# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/61 "2011-03-10T15:07:38Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s also a Lincoln HS in Portland, but they’re the Cardinals rather than the Republicans. I attended Lincoln Junior High School in Illinois. When my older brother went there, the basketball team was called the Railsplitters–original and cool. By the time I went, they had dumbed it down to “Lions”–trite and boring. I have no idea why. Animal names–my favorite is the **Javelinas** of Texas A&M-Kingsville and the Arizona Fall Baseball League. I suspect it’s also fairly common among high schools in the Southwest. And a special shout-out to the Tufts **Jumbos**. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/62 "2011-03-10T15:10:41Z")
Wiki only lists three Beavers, and in this day and age I doubt any other team will use it: Portland Beavers, a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League Oregon State Beavers, the sports teams of Oregon State University Bemidji State Beavers, the sports teams of Bemidji State University ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/63 "2011-03-10T15:16:37Z")
Nyack, NY briefly had a minor league team named the **Nyack Rocklands** (Rockland being the county that Nyack is in. I was going to suggest the **Jersey City Skeeters** , but I’ll be darned if there weren’t a couple of other teams named that. ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/64 "2011-03-10T16:24:34Z")
I’ve always liked the Nippon Ham Fighters from the Japanese baseball league. ---
**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 10, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/65 "2011-03-10T17:14:55Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Before my alma mater switched to the more pedestrian “Wildcats” in the 1920s, its sports teams went by the name “The Fighting Methodists.” I’m sure you can find lots of “fighting whatevers” but I’d be surprised if any were Methodists." Either there is at least one other, or (more likely) we are fellow alumni. Hail to Purple! ---
**Author:** ![MoistTrout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@MoistTrout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoistTrout)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/66 "2011-03-10T17:19:33Z")
This thread has been a lot of fun to read. It’s good to see some teams trying to use something different. I’d like to add to the Sand list with the Savannah Sand Gnats. An A-ball affiliate of the Mets if I remember right. Also, the Cincinnati Reds team name is actually short for Redstockings, so in the '50s they may well have emphasised the full name rather than just going with Reds. One of my favorite names has always been the Lewisville Fighting Farmers in Lewisville, Texas. The Texas Rangers AA affiliate Frisco Roughriders have a pretty uncommon name, but I know there is a hockey team somewhere that uses the name and a couple of high schools. There is also the Portland Sea Dogs, which may have been mentioned already, and the Grand Praire Air Hogs that I know was on the list. One team that I didn’t see anybody mention was the Dodgers, that outside of the major league baseball team and little league teams I don’t remember seeing. As far as I know there are only a couple of hockey teams called the Ice Pirates, and maybe that’s only funny if you have a Texas accent. There was a minor league team years ago called the Atlanta Crackers. Also a negro league team called the Black Crackers. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/67 "2011-03-10T17:21:12Z")
**Wilson’s** Rocklands reminded me of another one, the Oakland A’s Double A affiliate are the Midland (TX) **RockHounds**. ---
**Author:** ![MoistTrout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@MoistTrout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoistTrout)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/68 "2011-03-10T17:22:41Z")
How could I forget? The TCU Horned Frogs! ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/69 "2011-03-10T17:31:24Z")
A look at the English football leagues and you’ve got teams like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. And up in Scotland, Partick Thistle. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/70 "2011-03-10T18:01:29Z")
I don’t think any team has used “Storm Chasers” before the Omaha Royals adopted the name for the upcoming season. For that matter, “Golden Spikes,” which they used for a few years in the 90’s is probably unique as well, unless there’s a college based at Promonotory Point, Utah. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/71 "2011-03-10T18:18:04Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Either there is at least one other, or (more likely) we are fellow alumni. Hail to Purple! Yep. There’s lots of us on here. Including, if I am not mistaken, the Perfect Master. Or if that’s not canon, at least Ed. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/72 "2011-03-10T18:21:26Z")
A few of my favorites: **Indiana High Schools** Indiana School for the Blind: Blind Hoosiers Mishawaka High School: Cavemen (and the Lady Cavemen) Jimtown High School: Jimmies Speedway High School: Sparkplugs (just a few blocks away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) **Minor League Baseball** Macon (GA) Whoopie Augusta Green Jackets Albequerque Isotopes ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/73 "2011-03-10T18:39:24Z")
The high school I graduated from has one of the more unusual names I’ve ever seen: the Boiling Springs Bubblers. More unusual high school team names from around here: Trinity Shamrocks, Biglerville Canners, Delone Catholic Squires, and Northern York Polar Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/74 "2011-03-10T19:21:43Z")
Rochelle High School in Rochelle IL are the Hubs. ---
**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, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/75 "2011-03-10T19:40:59Z")
Belatedly, it occurred to me to look in an obvious place for some unusual names, that rather ragtag monument to the South’s refusal to be left out of a potentially violent sport, the Southern Professional Hockey League. The SPHL is home to the Augusta Riverhawks Columbus Cottonmouths Fayetteville FireAntz Huntsville Havoc Knoxville Ice Bears Mississippi Surge Pensacola Ice Flyers Louisiana IceGators ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/76 "2011-03-10T19:44:08Z")
My sister went to the University of Richmond, home of the Spiders. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/77 "2011-03-10T19:52:13Z")
A local high school has my favorite odd team name: The Crooksville Ceramics Rarr! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/78 "2011-03-10T20:31:41Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > A local high school has my favorite odd team name: > > The Crooksville Ceramics > > Rarr! Please tell me their basketball court is called The Crucible. ---
**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, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/79 "2011-03-10T22:23:19Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Please tell me their basketball court is called The Crucible. And that they have meals together in the refractory… ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/80 "2011-03-11T03:13:17Z")
> [@MoistTrout](#): > > The Texas Rangers AA affiliate Frisco Roughriders have a pretty uncommon name, but I know there is a hockey team somewhere that uses the name and a couple of high schools. Including the high school I went to! It’s somewhat unusual, but certainly not as unusual as most of the ones mentioned here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073.md?page=5)