# Unusual sports team names **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 9, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073 "2011-03-09T18:48:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/1 "2011-03-09T18:48:44Z")
I’m interested in finding relatively rare sports team names. My interest was piqued by my discovery that there appear to be barely a baker’s dozen teams sharing the name of my beloved Green Bay Packers at present. A cursory search turned up the following: Armour Packers (High School team name, SD) Austin Packers (HS, MN) Colquitt County Packers (HS, GA) Cudahy Packers (HS, WI) Fremont Packers (HS, MI) Largo Packers (HS, FL) Moultrie Packers (HS, GA) Omaha South Packers (HS, NE Santa Maria Valley Packers (collegiate level baseball, CA) Smithfield Packers (HS, VA) South St. Paul Packers (HS, MN) West Fargo Packers (HS, ND) Westchester Packers (minor league football, NY) In the past, there were about 2 dozen more, usually minor-league or senior-league baseball teams, but occasionally a basketball team. Any other major sports franchises with such an uncommon name? I do note the 49ers appear be the name of only 5 sports teams I can locate. Any franchises with unique names? ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/2 "2011-03-09T19:29:40Z")
Don’t imagine there are many teams named like the NJ Devils. Their minor league affiliates are named such (Albany and Trenton), and I know of the Duke Blue Devils… but it’s not a figure most want to be associated with (even in NJ–the team is named for the Jersey Devil, not Lucifer). Even the Tampa Bay Devil Rays dropped the “Devil” part to avoid the connotation. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/3 "2011-03-09T20:08:04Z")
“Jazz” and “Heat” have to be pretty unusual. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/4 "2011-03-09T20:10:05Z")
I doubt if many High School and College teams are nicknamed \*the Jazz \*and _the Heat_ and _the 76ers_. I am surprised the _Reds_ survived the 1950’s and again I doubt that many HS and college teams are named exactly the _Reds_. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/5 "2011-03-09T20:12:22Z")
Canucks, Canadiens, Nationals, White Sox, Red Sox. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/6 "2011-03-09T20:14:52Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I am surprised the _Reds_ survived the 1950’s and again I doubt that many HS and college teams are named exactly the _Reds_. I seem to recall that the Reds did change the name during the 50’s. [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Reds) says Redlegs. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/7 "2011-03-09T20:16:18Z")
My high school and college alma maters both have unusual names: Sand Lizards and Wonder Boys, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/8 "2011-03-09T20:25:29Z")
The various minor league baseball teams based in New Orleans were called [the Pelicans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Pelicans) which I used to think was odd since the pelican is such a silly-looking bird. However, pelicans are native to the area so I guess it’s no more ridiculous than the Baltimore Orioles or St. Louis Cardinals. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/9 "2011-03-09T20:28:34Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > Don’t imagine there are many teams named like the NJ Devils. Their minor league affiliates are named such (Albany and Trenton), and I know of the Duke Blue Devils… but it’s not a figure most want to be associated with (even in NJ–the team is named for the Jersey Devil, not Lucifer). Even the Tampa Bay Devil Rays dropped the “Devil” part to avoid the connotation. Wiki’s got a [page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occurrence_of_Religious_Symbolism_in_U.S._Sports_Team_Names_and_Mascots) that isn’t JUST devil names, but it does list several more devil names. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/10 "2011-03-09T20:29:14Z")
The Lakers? I don’t think “laker” is even a real word, even among people who live their lives in lake country. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/11 "2011-03-09T20:29:23Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > My high school and college alma maters both have unusual names: Sand Lizards and Wonder Boys, respectively. **Wonder teams:** Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys Arkansas Tech Wonderettes West Virginia Wonders **Sand teams:** Gulfport - Biloxi Sand Crabs Santa Cruz Sand Crabs Redondo Beach Sand Dabs Atlantic City Sand Snipers Las Vegas Sand Vipers Charles Page Sandites San Diego Sandpipers Lake Linden Sandy Cities **Viper teams:** Las Vegas Sand Vipers Beaver County Vipers Central PA Vipers Chattahoochee Valley Vipers Chattahoochee Valley Vipers H.S. of Health Professions/Human Services Vipers Kern County Vipers Lake Hartwell Vipers Las Vegas Vipers Ocean State Vipers Orthopedic Hospital Vipers Rio Grande Valley Vipers Roanoke Valley Vipers San Miguel Vipers Space Coast Vipers St. Louis Vipers Staten Island Vipers Tennessee Valley Vipers Victoria Memorial Vipers Wichita Falls Vipers [_ **Orthopedic hospital vipers???** _](http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/OQaPv4iA3Ei2IUxo6yISkQ/orthopaedic-vipers/baseball/home.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/12 "2011-03-09T20:32:01Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > The Lakers? I don’t think “laker” is even a real word, even among people who live their lives in lake country. **Lotsa lakers teams:** Advanced Tech Academy Lakers Apponequet Regional Lakers Bear Lake Lakers Boys Latin Lakers Calloway County Lakers Clayton College and State University Lakers Coeur d’Alene Lakers Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers Detroit Lakes Lakers Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Lakers Finger Lakes Community College Lakers Garrett College Lakers Glen Lake Lakers Grand Valley State University Lakers Green Lake Lakers Hayes Vo-Tech Lakers Houghton - Portage Lakers Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Lakers Indian Lake Lakers Iowa Lakes Community College Lakers Lake Charles Lakers Lake Clifton Lakers Lake Clifton-Eastern Lakers Lake County Lakers Lake Land College Lakers Lake Michigan Catholic Lakers Lake Oswego Lakers Lake Region Lakers Lake Sumter Community College Lakers Lake Superior State University Lakers Lakeland Community College Lakers Long Lake Central Lakers Los Angeles Lakers Mackinac Island Lakers Mercyhurst College Lakers Mercyhurst Prep Lakers Metropolitan Community College-Longview Lakers Minneapolis Southwest Lakers Mountain Lakes Lakers North Tahoe Lakers Okanagan University College Lakers Our Lady of the Lakes Lakers Prior Lake Lakers Purdue University-Calumet Lakers Pymatuning Valley Lakers Pyramid Lake Lakers Rangeley Lakes Lakers Roosevelt University Lakers Russell County Lakers Shell Lake Lakers ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/13 "2011-03-09T20:33:32Z")
Well, I sit corrected. I wonder what the most common sports nickname is? I’d probably guess “Wildcats.” ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/14 "2011-03-09T20:37:36Z")
I’m guessing that there aren’t a whole lot of \*\*Redskins \*\*in existence outside of Washington these days. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/15 "2011-03-09T20:42:06Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Canucks, Canadiens, Nationals, White Sox, Red Sox. **lotsa sox** : New Bedford Bay Sox Grand Rapids Black Sox Toms River Black Sox Green Bay Blue Sox Highland Park Blue Sox South Bend Blue Sox St. Thomas Blue Sox West Virginia Coal Sox Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Fort Lauderdale Red Sox Hazlehurst - Baxley Red Sox New Britain Red Sox Rocky Mount Red Sox San Jose Red Sox Winter Haven Red Sox Colorado Springs Sky Sox Colorado Springs Sky Sox Sun Cities Solar Sox Deerfield Beach Sun Sox Fort Myers Sun Sox Winter Haven Sun Sox Winter Haven Super Sox Glens Falls White Sox Great Falls White Sox Los Angeles White Sox South Bend White Sox Wisconsin Rapids White Sox **coupla canucks** : Fort William-Port Arthur Canucks Hamilton Canucks Kitchener Canucks North Plainfield Canucks Toronto Canucks Vancouver Canucks **coupla canadiens too** : Fredericton Canadiens Montreal Canadiens Ottawa - Hull Canadiens Outremont Canadiens Sherbrooke Canadiens St. Jean Canadiens Verdun Junior Canadiens **nationals, too** : Laval National Rosemont National Augusta Nationals Concord Nationals Concord Nationals Dearborn Heights Nationals Emporia Nationals Fairfax Nationals Germantown Nationals Kitchener Nationals London Nationals Long Island Nationals Minnesota Nationals Montreal Nationals New York Nationals Orlando Nationals Ottawa Nationals Pontiac Nationals Potomac Nationals Shelby Nationals Springfield Nationals Syracuse Nationals Toronto Nationals Trenton Nationals Tucson Nationals Washington Nationals ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/16 "2011-03-09T20:49:42Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I doubt if many High School and College teams are nicknamed \*the Jazz \*and _the Heat_ and _the 76ers_. > > I am surprised the _Reds_ survived the 1950’s and again I doubt that many HS and college teams are named exactly the _Reds_. **A few Jazz, none of which are HS or College teams** : Jazz of Tacoma Kansas City Jazz San Bernardino Jazz Utah Jazz St. Louis Jazzz **Some Heat, a few of which are HS teams** : Abbotsford Heat Abraham Joshua Heschel Heat Anderson Heat Arizona Heat Barry/West Pike Heat Blythe Heat Brevard Home Education Activities Teams Heat Brooklyn Heat Carolina Heat Chico Heat Columbia Heat Des Moines Heat Fresno Heat Harrisburg Heat Havasu Heat Kelowna Heat Laredo Heat Las Vegas Heat Los Angeles Heat Miami Heat Oklahoma City Heat Phoenix Heat Sonrise Academy Heat South Florida HEAT Southern Oregon Heat Spring Heat Texas Heat Utah Heat Huron Heaters Fresno Heatwave Sacramento Heatwave Hot Springs Savage Heat **one other 76er (that I could find)**: Independence 76er (HS, San Jose, CA) ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/17 "2011-03-09T20:56:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Harrisburg Heat Gotta be the worst pro team name of all time. Seriously, Harrisburg Heat? Did the people who named the team ever see a central Pennsylvania winter? Can’t think there’s too many teams out there called the [Wheat Kings](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Wheat_Kings). Or the [IceHogs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockford_IceHogs). ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/18 "2011-03-09T20:57:05Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I’m guessing that there aren’t a whole lot of \*\*Redskins \*\*in existence outside of Washington these days. **I found a few active Redskins teams** : Momence Redskins Alabama School for the Blind Redskins (yes, really) Clinton Redskins Goshen Redskins Liberal Redskins (go figure) (assorted others are out there, I’m sure, but I got bored) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/19 "2011-03-09T21:01:14Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Can’t think there’s too many teams out there called the [Wheat Kings](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Wheat_Kings). Or the [IceHogs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockford_IceHogs). I found Grand Prairie Airhogs but no other Icehogs, past or present. And I found the Wichita Wheatkings of today and the Larned Wheat Kings of yesteryear. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/20 "2011-03-09T21:27:27Z")
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