Evening star., 1898-10-21
BASE RAIL- MES.
Origin and Longevity of COgnOmens
for National Len&ue Teams.

Frcm the St. Louis Globe Democrat
1t is little odd how nicknames become
attached to base ball teams and stick for
years, though the original causes for the
assignment of the names may have sI
completely vanished to be beyond the
memory of any but the Oldest devotees
of the game Many of the names in use
are we'll and aptly applied, while others are
without wit point.
The Chicago team was for years known
as the Colts because of the displacement
of the veteran members of the team by
youngsters. In the sos, when the Chicagos
were so successful under Pop Anson, Sill
ver'' Flint, John Clarkson Corcoran Fred
pfeffer, Tom Burns Uhe teams present
nanagcr), Ned williamson George Gore,
Mike Kelly ct al constituted the team.
They were all veterans, and by degrees
were ousted and younger men put in to fill
their positions. Pfeffer remained until 1894
when he, too, was released, and later sign
ed with Louisville before completing his
career in the big league. Anson remained
in his position as manager, captain and
first bas eman until the close Of last season,
when President Hart let him go, and
sigLed Tom Burns to fill the position. Burns
has done much better work with the
Windy City" team than Anson did for
the latter years he was in harness. and
the Chicago fans are well satisfied with
the change, which looked extremely hazar-
dous when it was made. When Burns got
in control he petitoned the cranks for a
new name, and that of Orphans" .ug-
sested by the retirement of Pop" Anson,
was thought to be the most appropriate,
and was selected.
The New York team is best known in
base ball circles as the Giants" This
name was given them when Gore Ewing
Keefe, Big Bll'' Brown, Gillespie, Der
gan, Esterbrook and other tall players
members of the team and a so be-
nj Or n hns hall
Their slogan for years was. I'VE are the
people," and when the real giants COM
prlsed the team, they made their slogan
good.
The Washington team has always borne
the name of Senators on account of the
city they represent being the capital of the
country. The team has never been known
by any other name, and most probably
never will be, 1t exists in a lazy arm
less way, never cutting enough figure in
the game to awaken the interest Of those
active in seeking new appellations
The Philadelphia team has never had
any name save that of "Philies" or
"Quakers.' The first name allotted
them on account Of the abbreviation of the
name of the city they represent, and the
second account of Quakers being the
original inhabitants of the Pennsylvania
city.
The st. Louis team has always been
called the Browns. name given them when
it made it's entree in the base ball world
on account of the color of the stockings
wcrn by it's players. Since the team has
been on the incline it has been known at
different times as "Misfits." Rough
Riders Hursts "Hoo-doos" "Hurst's
"Hoboes'' and number of other not par
ticularly pleasing titles.
Everything and everybody is a Colonel
in Louisville. The city's base ball team .s
no exception to the rule, and ever since it
has been represented in the old associa-
ton and present league 1t has been called
the "Colonels." Sporting writer's of the
Kentucky city have tried at different times
to give the team some other title, but the
name of "Colonels'' has been a hard one
to displace and sticks to the team this sea-
son as of yore.
PittsburE Pirates.
The Pittsburs team were saddled with the
nickname of Pirates" in 1890 when J.
Palmer ONeill, president Of the club at
the time, stole "Looie" Bierbauer from the
Athletic american Association) team, and
secured the services of over fifty players
restraining them from playing elsewhere
This action on O'Neill's part precipitated
the characterization fight, and induced
which died the following year. The same
year Mark Baldwin. the emissary of the
Pittsburg club, visited St. Louis and signed
Silver King and Jack OConnor. This
led to his arrest by Won der Abe, and upon
being released from Jail he began suit
| against Won der Ahe for damages. The
suit hung fire in the Pittsburg courts for
years, but within the last six months has
been decided in Baldwins favor. 1t was in
connection with this affair Chris was kid
mapped hast winter The team has been
called the Patriots by Pittsburg sporting
writer's this year in order to escape the
odium of their nickname, but the new name