# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/41 "2011-03-10T02:16:10Z")
[Cairo, GA Syrupmakers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_High_School) [Hutchinson, KS Salt Hawks](http://www.hutchinsonsalthawks.com/football) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/42 "2011-03-10T02:21:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > 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. The Chicago Packers played in the NBA in 1961-'62. After one season, they changed their name to the Zephyrs, which if anything is even less common. (There’s a minor league baseball team called the New Orleans Zephyrs, however.) In the end we all know what the Zephyrs became… The Washington Wizards. The team moved to Baltimore in the early '60s and became the Bullets, and more recently they moved to Washington and then changed Bullets to Wizards. The Chicago Bulls joined the NBA in 1966. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/43 "2011-03-10T02:37:06Z")
> [@Ol\_Gaffer](#): > > Don’t forget the “Fighting Whites” (aka the Fighting Whities) from the University of Northern Colorado…although they were just an intramural team and are now disbanded. But not before endowing a scholarship or two with the proceeds from their merchandise sales. I never saw them play (or cared to), and am not a sports fan in general, but I liked the idea and came in here to make sure they got a mention. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/44 "2011-03-10T02:40:06Z")
I don’t know if there are many teams named after colors these days, but the Harvard Crimson and Stanford Cardinal are still out there. The Alabama Crimson Tide and Penn State Nittany Lions are probably not common either. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/45 "2011-03-10T02:59:48Z")
To make it local– From the single-A New-York Penn League: [Auburn Doubledays](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn_Doubledays) – how many teams have a logo that represents a historical person? [Williamsport Crosscutters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsport_Crosscutters) [Vermont Lake Monsters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Lake_Monsters) & the defunct [Binghampton Triplets](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binghamton_Triplets) Utica Utes from the AA Eastern League: [Richmond Flying Squirrels](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Flying_Squirrels) Johnstown Johnnies From the old Canadian-American League (all defunct) Amsterdam Rugmakers Oswego Netherlands ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/46 "2011-03-10T03:01:26Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t know if there are many teams named after colors these days, but the Harvard Crimson and Stanford Cardinal are still out there. The Cardinal were actually named in imitation of the Crimson. But most fans either mistakenly call them the Cardinals or refer to them by their informal nickname, the **Trees**. Other color names are Dartmouth **Big Green** , Cornell **Big Red** , and Syracuse **Orangemen** ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/47 "2011-03-10T03:14:47Z")
I graduated from Washburn University of Topeka, Topeka being the capital of Kansas. Washburn men’s teams are the Ichabods. See, the school was founded in 1865 as Lincoln College but just a few years later, struggling financially, the school got a big donation from a guy back East who never even SAW the place. His name was Ichabod Washburn. To honor him the school changed it’s name, and later, when college sports got big, his given name became our mascot. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/48 "2011-03-10T03:28:56Z")
University of Hawaii **Rainbow Warriors** … ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/49 "2011-03-10T03:36:47Z")
Do any teams use “Twins” besides Minnesota? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/50 "2011-03-10T03:44:02Z")
I know the school I teach at has a unique team name, at least for California: The Thunderbirds. My favorite minor league team is named after a geologic rupture: The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/51 "2011-03-10T03:48:47Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > University of Hawaii **Rainbow Warriors** … The football team is just the Warriors these days. Wikipedia says it’s complicated: > [@](#): > > Prior to the year 2000, the University of Hawaiʻi’s men’s teams were all referred to as the Rainbow Warriors, complemented by an athletics logo featuring a rainbow. However, in a controversial marketing strategy over which many at the University and throughout Hawaii have misgivings, the school changed its athletics logo to a stylized “H” and allowed each team to pick its own team name. This has led to the current situation, where the basketball, swimming and diving, and tennis teams have retained the team name of “Rainbow Warriors;” the baseball team adopted the name “Rainbows;” and the football, golf, and volleyball teams have adopted the name “Warriors.” And the women’s teams are the Rainbow Wahine. Other than the Buffalo football team I doubt there are many Bills out there. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/52 "2011-03-10T03:53:40Z")
The City of Stockton’s minor league baseball team is the Ports. Millennium High School in Tracy, Ca has the Falcon as their mascot. ---
**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 10, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/53 "2011-03-10T03:59:57Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Besides the Santa Cruz Banana Slugs (already mentioned by **Ol’Gaffer** ), I think my favorite offbeat mascot is the Haverford Black Squirrels. There’s also [the Evergreen State College Geoducks](http://www.digitalbusstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Evergreen-State-College-Geoducks.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/54 "2011-03-10T04:02:54Z")
Brandeis is the Judges. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/55 "2011-03-10T04:30:50Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Millennium High School in Tracy, Ca has the Falcon as their mascot. Cute. Similarly named are two high schools in Portland: Jefferson Democrats and Grant Generals. There’s also a Lincoln HS in Portland, but they’re the Cardinals rather than the Republicans. > [@NDP](#): > > There’s also the Evergreen State College Geoducks. I mentioned them in post #40. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/56 "2011-03-10T04:34:15Z")
I was rather taken aback to learn of the Yuma (Ariz.) H.S. **Criminals.** The Hutto (Tex.) **Hippos.** Alas, the Pekin (Ill.) **Chinks** are now the Dragons. [Here’s a blog entry](http://gaijinass.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/pekin-chinks-windsor-swastikas-atlanta-black-crackers/) about other team names now abandoned as offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/57 "2011-03-10T04:53:22Z")
Butte County High School is pretty famous for naming their teams the **Pirates**. Innocuous by itself, yes, but rather unfortunate considering the [name of the school](http://www.conceptualist.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/butte-pirates.jpg)… ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/58 "2011-03-10T05:09:23Z")
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (minor league baseball) Maine Red Claws (minor league basketball) Lewison Maineiacs (minor league hockey) ---
**Author:** ![cardinal\_fang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal_fang/32/15316_2.png) [@cardinal\_fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cardinal_fang)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/59 "2011-03-10T05:24:42Z")
The [Beast of New Haven](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_New_Haven) (ex of the AHL). Bonus for the ugliest logo in sports history. ---
**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 10, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/60 "2011-03-10T14:58:36Z")
Portland Sea Dogs Williams College Ephs. Mascot is a purple cow. While I was there we didn’t have any teams, but NCSA had a team name: The Fighting Pickles! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073.md?page=4)