MLB
What are some of the strangest Minor League baseball team names?
Often, minor league teams depend on local “wordplay” and references to an area’s history to connect with fans and build a community of followers.
Since the 2021 season, there have been over 100 teams in Minor league baseball across the United States and Canada. Complementing the MLB affiliates, there are alone-operated clubs, too. Regardless of their format, a considerable number of these teams have one major thing in shared: quirky team names.
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Whether celebrating a city’s spirit and history or taking advantage of a shabby, fan-sourced nickname, most of these team names are at least just a little strange, with a few standing out from the bunch. In that context, we’ve chosen some of our favored unconventional minor-league baseball team names.
Columbia Fireflies
The Columbia Fireflies are the latest Kansas City Royals family member. This Low-A affiliate pledges to be amusing for all; their motto is “Let’s Glow!”
Established in Columbia, South Carolina, the Fireflies were formerly affiliated with the New York Mets but started off the 2021 season under the Royals. After receiving over 2,000 submissions, the team anchored on the Fireflies, a cognomen inspired by the Photinus frontalis (fireflies) that glow up the nearby Congaree National Park. To honor their insect namesake, the team’s uniforms have parts that shine in the dark.
Florence Y’alls
Based in Florence, Kentucky, the Florence Y’alls play in the Frontier League — a partnered league of Major League Baseball.
The Florence Y’alls were initially known as the Florence Freedom and have won three championships. The franchise originated in 1994 in Erie, Pennsylvania, as the Erie Sailors.
Binghamton Rumble Ponies
This Double-A New York Mets affiliate also found its name through a name-the-team fan contest. Some of the finalists included the Binghamton Bullheads, which referenced the surplus of catfish in the Susquehanna River; Gobblers, due to the area’s hunting popularity and several types of wild turkeys; and the Rocking Horses or Rumble Ponies, both celebrating the city’s “Carousel Capital of the World” nickname.
MLB revealed plans to sever ties with over 40 teams three years after they officially rebranded. Still, the Mets announced that they’d resume their relationship with Binghamton, which preserved the Rumble Ponies from being shut down.
Norwich Sea Unicorns
The team originates from Norwich, Connecticut, and plays within the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL).
The Norwich Sea Unicorns were formerly an affiliated Minor League franchise, but when Major League Baseball reshuffled the minor league organization, the Sea Unicorns weren’t picked for affiliation. Luckily In 2021, they made their way to the collegiate summer league circuit.
Richmond Flying Squirrels
The Flying Squirrels are yet another product of a fan-inspired, name-the-team contest.
The Richmond Flying Squirrels are a Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. After receiving over 6,000 entries, the Virginia-based front office narrowed it down to several alternatives.
The former Connecticut Defenders became the Flying Squirrels, instantly becoming a hit with the highest merchandise sales across Minor League Baseball.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, have a strong connection between the team’s name and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The explanation comes from the term “pig iron,” a central component in steel manufacturing. The Lehigh Valley region is known for steel, not pigs, but playing with the phrase and presenting some cleverly named swine mascots feels like a home run with the local fans.
Rocket City Trash Pandas
Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, from Madison, Alabama, playing at the Minor League Baseball Double-A South.
Probably by far one of the coolest team names in the minor leagues. Not solely because Trash Pandas is quite nifty as much as it is clever, but the fact that the team isn’t named after a specific city or state. Rocket City is the monicker name of Huntsville, Alabama, because of its significant role in the space industry.
A raccoon is truthfully the Trash Panda mascot, named for the animal’s intelligence in conveying what it wants from the garbage. Merchandise for this team has been famous across all aspects of baseball. Their inauguration season was postponed because of the pandemic, but that didn’t stop the team store from making quite a profit and running out of some items.