What’s in a Name? Interesting Name Changes in Baseball History

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Charlotte Hopkins

2) In 1876, Boston introduced their first baseball team, named the Red Stockings. Sportswriters nicknamed the team the Beaneaters due to Boston being known for their baked beans. The team adopted the name in 1883. In 1890, the team changed their name again to the Boston Baked Beans. When they moved to Milwaukee in 1952, they became the Milwaukee Braves. They moved once more to Atlanta in 1966. The name “Braves” was selected by James Gaffney, who became the owner of the team in 1912. Gaffney belonged to the political club Tammany Hall, which had a Native American chief as their logo. Members were referred to as “braves.”

3) The Philadelphia Phillies were founded in 1883 as the Quakers. It was owner Al Reach who decided to change the name of the team to the Phillies in 1890. The name is short for “Philadelphians” and he wanted the name of the team to express where they originated from.

4) The year 1883 also brought us the Brooklyn Robins. The team went through a series of name changes. change their name to the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1896, they changed their name to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. This name lasted only three years and was changed to the Brooklyn Superbas in 1899. In 1910, they underwent another name change to the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers. It was shortened to the Dodgers in 1932. The name “Trolley Dodgers” has an interesting story behind it. At that time in Brooklyn, the city had an extraordinarily large number of trolleys. Residents often found themselves having to “dodge’ out of their way, earning the nickname “Trolley Dodgers.” It was sportswriter Charles Dryden that first called their baseball team by that same name. The team liked the moniker and adopted it.

5) Chicago White Stockings were founded in 1894. At the end of their first season, they moved to St. Paul Minnesota, and became the St. Paul Saints. In 1900, they moved again, this time to Chicago where they became the White Stockings. A sportswriter shortened their name to the White Sox, which the owner Charles Comiskey was fond of. He decided to rename the team to just that, the White Sox. In 1902, Frank Selee, of the Chicago Daily News, started referring to the team as the “Cubs” because so many of the players were quite young. The name stuck and the team changed their name to the Cubs in 1907. The following year, 1908, the Cubs won the World Series.

6) The St Louis Perfectos were founded in 1899. They were bright red uniforms that led the fans and sports writers to call them the “cardinals.” They adopted the name a year later and became the Cardinals in 1900.

7) The Boston Americans were founded in 1901. In 1908, the team’s owner, John Taylor, introduced new team uniforms that included bright red stockings, which led to the name change of the team to Boston Red Sox. Bringing back the name that once belonged to the Braves. Did you know that for away games the team wore blue stockings?