Albuquerque’s Triple-A baseball team has one of the most amusing names in all of professional sports – The Isotopes. The name comes from The Simpsons which featured a fictional team the Springfield Isotopes. That and all of New Mexico’s many high-profile nuclear technology facilities.
Here’s a look at some other fun names in the minor league:
- EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS
Because nothing is quite as scary and menacing as a Chihuahua! - BINGHAMTON RUMBLE PONIES
Rumble Pony? Is this kind of like a dog-faced pony soldier?? - RICHMOND FLYING SQUIRRELS
These tree hopping, cigarette stealing thugs finally gets their due thanks to this Double-A franchise. - OMAHA STORM CHASERS
Chosen by fans in 2010, Storm Chasers takes its moniker from the Midwest’s extreme weather. - INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS
San Bernadino’s 66ers pay homage to historic Route 66, which ran through the city in its Dust Bowl heyday. - MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
A buttermilk biscuit for a mascot? In Alabama, of course! - ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS
Trash Panda is a ‘Bama slang term for raccoons. The Rocket City Trash Pandas celebrate Huntsville, Alabama’s storied status as a hub for the aerospace and defense industry. - AKRON RUBBERDUCKS
RubberDucks plays on Akron’s rubber industry roots. The northeastern Ohio city is home to Goodyear’s headquarters and was formerly the home of Bridgestone. - AMARILLO SOD POODLES
A sod poodle is an old-fashioned nickname for a prairie dog, which are known to roam the Texas Panhandle. - NORWICH SEA UNICORNS
Because naming them the Norwich Narwhals would be too easy.
11. LEHIGH VALLEY IRON PIGS
They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and are named in reference to pig iron, used in the manufacturing of steel, for which the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania is well known.
12. MODESTO NUTS
They are located in Modesto, California, and are named for the several types of nuts grown in the region.
13. FORT WAYNE TINCAPS
The name TinCaps was chosen following the 2008 season, alluding to John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. The Tin Cap refers to a fictionalized depiction of John Chapman wearing a cooking pot as a hat in the 1948 Walt Disney movie “Johnny Appleseed,” though this depiction has been disputed by historians. Chapman spent his final years in Fort Wayne and is buried in the city.
14 . SAVANNAH SAND GNATS
The Savannah Sand Gnats are the Class-A affiliate team of the New York Mets in the South Atlantic League.
16 . TOLEDO MUD HENS
Corporal Klinger’s home team, The Toledo Mud Hens are the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, playing in the International League. The team has used the name “Mud Hens” every season dating back to 1965. They also used the name Mud Hens from 1902-1913 and 1919-1952.
Special mention – LAS VEGAS 51’s
They have since changed the name to the Aviators (boring), but they originally adopted their name after the famous “Area 51” which is located about 80 miles north of Las Vegas. Almost poking fun at the local hysteria surrounding UFO’s and government alien coverup conspiracies, the team had a grey alien as their mascot.
About the Author
HAAAAAAA! Too funny.
Why?
Cape Charles “Come Here’s?