I was watching a baseball game on television during the 2009 baseball season, and I started to wonder about the teams that were playing and how they got their names. I started to do a little research into some team names and found the history interesting. This is the fifth of six postings, giving a little history about the team names and how they were developed.
National League Central
Chicago Cubs – Baseball in Chicago started in 1870, as the Chicago White Stockings started playing baseball. The White Stockings wore white socks, and they formed in the hopes of beating the ever so powerful Cincinnati Red Stockings. The White Stockings joined the National Association of Baseball Players and then in 1871 became a charter member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. The team dropped out of the league after the 1871 season and returned in 1874 due to the Great Fire of Chicago. After returning, in the 1880s “Cap” Anson, the first player to achieve 3,000 hits was the player/manager for Chicago. The team adopted the name “Colts” in 1890 until Anson left in 1897. Believe it or not, the team adopted the name “Orphans” after Anson left and kept that name until 1901. Can you believe it, Orphans? Maybe the worst name so far. In 1902, in regards to the youth movement that the Orphans were going through, starting being called the Cubs by the local sports media. It took a few years, but in 1907 the name was officially adopted and the Chicago Cubs have been around ever since.
Cincinnati Reds – The Cincinnati Red Stockings were formed in 1866 as an amateur baseball team. The name Red Stockings described the colorful part of their uniform which featured white trousers and tall red stockings. In 1869, the team became a professional team. In 1870, most of the players moved to Boston and started the team the Boston Red Stockings. The first incarnation of the Cincinnati Red Stockings was no longer. To avoid a little confusion, in 1876 a different organization team called the Cincinnati Reds was a charter member of the National League. This team was expelled in 1880 for selling beer to its fans. Then, a different organization called the Cincinnati Red Stockings was formed in 1882 and joined the American Association. In 1890, when the team accepted an invitation to rejoin the National League, the organization shortened its name to the Reds.
Houston Astros – In 1962, the expansion organization in Houston started playing under the name “Houston Colt .45s”. The name was picked after a “name the team” contest. The Colt .45s was selected as it was well known as the “gun the won the west.” I could not find the other choices that were not selected as the team names. In 1965, the team moved into its new domed stadium that was name “The Astrodome” to honor the space program in Houston. The building was considered the 8th Wonder of the World and in addition to moving to the Astrodome, the owner of the franchise renamed the team, the Astros.
Milwaukee Brewers – In 1967, the current Brewers organization was formed at the Winter Meetings as the Seattle Pilots during an era of expansion that included the Kansas City Royals, the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos. Although baseball did not want the expansion to take place until 1971, potential lawsuits forced baseball to agree to 1969 as the starting year for these four teams. For the Pilots, it was a disaster. The Kingdome was not yet ready, so the team would play at the home of the local minor league stadium. Only 17,000 of the 30,000 seats were ready for Opening Day. The stadium had no water pressure after the seventh inning. By the end of the season, the team was out of money and it was obvious new ownership was necessary. After a legal battle and other local sales attempts, Bud Selig bought the franchise for between $10 and $13 million and would move the team to Milwaukee. He named the team the Brewers. The Brewers was a name that was used by a minor league franchise from 1902 to 1952, and a team Selig grew up watching. The Brewers got the original name because there are many breweries in Milwaukee; Miller, Schlitz, Pabst and others. There were thousands of people employed in this industry and the name honors the city’s industry.
Pittsburgh Pirates – You would think that a team that has been around since the 1880s would have a great history and name changes (see: Braves), however it is not the case with the Pirates. From 1882 to 1886, the team was known simply as the Allegheny. This referred to the city, Allegheny City. In 1887, when the team joined the National League, it changed its name to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys even through the city of Pittsburgh did not annex Allegheny until 1907. The Alleghenies are renamed Pirates after signing second baseman Louis Bierbauer away from the Philadelphia Athletics in 1911. The Athletics forgot to protect Bierbauer and he was quickly picked up by the Alleghenys. The organization was accused of stealing a player, but was never found guilty of their actions. However, their actions were considered “piratical”. The organization changed its name officially in 1912 as a way to embrace the wrongdoing feelings.
St. Louis Cardinals – The organization that is known as the St. Louis Cardinals has roots all the way back to 1882, when an American Association team, the St. Louis Brown Stockings was founded. The original St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball team that was active between 1875 and 1877. This is a different team than the future St. Louis Browns (future Baltimore Orioles). The original Brown Stockings were a charter member of the National League, however during the 1877 season, members of the team were found to be part of a game-fixing scandal and the Brown Stockings played no more after 1877. The new Brown Stockings were successful, winning four of the early American Association championships. In 1892, when the American Association folded, the Brown Stockings joined the National League. In 1899, the Brown Stocking ownership, the Robison Brothers decided that a name and uniform change was necessary. They changed the name to the St. Louis Perfectos and changed their uniform to a uniform with red-striped “stockings” and red trim. A sportswriter, Willie McHale, heard a lady say, “What a lovely shade of Cardinal.” He started using this nickname in his columns and the name stuck. In 1900, the name was officially changed to the St. Louis Cardinals. Another team name is influenced by a sportswriter.
