Origin Of MLB Teams Nickname | How The Names Evolved (Know Some Hidden Truths!)

Last Updated on July 17, 2023

The baseball teams you are watching nowadays, did they have the same name as they have now? I believe there is some history when these teams were formed. 

The origin of MLB teams nicknames were not made up in one day. There are some inside histories of those individual teams. Now, if you are a fan of any team, you should learn the past history and how those team names barged in, right? 

That is why this article is here for all of you to learn about your favorite teams and their nickname history, and more interesting facts about these teams. Read thoroughly to learn more.

Did the Nicknames Come at the Very Beginning of Baseball?

Some of the teams created at the very beginning of baseball gave their nicknames, some did not. Because I do not think at the very beginning, they were even worried about that. 

If we talk about the very first game of baseball in 1846, do you know what the team names were at that time? 

One team was represented as “New York” and another team was the widely known “Knickerbocker”. So, you can tell playing as the team name of a state shows how one side was serious about their nicknames, and some did not.

But the naming became a serious thing after the American Civil War(1861 – 1865). The clubs started making contracts with skilled and professional baseball players while also forging their names.

You can check out the history of baseball, where you can learn more about these club histories, adding many interesting facts.

How Many Existing Teams Are There in Baseball?

Before we learn about the origin of MLB teams nicknames, we need to know how many teams there are. You will find your favorite team nickname here too. There are a total of thirty existing teams who compete in different leagues to show their skills in baseball.

Here is the list of all the teams of different leagues –

State	Team Names	Number of MLB Titles(World Series)
Arizona	Arizona Diamondbacks	1
California	Los Angeles Angels	1
	Los Angeles Dodgers	7
	Oakland Athletics	9
	San Diego Padres	None
	San Francisco Giants	8
Colorado	Colorado Rockies	5
Florida	Miami Marlins	2
	Tampa Bay Rays	None
Georgia	Atlanta Braves	4
Illinois	Chicago Cubs	3
	Chicago White Sox	3
Maryland	Baltimore Orioles	3
Massachusetts	Boston Red Sox	9
Michigan	Detroit Tigers	4
Minnesota	Minnesota Twins	3
Missouri	Kansas City Royals	2
	St. Louis Cardinals	11
New York	New York Mets	2
	New York Yankees	27
Ohio	Cleveland Indians	2
	Cincinnati Reds	5
Pennsylvania	Philadelphia Phillies	2
	Pittsburgh Pirates	5
Texas	Houston Astros	2
	Texas Rangers	None
Washington	Seattle Mariners	None
Wisconsin	Milwaukee Brewers	None
Washington DC*	Washington Nationals	1
Toronto (Canada)	Toronto Blue Jays	2

Now, this is just a brief of the names, but do you know how the names actually originated? To learn that, you need to dig inside. Who knows, Your favorite team may have some amazing or dreadful history that you may not know.

While learning the nicknames and their origins of different teams, you can learn more about this baseball game too. Have you ever thought about the 27 oldest MLB stadiums still in use? There are some real-life histories that can amaze you totally!

Origin of MLB Teams Nickname

As from above, you have already got a hunch of every league, and what is that? They all have six teams who compete with each other. You are already in a grab with all the existing team names given above. But what about the history of these names?

Do not worry, you are almost there. With the proper research, I have gathered up as much intel as I could to provide you with all the information of those ancient names. So, without any further ado, let us check them one at a time. 

National League Central

The first teams that I will discuss are those from National League Central. The teams of this league are quite the players. With the status they got, I think they can make a great play in baseball. 

Chicago Cubs

First Name: Chicago White Stockings

Mid Names: The Chicago Colts, The Chicago Remnants, The Chicago Orphans

Final Name: Chicago Cubs.

History: As an experimental team at the beginning, I would say the Chicago Cubs did a great job! This club came to life because of an experiment. 

This club was formerly known as Chicago White Stockings. This name was taken at that time because of the white uniforms.

In the early days, the most prominent player of the Chicago Cubs was Cap Anson. When he was the manager of this club, he had a propensity for trading away star players for younger stronger players.

By 1890, the team got the name “The Chicago Colts”. After Anson left the club, the sports franchise was filled with a roster full of a bunch of young players nobody had ever heard of.

At that time, the club got the names “The Chicago Remnants” and “The Chicago Orphans”. Later another new nickname emerged from those names, the one with which all of you are familiar, Chicago Cubs. 

This is how this club got its nickname and also a place where baseball players can show their raw skills.

Cincinnati Reds

First Name: Cincinnati Red Stockings

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: Cincinnati Reds

History: Cincinnati Reds actually was formed after Cincinnati Red Stockings (1869-1870) was disbanded. You can say the prior name of the Cincinnati Reds was Cincinnati Red Stockings. But what actually happened back then?

You will be shocked to learn the past dreadful history of the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati Red Stockings was first dissolved in 1971 and got the name “Atlanta Braves”. But I was surprised to learn that another Cincinnati Red Stockings team was reclaimed after the National League of baseball group was formed in 1876.

Later on, another league was formed that you know as the American Association. This is solely to challenge the National League. After that, the new name of Cincinnati Red Stockings was formed, removing the “Stockings” and adding an “s” after Red.

That is how the new name of Cincinnati Reds came to life. This nickname was formed in around 1895-1896.

Milwaukee Brewers

First Name: Seattle Pilots

MId Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: Milwaukee Brewers

History: The life of Milwaukee Brewers started as an expansion team called the Seattle Pilots in 1969.  The name Pilots was chosen because the owner was a part-time pilot. Also, the city’s aviation industry provoked the name too.

But the team formation had some issues such as their starting year was meant to be 1971 whereas they joined in 1969. This was done so that all four teams could join at the same time. 

Later on, the team faced major renovations and poor attendance. This made the team almost out of money after its first season. The team was going through a money starvation which led them to sell the team.

The original owner sold the team to Bud Seilig. It was Seilig’s decision to move the team to Milwaukee. There they got the name of Milwaukee Brewers. If the first owner wouldn’t have filed for bankruptcy, then maybe you have seen another Seattle team there.

St. Louis Cardinals

First Name: St. Louis Brown Stockings

Mid Names: St. Louis Perfectos

Final Name: St. Louis Cardinals

History: The history that I researched and found about the St Louis Cardinals was an interesting one. They got their name from a woman’s reference, well that is such a story.

At the very beginning, the name of the team was St. Louis Brown Stockings. The brown came from their sock color. Later on, they were kicked out of the league because of match fixing. 

In 1889, the team was purchased for the final time. At that time, they got the professional name “St. Louis Perfectos” which got a lot of fame. At that time, they got new jerseys with a Cardinal red color.

And then when I heard the final addition of the name and how it came, it was really surprising! Columnist Willie Michel overheard one woman calling the new color “A Lovely Shade of Cardinal”. Then the popularity of the nickname got a positive view. 

This is the final addition of this baseball team’s nickname, “St. Louis Cardinals”.

Pittsburgh Pirates

First Name: The Allegheny Baseball Club of Pittsburgh

Mid Names: Pittsburgh Alleghenies

Final Name: Pittsburgh Pirates

History: The Pittsburgh Pirates had a nostalgic history of their name. When they were first founded in the neighboring city of Allegheny, they made their club’s name “The Allegheny Baseball Club of Pittsburgh”. The name is too long, isn’t it?

As it is looking long for you, so was looking too long for that period. That is why the people often used to call them as Alleghenies, or Pittsburgh Alleghenies. And the later story is more interesting.

In the 1891 season, the Alleghenies were looking at signing a new second baseman. But here is a catch. You need to retain a player on your roster, you have to include them on the list of reserved players.

Here comes the clash. The Philadelphia Athletics failed to sign a new player because the Alleghenies signed him. This made Philadelphia Athletics file an official complaint calling the actions as “Piratical”. Which then made the Alleghenies get a new name as Pittsburgh Pirates in 1891.

If you have a lack of knowledge about how many baseball team players are in a team, you can learn it. There are always new things to learn, and I believe that strongly.

National League East

The National League East has some great teams that I personally love a lot. Their plays are awesome like their team names. If you are a fan of any team in this league, you will love to hear their histories. 

Atlanta Braves

First Name: Boston Red Stockings

Mid Names: Boston Red Caps, Boston Bean Eaters, Boston Doves, Boston Rustlers, Boston Braves, Boston Bees, Milwaukee Braves 

Final Name: Atlanta Braves

History: You should be ready for a long history of Atlanta Brave nicknames. The history of this team began when the Cincinnati Red Stockings dissolved in 1870. After that, players, managers and three other people moved to Boston for a fresh start.

There they got the name Boston Red Stockings. When the National League replaced the National Association in 1876, this team was known as Boston Red Caps. 

After that, they changed the name again in 1883, in such a short time! The name was Boston Bean Eaters. This name was formed due to paying tribute to the pork and molasses boston baked beans.

Later on, they were losing drastically in every season. For that, the owner ditched the club in 1907, what an awful time for them. Then this team was renamed as the “Boston Doves”. 

In 1911, while they were still at their struggling period, they had another nickname, “Boston Rustlers”. One year later in 1912, they thought to have the name of “Boston Braves”. 

There is a little history of the name Braves that I dug out. However, the Boston Braves changed again when they were still having money issues and were going to sign Babe Ruth who had more than 700 home runs in the history of baseball. 

In 1935, they got another new nickname, “Boston Bees” after the team ownership was changed.

I am surprised that how many times the ownership and the nickname of the team changed. They are I guess the most changed ownership and name team ever. 

In 1941, the ownership was changed again.  But this owner did not change the nickname of the team to a new name, but a previous old name. Can you guess?

Yes, the name became Boston Braves again. This name got famous for a while. After the team changed their location to Milwaukee, they got known as the “Milwaukee Braves” in 1953.

In 1966, another new ownership came and shifted them to Atlanta. And yes, this is when the new team name came up which holds the title still now, the Atlanta Braves.

Miami Marlins

First Name: Florida Flamingos

Mid Names: Florida Marlins

Final Name: Miami Marlins

History: In 1993, there was a two team expansion where one of them was Colorado Rockies, and another one was Miami Marlins. That means if you are a Marlins fan, then you should know that they are a very new addition to MLB history.

Before this team was not known as the Marlins. Their first name was Florida Flamingos. They eventually settled on the Marlins which had been used by a former Minor League team which was also known as Miami Marlins. 

But this name was not for so long. As you may have heard, the last change occurred in 2012 when the Marlins moved to a new stadium. So, as a part of an agreement with Miami-Dade county where the stadium is located, they agreed to change the name into “Miami Marlins”.

New York Mets

First Name: New York Mets

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: New York Mets

History: If you are a New York Mets fan, then you are out of luck. They actually do not have that much of a nickname history to share about.

After the Dodgers and Giants moved to California in 1957, the MLB wanted to add another franchise back to New York city. In 1962, the league expanded and added the “New York Mets”.

Mets was chosen for the name and is a shortened version of the legal name of the franchise, the “New York Metropolitan Baseball Club”.

Washington Nationals

First Name: Montreal Expos

Mid Names: No records of changes found

Final Name: Washington Nationals

History: One of the four final four expansion teams in 1969. At the very beginning, they were known as “Montreal Expos”. They were the first major league team to be located in Canada. The name Expos came from the Expo 67 world’s fair that took place in Montreal.

Following the sale of the team to new owners in 1999, the team failed to secure a new baseball stadium. So, in 2001, there was a proposal for MLB contraction. This proposal was made because that would reduce the league by two teams.

So, they need to move. And do you know where they moved? If you have guessed Washington DC, then you are in luck. They thought this would be the best option for now. In 2005, the team opted to use the name “Washington Nationals” that we all know now.

Philadelphia Phillies

First Name: Philadelphia Quakers

Mid Names: Philadelphia Philadelphias

Final Name: Philadelphia Phillies

History: Philadelphia Phillies, a team I really admire who did not change their nicknames that frequently, almost to none. Also to be mentioned, they are a very old team who are still going on with once or twice name changes.

One of the expansion teams in the National League in 1883, named as “Philadelphia Quakers”, our Phillies were born. It came from the history of Quakers city and brotherly love.

In 1884, the team changed their name to “Philadelphia Philadelphias”, which was just like Alleghenies adding their city name. The name felt ridiculous to people and this made people come up with one of history’s best names.

As the name was difficult to print in the late 1800s, newspapers were printing their name as Quakers. Some decided to shorten the name and started printing “Phillies”. This is how the legendary name got born.

National League West

Just like the National League East, there are some teams in the National League West that made my childhood awesome! I would love you to check them out, you may fall in love with them.

Arizona Diamondbacks

First Name: Arizona Diamondbacks

Mid Names: No record of changes found

Final Name: Arizona Diamondbacks

History: The final expansion that occurred in 1998, there were two expanded teams, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Tampa Bay Rays. In only three years, the Diamondbacks had won the world series, making one of my favorite childhood sports memories.

The new expansion team was named “Arizona Diamondbacks”, intentionally adopting the regional representation of Arizona. This is also represented over the localized Phoenix Diamondbacks. 

Diamondback was chosen because of the prevalence of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Also its distinctive diamond pattern on its scales was included. These are found all over Arizona and can make for a bad day for hikers with less attention.

By the way, if you want to do great in baseball in a short time like they did, you need to do it with style. Do you have any idea about some of the best Baseball sunglasses? There may be one that will suit you the best and you are missing it.

San Diego Padres

First Name: San Diego Padres

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: San Diego Padres

History: San Diego Padres was one of the four expansion teams in 1969. From the very beginning, they got the name “San Diego Padres”. 

Now, we understand how San Diego came, but what about “Padres”? This nickname comes from a Pacific Coast League team of the same name. Padres translates as fathers from Spanish to English. 

Also, it refers to the Spanish Franciscan Friars that founded San Diego in 1769, 200 years before the inaugural season of the Padres.

San Francisco Giants

First Name: New York Gothams

Mid Names: New York Giants

Final Name: San Francisco Giants

History: If you are a Batman lover, I would love to share a little history behind San Francisco Giants’ nickname that will interest you. Don’t believe me, read yourself to find it out.

The very first name of San Francisco Giants was “New York Gothams”, as they started their lives in New York city in 1883. Do you know about Gotham City in Batman? Yes, the name was so popular that it was even used as the fictional Gotham City in the Batman comics.

And the “Giants” name came a little bit later. One of the victories in 1885 against the Phillies, team manager Jim Mutry praised the team like this, “My Big Fellows! My Giants!”. And thus, the name got attention and later got changed to “New York Giants”.

While looking for a new stadium to the West Coast, in 1958, the Giants moved to Minnesota. Then later the mayor of San Francisco wooed them to come to San Francisco. This is when they got their name as “San Francisco Giants”.

Colorado Rockies

First Name: Colorado Rockies

Mid Names: No records of changes found

Final Name: Colorado Rockies

History: If you are a recent watcher of baseball or a fan of baseball, you may have heard about the team Colorado Rockies. They are not so old like other teams, but they also have a history of making nicknames.

In 1993, the MLB again decided to expand by two teams. One is the Miami Marlins, and the other one has become the Colorado Rockies. Now, let me tell you how the name came.

One location of the expansion team was chosen as Denver. They have built Mile High stadium for their Denver Bears Minor League team. So, once Denver was chosen to expand, they quickly came up with a name “Colorado Rockies”, the name you are familiar with.

The Rockies was chosen because of Denver’s proximity to the Rocky mountains. Also because the name was used formerly with an NHL franchise that was based in Denver, also called the Rockies.

Los Angeles Dodgers

First Name: Brooklyn Grays

Mid Names: Brooklyn Baseball Club, Brooklyn Atlantics, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn grooms, Brooklyn Superbas, Brooklyn Robins, Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, Brooklyn Dodgers 

Final Name: Los Angeles Dodgers

History: As the most unofficial nickname changing team, Los Angeles Dodgers were known to all. How? How can they change their name so frequently? 

The starting of the official Los Angeles Dodgers began with the nickname “Brooklyn Grays” in 1884. The reporters named it after their gray uniforms. Then the unofficial name came to barge in.

The official name of this club was “Brooklyn Baseball Club”. But the team started calling the name of their club as “Brooklyn Atlantics” in 1884. But the name did not stay for long. They again changed their unofficial name with another unofficial name in 1888, “Brooklyn Bridegrooms Brooklyn Grooms”. 

The name did not even stand out for so long. They alternated the name and gave “Brooklyn Grooms” as many of the team members got married that time.

In late 1899, they again got an urge to change their unofficial name and set another one called “Brooklyn Superbas”. The Superbas came from the popular circus act, “The Hanlons’ Superba”. 

Later on, in 1914, the name was changed again. Did you see the frequency of their changing club name? This time they gave the name “Brooklyn Robins”. This name was taken from the then manager Wilbert Robinson. 

At that time, one name was getting a lot of fame everywhere in Brooklyn, “Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers”. Later on, the name was shortened and was called “Brooklyn Dodgers” only. The name became official in 1938 when they first wore their Dodgers jerseys.

Later in 1958 the team went from Brooklyn to Los Angeles when the San Francisco Giants were in the move. And there they got the name “Los Angeles Dodgers” that we officially know now.

American League East

A lot of MLB world series title winners are here! Who does not know the names of the Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, etc.? If you are talking about baseball, you have to admit these teams are great! But what about their nickname history?

Boston Red Sox

First Name: Boston Americans

Mid Names: Bostonians, American Leaguers, Boston Pilgrims

Final Name: Boston Red Sox

History: A new team that began in 1901 grabbed the attention in the American League East. It was known as “Boston Americans”, which gradually changed to the “Boston Red Sox”.

Boston Americans was not the team’s official nickname. They also had some more names such as Boston Americans, Bostonians, American Leaguers, or Boston Pilgrims. Anyway, remember when the Bean Eaters (formerly the Boston Red Stockings) became the Doves in 1907?  

When that happened, this team jumped quickly to change their name to the “Boston Red Sox” that we know now. Also, they got socks to match too.

New York Yankees

First Name: New York Highlanders

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: New York Yankees

History: If you know the history, you know how powerful they are. I can not believe they have won so many titles within such a short period of time! The new team that was formed way back when the Western League became the American League.

In 1903, the two competing leagues reached an agreement that would allow the team to move to its desired location, New York City. They became the “New York Highlanders”. Highlanders name was chosen for a couple of reasons. They are – 

• To highlight the location of the Ballpark.
• Because of a British military unit called “Gordon’s Highlanders”. The team owner was “Joseph Gordon” at that time. The players were his Highlanders.

Later on, the new team got their final nickname as “New York Yankees” within a short period of time that we all know now. This name is more fitting than the Scottish Highlander as Yankee dates back to the mid 1700s to refer to people living in America.

Toronto Blue Jays

First Name: Toronto Blue Jays

Mid Names: No record of changes found

Final Name: Toronto Blue Jays

History: The Toronto blue Jays were also a part of the same round of 1977 expansion. This is another team that got their nickname from fan suggestions. Do you know how the Blue Jays was added to the name?

The “Blue Jays was” a popular choice and ultimately one it refers to the bird of the same name. Also, the color blue fits with the colors of the Toronto-based sports franchises, mostly. 

Baltimore Orioles

First Name: Milwaukee Brewers

Mid Names: St. Louis Browns

Final Name: Baltimore Orioles

History: When I dug up the history of Baltimore Orioles team nicknames, I did not see that much changes. They started as a minor league team as the “Milwaukee Brewers” in 1900. Already a heard name? 

Because of their brewing system, the city was known as “Brew City”. Later on in 1902, the team shifted from Milwaukee to St. Louis grabbing the name St. Louis Browns. If that sounds familiar, Browns was chosen because it was the former name of their crosstown rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals.

The St. Louis Browns owner was at a risk of losing possession to the team. The Browns were lagging behind the Cardinals in terms of performance on the field. So, the team had two options, either go back to Milwaukee, or go to Baltimore. 

Milwaukee was already blocked because of the American League owners. So, they had to choose the second option. The then owner had to sell his ownership to the team and the team moved to Baltimore. There they got the nickname “Baltimore Orioles”.

Tampa Bay Rays

First Name: Tampa Bay Stingrays

Mid Names: Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Final Name: Tampa Bay Rays

History: In 1998, there were two team expansions, where one was the Arizona Diamondbacks, that gave me the best childhood memories. Another one was the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Tampa Bay Rays had some naming issues at the very beginning. They wanted to use the “Tampa Bay Stingrays”. But they ran into naming rights issues as the name was already used by the Hawaii winter baseball team, the “Maui Stingrays”.

Then they again changed the name to the “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” in 1998. As far as my research tells, the team went under a bit of a rebranding of their name in 2008. And the rebranding changed their name into the “Tampa Bay Rays”.

American League Central

Chicago White Sox

First Name: Sioux City Cornhuskers

Mid Names: Chicago White Stockings

Final Name: Chicago White Sox

History: The origin of the Chicago White Sox nickname was not that hard to understand. When I heard about this team’s naming, I was like “Oh, so that’s it?”

This American League team actually started playing as a minor league team named the “Sioux City Cornhuskers”. After that, when the American League was formed, this team played a very sneaky move. 

The team was moved by the league to Chicago’s south side and made them “Chicago White Stockings”. Which later shortened as “Chicago White Sox”.

Cleveland Guardians

First Name: Grand Rapids Rustlers

Mid Names: Cleveland Lakeshores, Cleveland Bluebirds, Cleveland Blues, Cleveland Broncos, Cleveland Naps, Cleveland Indians

Final Name: Cleveland Guardians

History: The name that got recently changed is Cleveland Guardians. Before that, we used to call them Cleveland Indians. There is a history behind its naming. I will explain it to you right away.

Cleveland Guardians was also a minor league team in the Western League Baseball. They were known as “Grand Rapids Rustlers” back then. Moving forward to history, when the team moved to Cleveland, they got a new name, “Cleveland Lakeshores”.

This makes sense because Cleveland is on the shore of a big famous lake. The American League became the Major League in 1901, the team name was changed to “Cleveland Bluebirds”. What do you think? Did the name last long?

The players immediately disliked the name. They tried to adjust it by shortening and calling “Cleveland Blues”, “Cleveland Broncos”, but it did not work well. Then the team was renamed as Cleveland Naps in 1903 where Nap was actually their team captain. 

But when Nap left the club in 1915, the team was nameless. Then the name came that you used to know till some days ago, “Cleveland Indians”. This name got a reformation in the 2021 season.

The name came under criticism as part of the Native American Mascot controversy. This is the reason why they had to rename it into “Cleveland Guardians”.

Minnesota Twins

First Name: Washington Senators

Mid Names: Washington Nationals

Final Name: Minnesota Twins

History: Minnesota Twins is a great team and I admire their skills a lot. But do you know how the nickname came about?

This team was known as “Washington Senators” in 1901 when they were formed. The name Senator refers to Washington D.C., being the location of the United States capital. Senators are elected by states and sent to represent that state in the upper chamber of congress. 

But when I learned about the poor performance of this amazing team back then, it made me a little bit upset. Who wants to see one of their most favorite teams get soaked like that? After that, in 1905, they got another nickname, “Washington Nationals”.

In 1956, the name was changed again to Senators. Later on, when the owner was dead, the new ownership wanted to move the team. And he was successful. In 1960, the owner found an opportunity to move the franchise to Minneapolis, where the “Minnesota Twins” nickname came from.

Twins actually came from the twin cities of Minneapolis, the largest city in the state, and Saint Paul, the state’s capital. These twin cities share a metro area and are built around and divided by the Mississippi Minnesota and Saint Croix Rivers.

Detroit Tigers

First Name: Detroit Tigers

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: Detroit Tigers

History: Finally, here is a name that is renowned to all from the mid 1882. As a Minor League team, the “Detroit Tigers” never changed their name.

The nickname came from a story of a military unit called the “Detroit Light Guard” that is part of the Michigan army national guard. The Detroit Light Guard adopted the Tiger as its symbol in 1882, and it remained the Detroit Tigers nickname since then.

Kansas City Royals

First Name: Kansas City Royals

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: Kansas City Royals

History: Another team that I looked at previous nicknames of but did not find any. Kansas City Royals have a very little history of their nicknames. Let’s find out how it ended.

In 1969, the league looked to expand and add four more teams. One of them was “Kansas City Royals”. This team began playing just two years after the Kansas City Athletics left for Oakland.

Also, I did not finish how the Royals came in. It was chosen in honor of the American Royal. This is how they got their own nickname without even changing it once.

American League West

Los Angeles Angels

First Name: Los Angeles Angels

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: Los Angeles Angels

History: There was a desire to have a major team on the West coast in baseball. The name “Los Angeles Angels” is known to all for that reason. The surprising fact is that I have not heard about their name changes even once!

The angel’s name has an interesting story. Do you know where it came from? It came from a pacific coast league team “The Angels”. And thus, our Los Angeles Angels team was born.

Oakland Athletics

First Name: Philadelphia Athletics 

Mid Names: Kansas City Athletics

Final Name: Oakland Athletics

History: This team has a bit of history that I became surprised to learn. The first half of the naming history is pretty normal, but the second half is when you will see the twists.

In 1901, the team was known as Philadelphia Athletics who used to compete with the then famous team, Philadelphia Phillies. The Athletics name came from an amateur team from who called them “The Athletic Club of Philadelphia”.

But the main team got smacked down by the Philadelphia Phillies as they were doing great for a while. They were doing so well that the then Philadelphia Athletics were facing potential bankruptcy. Hence, in 1954, they were sold to a new owner.

Then they got a new name in a new place, “Kansas City Athletics”. And here comes the main twist that I was telling you at the beginning.

After the new owner moved them to Kansas city, he bought out the minority owners to control the team. He was looking to shift to a new city. They had a lot of options, but the other owners did not accept that. 

Later on, a strange threat led them to move to Oakland which led them to have the new nickname “Oakland Athletics” which we all know now.

Hey hey, the investment on the club is all that you are learning. But let me tell you that I have invested $2000+ to find the best baseball chest protector. And there are some great discoveries I have done that may benefit you too.

Houston Astros

First Name: Houston Colt .45S

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: Houston Astros

History: As a part of another round of expansion for the 1962 season, Houston was chosen as one of the two expansion sites. 

The very first name of the Houston Astros was “Houston Colt .45S”. Do you know how the name was chosen? It was through a contest. The Colt .45S was a gun that was popular in the west.

However, the name did not last long. In 1965, a new name was suggested to the team that we all know today, “Houston Astros” to honor Houston’s role in NASA’s space program.

Texas Rangers

First Name: Washington Senators

Mid Names: No records of Changes found

Final Name: Texas Rangers

History: The very first name of the Texas Rangers was “Washington Senators” given in 1961. Having any type of resemblance to any other team? 

However, the team struggled financially and on the field. Because of that, the owners thought about either moving or selling the team. 

Because of that, the mayor of Arlington, Texas got a keen eye on the team and bought them. Thus, from 1972, the new team was reframed as “Texas Rangers”.

Seattle Mariners

First Name: Seattle Mariners

Mid Names: No records of changes found

Final Name: Seattle Mariners

History: This nickname is one of the most interesting ones that you will hear a lot if you know their history. The Seattle Mariners were founded as a part of an ongoing lawsuit after the previous franchise, the Pilots, moved to Milwaukee in 1970. 

And now comes the interesting part of Seattle Mariners. After they lost their team, they and the state of Washington sued the American League for “breach of contract”. Depending on whether the city dropped the lawsuit or not, the league offered them an expansion team.

And then after Seattle dropped their claim, they got the team which we officially call “Seattle Mariners” now. Also, the Mariners actually came from a contest. Mariners actually fit the city of Seattle. That is why this name got an addition with Seattle.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Many Non Existing Teams Are There in MLB That Used to Exist Before?

There are probably a few teams that used to play and had an amazing record. I am afraid to say they could not make it later on. We should always respect these teams if you are a true baseball fan.

The non-existing teams are –

• Louisville Colonels
• Cleveland Spiders
• Washington Senators
• Chicago Whales

2. Which Teams Are the Oldest in MLB History?

The oldest teams that actually made baseball this interesting are – 

• Atlanta Braves (1871)
• Chicago Cubs (1873)
• Pittsburgh Pirates (1881)
• St. Louis Cardinals (1882)

Final Thoughts

Did you find your team’s origin of nicknames among the Origin of MLB teams nickname? All the stories of nicknames are interesting and I think whatever they did, it was for the best. 

Because of them, we are now withstanding some of the best MLB baseball teams with cool nicknames. Don’t you agree with me? Then let me know what your opinion is about nicknames.