Leo: The Name Game

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is considering changing the name of the team as well as its’ uniforms. Crane said a change is something they are “highly considering.” Any changes wouldn’t happen until 2013 when Houston makes the move from the National League to the American League.

The Astros started in 1962 as the Colt 45s and switched to Astros in 1965 when the club moved into the Astrodome. My father owns an original ’62 Colt 45s bobblehead, which I’ve always been fascinated with. It’s a team, at least in name only, that I never saw play which I think that creates some type of mystery.

Major League Baseball has the best team nicknames in all of sports. Names like Yankees, Athletics, Twins, Red or White Sox. They are far more original than most names in other sports.

I remember talking with International League President Randy Mobley when Lehigh Valley announced their new Phillies affiliate would go by the name of “IronPigs”. I suggested it was a bit too “hokey” for a Triple-A club, but he said that a new team by the name of Mud Hens would probably get the same reaction. He was right, yet Toledo’s professional baseball team is one of the best known and celebrated nicknames around the minors.

When the Clippers moved into Huntington Park and affiliated with Cleveland, there were some folks calling for the team to change names. Instead, the logo was updated and uniforms received a makeover. I wonder what name would have been chosen had there been a switch. Columbus has been home to teams named Buckeyes, Bluebirds, Senators, Redbirds, Jets, and others.

If you had a baseball team, what would you name it? Maybe you’ve already done this if you play fantasy baseball…

Would you name your team after a person, like the Cleveland Browns being named for Paul Brown?

How about a name that connects to the state or city, like Twins for the Twin Cities?

Would you consider an animal nickname, like Cardinals or Marlins?

How about a name that connects with a feature of the uniform, like Red Sox?

Send your team names to sleo@clippersbaseball.com. I’ll be sure to take them under consideration if I ever become a multi-millionaire and get my own team.

Have a great weekend!