The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-24
BASE BALL MECHANICS.
Origin aud Longevity of COgnOmenS
for National League Teams.

National LeN2ue Teams.
From the ST. Louis Globe-D Democrat.
1t is a 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 so
completely vanished as 10 be beyond the
memory of any but the Oldest devotees
of the game Many of the names In use
are well and aptly applied, while others
are without wit or point.
The Chicago team was for years known
as the Colts because of the displace hnent
of the veteran members of the team by
youngsters. In the sos, when the Chicagos
were so successful under Pop" Arson,
silver Flint John Garrison, Corcoran,
Fred Pfeffer. Tom Burns Uhe teams pres
ent manager) Ned Williamson, George
Gore Mike Kelly, ct ala constituted the
team. They were all veterans, and by de-
grees were ousted and younger men put
in TO fiji their positions. Pfeffer remained
until 1884, when he. too, was released, and
later signed with Louisville before COM
pleting his career in the big league. Arson
remained in his position as manager, cap
last season, when President Hart let him
go. and signed Tom Burns to ill the po-
sition. Burns has done much better work
with the Windy City" team than Arson
did for the latter years he was in har-
ness, and the Chicago fans" are well
satisfied with the change, which looked
extremely hazardous when il was made.
When Burns got in control he petitioned
the cranks for a new. name, and that of
Orphans" suggested by the retirement
of "PopT Arson, 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 Bnl' Brown, Gillespie. Dor
gan, Esterbrook and other tall players
were members Of the team, and also be-
cause they We're big in a base ball sense.
Their slogan for years was, 1--WE are the
people, and when the real giants compris-
ed 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, ana most prob
ably never will be, as Ii exists in a lazy
harmless way, never cutting enough fig
ure in the game to awaken the interest
of those active in seeking new appella-
tons.
TIL Philadelphia team has never had any
name save that of "Philies" or "Quak-
ers." The first name was allotted them
on account of the abbreViation of the
name of the city they represent, and the
second on account of Quakers being the
original inhabitants of the Pennsylvania
city.
The St. Louis team has always been
called the Brownsa name given them when
il made its entree in the base bah world
on account of the color of the stockings
worn by its players. Since the team has
been on the incline it has been known at
different times as 'Misfts," Trough
Riders" Hoursts '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 Is
no exception to the rule, and ever since it
has been represented in the old associa-
ton and present league it has been called
the Colonies" Sporting writers 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.
The Pittsburg team were saddled with
the nickname of Pirates in 1890, when ]
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 League-Association fight and induced
other players 10 Jump" the association,
which died the following year The same
year Mark Baldwin, as the emissary of he
Pittsburg club visited st. Louis and sign
ed Silver King and Jack O'Connor. This
led to his arrest by Won der Abe, and when
being released from jail he's Began suit
a 90 ms Il he for. 1@,, Tna
suit hung fire in the Plttsburg 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 last winter. The team has been
called the Patriots by Pittsburg sport
ing writer's this year in order to escape
the odium of their nickname. but the new
name has failed TO make an impression.
The Cleveland team was for years dub
bed all over the base ball map as the
Spiders" on account of the unusual num-
Der of long and lean players on the
team. Jay Faatz and other elongated play
ers were members of the team then, and
the sobriquet was well given. When Fire
Water" SOckalexis left Holy Cross College,
where he had made fame as a. base ball
player and signed with Tebeau, the Cieve-
land scribes dubbed their team the In
dams" Since their games have been trans
ferred to foreign soil on account of the
lack Oh dttSHudUCc dl 6diiICo PtdSNA Ah tAr
Forest City, the team has most often been
referred to as WANDERERS Tourists
or "Tramps."
The Cincinnati team has for years been
known as the Reds a sobriquet fast
ened on them many seasons ago on ac-
count of the color of their hose. They
are also known as "Quitters' for not be-
ing able TO stand the pace, leading the
field season after season for about two
thirds of the route and collapsing a the
end like a punctured balloon. They re-
manned in the van longer than ever the
past season, but were beaten out by the
Boston and Baltimore clubs for champion
ship honors, finishing third in the race.
The Reds" are referred to in certain
quarters as "Buck's Braves since Ew-
ing. whose nickname Is Buck" became
their mana ger
The sobriquet of ''Bridegrooms" has been
allied with the Brooklyn team for years.
They earned the title by the marriage OF
half dozen or more members of the team
during a very brief space of time. When
the trolley car system was first introduced