So I read an article the other day that stated the owner of the Houston Astros is considering a uniform and name change when the team migrates to the American League. That got me to thinking about what other names would befit a San Diego basball team; what if the Padres weren't called the Padres? Obviously the name would be associated with something about San Diego. What the hell is San Diego known for? Its weather? Beaches? Its proximity to Tijuana? Fish tacos?!?!? I cannot think of a better name for our fair city's baseball team. However, Gaslamp Ball has much more creative thinkers than I. I present for your consideration a hypothetical name change for the Padres. Names cannot be variations of 'Padres' (e.g. Friars, and...well, that's the only one I can think of right now).
This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.
0 recs | 101 comments
San Diego Clippers
San Diego Missions
Not original names now, but you know…back then…
I know there was a list of names the city voted on way back in the PCL days but I can’t quite find it.
JollyWaffle - January 25, 2012
As long as we're going with former San Diego sports team names, there's always the Rockets.
But it’s not good enough. If you were to come up with a brand new name for the team, it should really mean something. It should put fear into the hearts of your enemies while bringing joy to your fans. It should represent the highest ideals of what a San Diego athlete should be. Yeah, that’s right: the San Diego Gwynns.
Darklighter - January 25, 2012
The Peppers
field39 - January 25, 2012
The Awesomeners
Ron Mexico - January 25, 2012
The Padres were called that because the minor league team was called Padres.
The original team was the Hollywood Stars. Bill lane renamed it himself after the naming contest, but he could have left the team name as Stars. Other teams have moved and kept the old team names. The L.A. Chargers kept their name when they moved here, the Houston Rockets didn’t change the team name when they left San Diego, and the Clippers didn’t change when they left either.
If Bill Lane hadn’t chosen Padres, it probably would have been Friars, or Missions, or since San Diego was a seaport, something nautical like Clippers, Seafarers, Ensigns or Bo’suns.
Then again, when Lane brought the Stars to San Diego in 1936, Convair aircraft had just arrived, and San Diego’s biggest industry was the tuna fleet and canneries. The team could have been called the Wings, Flyers, Aeros or Pilots, or the Canners, Scalers, Steamers or Tunas. We might just be thankful Padres was chosen.
wegotballsley - January 25, 2012
The Blue Fins...
or is that too like the Marlins?
Jsn L - January 25, 2012
Unicorns
Friar Fever - January 25, 2012
The Blues was once a contender I believe
Also I think at one time the San Diego team name was The Bears. If the team changed their name today they might go with a military theme like the Delta Force or Recruits or something Jet Fighter-y,
turbopan - January 25, 2012
The Aces?
The San Diego TOP GUNNERS?
StrangeBroP25 - January 25, 2012
Seal team sixes
Sam (sdsuaztec4) - January 25, 2012
I think
San Diego is home to Seal Team 1,3,4 and 7. Six is in Virginia or somewhere on the East Coast.
jbox - January 26, 2012
So....
The San Diego Seals? And then legitimately retire number 6?
Nater Tater - January 26, 2012
Shits swag bro.
soulSD - January 25, 2012
The Chargers
That way we can have a cool football/baseball confusion situation like the New York Giants and the New York Giants had from 1925-1957.
Johnny UT - January 25, 2012
No, we need something complementary like Detroit or Chicago.
The San Diego Batteries!
Darklighter - January 25, 2012
The San Diego Thunder?
I’m picturing a mascot that runs around and stomps a lot.
SolanaFan - January 25, 2012
the san diego tony gwynns
iheartyourfart - January 25, 2012
Ahem.
Darklighter - January 26, 2012
San Diego Surf
We would have a shitty logo with a wave inside a pentagon.
soulSD - January 25, 2012
I actually liked that logo a little
I like our new logo a lot more.
athletics68 - January 29, 2012
San Diego Brown Sox
TheThinGwynn - January 26, 2012
San Diego
Brown Jox
jbox - January 26, 2012
The World Champions
Hormel - January 26, 2012
The Fish Tacos
Alternatively, The Pink Tacos.
sdchicken - January 26, 2012
San Diego Brosefs
Timeless.
IputtheYinTony - January 26, 2012
The San Diego
Avocados
jbox - January 26, 2012
San Diego Jack In The Boxes
kevintheoman - January 26, 2012
shortened name could be
the San Diego Jacks as in homeruns.
kevintheoman - January 26, 2012
To me it still seems somewhat sacrelige
for the Padres to be associated with JITB, considering the original owner was Ray Kroc.
Nater Tater - January 26, 2012
Ray Kroc wasn't the original owner, just the most notable one.
Darklighter - January 27, 2012
I think he was neither
Sources tell me that Kroc was McDonalds.
Friar Fever - January 27, 2012
Wait....
I got mixed up with what was being said. Now, I feel dumb and my stupidity only saddens me. I knew I shouldn’t have even logged in tonight.
I miss baseball….
Friar Fever - January 27, 2012
I always liked the San Diego Qs (Conquistadors)
TheAxManCometh - January 26, 2012
another old basketball team name
but it might be off putting to native american fans/sponsors
turbopan - January 26, 2012
Conversely, something Marine related?
TheAxManCometh - January 26, 2012
Jar Heads?
turbopan - January 26, 2012
There is a Japanese teamed name the "Marines"
Jsn L - January 26, 2012
Wow...that are good Engrish.
Jsn L - January 26, 2012
They also had the nautically named Orix Blue Wave until a few years ago
Which mercifully is not the name of a team there today after they merged with the Osaka Buffaloes. It would just be cruel to have that for a name given what happened to Japan this past spring.
athletics68 - January 26, 2012
I agree...
I always liked the ‘Fighters’ as a name; The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham ‘Fighters.’
Jsn L - January 26, 2012
I've always been partial to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp myself
It’s the only fish I’ve ever caught and they probably have the nicest of all Japanese ballparks.
That said my “Japanese team” is ironically enough the Yomiuri Giants from Tokyo. My dad got me a cap from the Tokyo Dome when I was a kid and I adopted them as my team, despite my undying, blood pressure raising, burning, loathing, hatred of their American namesakes. I even get to watch Yomiuri play from time to time thanks to the wonders of our modern world.
athletics68 - January 26, 2012
any park with a grass infield
gets my support. (as far as NPB goes)
kevintheoman - January 26, 2012
ahhhh did a little research
its the lack of dirt basepaths that is the annoying part of Japanese parks. I knew there was something wrong with them, but couldn’t fully remember I guess. In any case, that stadium looks nice.
kevintheoman - January 26, 2012
Yeah most of their stadiums came of age right when our stadiums were at their worst
During the Astroturf and island bases era. And they’re in no hurry to replace them.
athletics68 - January 26, 2012
I want to learn more about Japanese Baseball stadiums
we should do a separate Fan Post
Ron Mexico - January 27, 2012
Good idea
athletics68 - January 27, 2012
Well it is the only stadium over there designed on the "American model"
That is unless you don’t count Yokohama Stadium’s bastardization of the idea… (which I don’t)
athletics68 - January 26, 2012
that's sick
looks like a Rorschach chart.
Dex - January 27, 2012
Since everyone is enjoying the Japenese baseball park monstrosities...
I’ll start a thread
athletics68 - January 29, 2012
Where are the bullpens?
staceyaugmon4HOF - January 28, 2012
Under the infield.
The pitchers are transported to the mound via elevator.
TheThinGwynn - January 28, 2012
I like to think of them as the Nippon 'Ham Fighters'
…and then float off to an imaginary wonderland where 25 Japanese guys smash a large collection of honeybaked hams with baseball bats…
contented sigh
Johnny UT - January 26, 2012
Kinda like if
the band that did “Walkin’ On Sunshine” reunited and did a show in New Orleans.
TheThinGwynn - January 26, 2012
If we were the Marines
it would just be too similar when seeing it in print, to the HATED MARINERS!!!
Nater Tater - January 26, 2012
What about the San Diego Destroyers...
or something else nautical by nature.
Jsn L - January 26, 2012
San Diego Seaman?
IputtheYinTony - January 26, 2012
How about the San Diego Seamen
sdchicken - January 26, 2012
Wow, so many suggestions, so many public relations nightmares.
San Diego Seamen. An up-and-coming team!
wegotballsley - January 26, 2012
Something surfy...
San Diego Swell?
San Diego Whitecaps?
San Diego Breakers?
San Diego Duck Divers?
San Diego Rip Tide?
I’ve taken this too seriously haven’t I?
london_balling - January 26, 2012
Riptide is (was?) taken by the local second-tier Arena Football team
StrangeBroP25 - January 26, 2012
Wikipedia says they're defunct.
Darklighter - January 27, 2012
How about the Vigilantes
The city motto is Semper Vigilans (Latin for “Ever Vigilant”)
Padres_Hobo - January 26, 2012
We could take a page out of the Phillies book
and call ourselves the San Diego Diegans
kevintheoman - January 26, 2012
I was thinking along the same lines...
San Diego Sands
TheThinGwynn - January 26, 2012
They've already got the jerseys in storage
Bring Back The Sand!
Friar Fever - January 26, 2012
The Runnin' Grunion
turbopan - January 26, 2012
the san diego gulls seems like a perfectly reasonable name
#thingsthatarenttrue
iheartyourfart - January 26, 2012
At this point anything but Padres would just seem lame
That said, San Diego Stars (given the team’s heritage in the PCL), or something nautical would make the most sense. That said any kind of name change would probably get the same response the quickly aborted and “we aren’t really considering it” Astros renaming got in Houston (which was 95%+ negative from the locals).
athletics68 - January 26, 2012
The 'Stars' seems practical and not so lame.
Jsn L - January 26, 2012
I've always found that too generic. North Stars was cool for the Minneapolis hockey team
but “Dallas Stars” has always struck me as boring and plain.
StrangeBroP25 - January 26, 2012
stars would bug me
it would be a constant reminder that the team had history in LA/Hollywood
kevintheoman - January 26, 2012
Military could've been done easy
San Diego Stars and have the nautical star be a prominent part of the uni. Maybe a single nautical star on the cap. The colors would have to be blue, scarlet and gold.
Dex - January 27, 2012
The stars
was the old name of the Las Vegas AAA team.
turbopan - January 26, 2012
The Vegas Stars were the replacement PCL Hollywood Stars after the original became the Padres.
When The Doggers moved in, the PCL had to move out. The original PCL Padres still exist,
I think. They’ve moved to different cities and changed their team name several times. I think
they got as far east as Iowa at one point. It’s just like when the Vegas Stars ended their
association with the Padres, the Padres got an association with another PCL team and moved
it to Portland to become the Beavers, then The Tucson Padres, and soon to be the El Paso Armadillos.
Those minor league teams move around a lot.
wegotballsley - January 30, 2012
wikipedia says Hollywood Stars and Las Vegas Stars are "unreleated"
The PCL team that was the padres goes as follows:
Sacramento Sacts/Senators (1903) → Tacoma Tigers (1904–1905)→ Sacramento Senators (1905) → Fresno Raisin Eaters (1906) → Sacramento Solons (1909–1914) → Salt Lake Bees (1915–1925) → Hollywood Stars (1926–1935) → San Diego Padres (1936–1968) → Eugene Emeralds (1969–1973) → Sacramento Solons (1974–1976) → San Jose Missions (1977–1978) → Ogden A’s (1979–1980) → Edmonton Trappers (1981–2004) → Round Rock Express (2005–present)
The PCL team that was the LV Stars goes as follows:
Portland Beavers (1919–1972) → Spokane Indians (1973–1982) → Las Vegas Stars (1983–2000) → Las Vegas 51s (2001–present)
kevintheoman - January 30, 2012
side note
Raisin Eaters is an awesome name.
kevintheoman - January 30, 2012
Wow the old Padres sure got around...
athletics68 - January 31, 2012
That'll happen when they just move them to another parish each time they get charged.
TheThinGwynn - February 1, 2012
Local Attractions
It’s a port city, so nautical themes are always up for debate— Seafarers, Navigators, Breakers, Cruisers, etc. Or play off the military theme with Aces, Top Guns, etc. (Perhaps name it after a piece of military hardware— the FA-18 Hornet and A-10 Thunderbolt/Warthog would be good namesakes).
Then we’ve got the Zoo and Sea World— doesn’t offer much, in that many other teams have good animal names already and “Whales” or “Pandas” isn’t particularly ripe. We won’t even go into Legoland.
Aaaaand that’s really all I’ve got. Unless we want to venture into turf such as “Banditos”, “Vigilantes”, or other stereotypically Western themes.
StrangeBroP25 - January 26, 2012
The Otters or Harriers...
although the Harrier is also known as the Carolina Lawn Dart.
Jsn L - January 27, 2012
How about Ospreys?
StrangeBroP25 - January 27, 2012
San Diego Tomcats
Ron Mexico - January 27, 2012
I like this name a lot...
Jsn L - January 27, 2012
Los Chupacabras
turbopan - January 26, 2012
Honey Badgers???
TheAxManCometh - January 27, 2012
The Anchormen
Scotch, Scotch, Scotch
cubbuster - January 26, 2012 via mobile
Name 'em after Jerry:
San Diego Colonels
TheThinGwynn - January 26, 2012
Kentucky Objects
it’s like the only thing they have
TheAxManCometh - January 27, 2012
Well, that and Oxycontin.
TheThinGwynn - January 27, 2012
The San Diego Soldiers
and where the camo jerseys full time.
SoCalBoltFan - January 27, 2012
we don't have Soldiers (or many) in San Diego
we have Marines and Seamen
Ron Mexico - January 27, 2012
This is true
but I’m willing to overlook that to wear the camo unis full time.
SoCalBoltFan - January 27, 2012
The Chickens
named for our most famous citizen
Hormel - January 27, 2012
I approve
sdchicken - January 27, 2012
I think we keep it hispanic
The San Diego Immigrants
The San Diego Migrant Workers
The San Diego Border Crossers
never_nude - January 28, 2012
San Diego Drug Tunnels?
Hormel - January 28, 2012
The mascot would be a mule
StrangeBroP25 - January 28, 2012
coyotes
for human trafficking
kevintheoman - January 29, 2012
Wait - then the Madres would be older women looking for younger guys.
wegotballsley - January 30, 2012
Hispanic? The Quesadillas! The Frijoles! The Chalupas! The Empanadas!
Dang! Now I’m hungry.
wegotballsley - January 30, 2012
marauders
Mad_Villain - February 1, 2012 via Android app
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