Ever wondered why the Braves are called the Braves? Now you can find out, along with the origins of the other 30 team names (hat tip: Rusty):
The Braves, who played in Boston and Milwaukee before moving to Atlanta in 1966, trace their nickname to the symbol of a corrupt political machine. James Gaffney, who became president of Boston's National League franchise in 1911, was a member of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party machine that controlled New York City politics throughout the 19th century. The Tammany name was derived from Tammamend, a Delaware Valley Indian chief. The society adopted an Indian headdress as its emblem and its members became known as Braves. Sportswriter Leonard Koppett described Gaffney's decision to rename his team, which had been known as the Doves, in a 1993 letter to the New York Times: "Wouldn't it be neat to call the team the ‘Braves,' waving this symbol of the Democrats under the aristocratic Bostonians? It wouldn't bother the fans." And it didn't, especially after the Braves swept the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series.
Pretty darn interesting, I don't know why I had never sought to look that up before, but I hadn't.
A reminder that while this post has some historical political context, please refrain from any current political talk per the site rules.
0 recs | 23 comments
Could we please find out hiw the new Richmond AAA franchise got their nickname as The Flying Squirrells?
HansonManCrush - April 2, 2010 via mobile
Sorry… AA
HansonManCrush - April 2, 2010 via mobile
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/professional/professional_baseball/article/flying_squirrels_picked_as_new_baseball_team_name/299518/
— As I read the screen in the photo accompanying the news story, the other finalists were ‘Flatheads’, ‘Rock Hoppers’, and ‘Rhinos’.
Personally, I think the Flying Squirrels moniker would make more sense if they had a franchise of the Colorado Rockies (as in ‘Rocky, the Flying Squirrel’). But alas, they are a Giants affiliate in the Eastern League.
carpengui - April 2, 2010
Thanks!!
HansonManCrush - April 2, 2010 via mobile
I kind of like Rock Hoppers. They had one of these in the Lehigh Valley for Phillies AAA team and we got the Iron Pigs, so who knows
eaheckman10 - April 2, 2010
So glad we're not the (ferocious) Doves
Infield Elephant - April 2, 2010
Or the “Ill-tempered Sea Bass”
DawgB - April 2, 2010
I wouldn’t mind being the ill tempered sea bass…as long as they have frickin’ lazer beams attached to their heads.
Sparhawk - April 2, 2010
That and for the frequent Dumb and Dumber misquote...
“KICK THEIR ASS SEA BASS!”
Mr. Sanchez - April 2, 2010
How ’bout the Tempermental Talapia? or Tuna?
carpengui - April 2, 2010
They are "mutated" Sea Bass
And they’re very ill-tempered.
Bronn - April 2, 2010
“in a 1993 letter to the New York Times:”
Something makes me think this year is wrong… ?
McGriff the Crime Dog - April 2, 2010
Why?
Leonard Koppett was alive at that time and wrote a book on the history of baseball. Seems to me he would know. I’d like to get his book to see what sources were used to verify this fact.
taney71 - April 2, 2010
Alls I’m sayin’ is, you’re all gonna be sorry when you get complacent and the Reds land over here and turn us all into Commies. DOWN WITH THE SOVIETS!!!!!!
J-Freak - April 2, 2010
Yeah, isn’t the remake of Red Dawn coming out soon? WOLVERINES!!!
gondeee - April 2, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMpqzwJkK8Q
Just let Donald Sutherland teach you how to battle Communism….
bravos1984 - April 2, 2010
Not till late November according to imdb.
J-Freak - April 2, 2010
remake? oh no.
Lizziebeth - April 2, 2010
That’s pretty neat… good ole Tammany Hall
BigG1392 - April 2, 2010
Cool story; so much irony
Lizziebeth - April 2, 2010
All things considered, a much better name than the Beaneaters. Imagine what we’d be doing instead of the Tomahawk Chop…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8CfPBaHM7w
John Holton - April 2, 2010
+1000000
You win
J-Freak - April 2, 2010
I gagged
from trying not to laugh. This is funny.
hawves - April 4, 2010
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