Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-14
HOW THE BIG :.
LEAGUE TEAMS
GOT THEIR NAMES

Chicago, Mar 10 "a. Pr Although the
American League did not come into
being until 1900 its clubs have some
of the Oldest and best known nick
names in major league baseball. The
New York club is the only one that
has definitely changed from its orig
inal nickname.
When an American League fran
chise was granted to New York the
club built a baseball plant on WASH
ington Heights. one of the high sec
lions Of the city. From the location
of the grounds the club became
known as the Highlanders. When
the arrangements was made to play
at the Polo Grounds. performing un-
der Coogan's Bluff. Highlanders De-
came a misnomer. 1t occurred to a
New York sporting editor that since
the club was in the American League
Yankees would be appropriate and
Yankees they became.
Cleveland baseball clubs have been
known as Indians since the years
that city. was represented in the Ma
tional League. The name was linked
with the Forest City team. one OF the
finest to represent Cleveland before
the days of organized bas ball and
which was referred to as "the In
dams from the Forest City" Wien
Napoleon Lajoie became manager OF
the club the nickname became the
Maps, in his honor, but after his re-
tirement the old name, Indians, was
resumed.
The st. Louis Americans derived
their nickname Browns, from the
color of the stockings worn. They
we're Browns back in the days of the
American Association when Charles
A. Comiskey of the Chicago Ameri-
cans was their manager.
Tho Chicago White Sox are sue
cessors of the original Chicago White
Stockings. The latter team was or
ganized in 1870 to compete with the
Cincinnati Red Stockings, and wore
white stockings as contrast and in
opposition to the red stockinged
players from Cincinnati.
Most baseball teams that represent
capital cities are known as the Sem
ators. The name was first applied to
the old Washington club of the Ma
tional League. the name being linked
with the idea that a United States
Senator was regarded as an import
ant parsonage. The name was picked
up again when Washington entered
the American League. but was OFF,
cially changed to Nationals in 1905.
However, Senators appears the more
popular name because to say Wash
ington Nationals for an American
League club is confusing to those not
we'll informed on baseball.
The Detroit club back in the Ma
tional League was one of the first to
wear striped stockings. Theirs had
an orange colored stripe similar to
those worn by Princeton football
players and hence the nickname tt
gers was applied. In recent years
some writer's have been spelling 1t
"Tygers" in honor of Ty Cobb.
Tho name Red Sox was given to
the Boston Americans by John T.
Taylor when he became president.
He got the idea Of shortening Red
Stockings by which the Boston Ma
tionals were known many years ago
Connie Mack's team has always
been called the Athletics. a name as
ISOLATED with professional baseball in
Philadelphia since the early days OF
the game. The team also Is called
the White Elephants because, 1t is
said, Manager McGraw of the Giants
characterized Philadelphia as white
elephant on the hands of the Ameri-
can League when Philadelphia was
admitted to the league. When the
team became successful the name
was frequently applied in humor-
Gus way and finally was adopted, the
white elephant appearing as the club
emblem on the players uniforms.