obviously, at some point some newspaperman tight for space might have contracted it, but why would the teams take on the contraction as the official name?

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Posted By: Brian Koyama

Does anyone know why did the Dodgers use the name Superbas back in the early 1900's as seen on some T205 cards?

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Posted By: Brian H

Cubs (originally White Stockings in 1876) were briefly known (not officially they were still legally/officially known as the Chicago National League Ball Club)as the "Orphans" because their long time player-manager-leader "Pop" Anson left them for the NY Giants. Anson was known as "Pop" in his later years for obvious reasons. His tenure in NY was very brief and not particularly laudable -- he was way way past his prime but his ego was a great as ever.