The Orphans, the Dudes and beyond: 16 bizarre old-timey baseball team names

Worcester Worcesters (1880)

Where better to start than with Worcester, Mass.'s very own ... Worcesters? Back in the nineteenth century, today's familiar team-name format -- [City] [Plural Noun] -- was far from the universal standard. Some teams, like Worcester, simply went by their place of origin without bothering to choose an actual name. See also: the Newark Newarks.

Oswego Sweegs (1885)

It's one thing for a team to go for a punny take on its town name -- take Ontario's Hamilton Hams, for instance -- but entirely another to order a full roster of jerseys printed with a nonsense syllable. "Sweeg," according to Urban Dictionary, is either an insult or a new kind of swag. Or both? I feel old. See also: the Sioux City Soos.

Oswego Starchboxes (1886)

Back-to-back home runs for Oswego. The city was renowned as a center of starch production -- and naming teams after the primary local industry was once a common practice. See also: the Rochester Flour Cities and the Grand Rapids Furniture Makers (not to mention the Milwaukee Brewers).

Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888)

The so-called Bridegrooms were an early incarnation of today's Los Angeles Dodgers. If you think playing professional baseball is hard, imagine doing it in white tie and tails.

Oakland Dudes (1899)

This Oakland franchise took their name from the traditional definition of "dude," an out-of-place city slicker visiting the country. The Dudes once faced the Los Angeles Looloos for the California League pennant in what may have been the, like, weirdest championship series of all time, man.

Cleveland Infants (1890)

Naming your team the Infants is an act of defensive brilliance. Trust me -- no one will want to brag about beating you.

Pittsburgh Burghers (1890)

Oh. We misread that.

"Pirates?" Please. Pittsburgh ballplayers missed out on their chance to be forever known as members of the Medieval Bourgeoisie.

New Haven Nutmegs (1891)

Between apple pie and mulled wine, most people have only positive associations with nutmeg. But in very large quantities, the spice is toxic. Intimidated?

Troy Washerwomen (1894)

"Here's what's going to happen. We're going to get your uniforms real dirty -- blood, sweat, mud, tears. And then we're going to clean them for you. Because that's what we do. We're the Troy Washerwomen."

Chicago Orphans (1898)

The Orphans got their name after their manager "Pop" Anson was fired -- they were "orphaned" without their Pop. Fortunately, before their story could be adapted into a heartwarming children's musical, they were reborn as the Cubs in 1903.

Cleveland Naps (1903)

The Naps, later the Indians, were named for their enormously popular second baseman Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie -- not for something you wouldn't want to get caught doing in the dugout. See also: Brooklyn Ward's Wonders, named for their Hall of Fame shortstop John Montgomery Ward.

Worcester Riddlers (1903)

Let's reflect for a moment on the fact that there was a turn-of-the-century baseball franchise called the Riddlers, but, to our knowledge, never a team called the Batmans or even Batmen. Can we get on that?

Williamsport Millionaires (1906)

... no, they weren't. Ballplayers earned an average annual salary of $2,307 in the 1910's -- approximately $56,000 when adjusted for inflation. Today, a Major Leaguer's minimum yearly pay is $490,000.

Leavenworth Convicts (1907)

Hey, if you're from Leavenworth, Kansas -- home of the infamous penitentiary of the same name -- you might as well own it. The Convicts probably didn't recruit felons directly from the exercise yard, but we wouldn't rule it out.

Reading Pretzels (1907)

Reading, Pennsylvania: where the line between ballpark snacks and baseball players was never thinner.

Webb City Webfeet (1908)

In theory, webbed feet sound adorable. In practice, they're not going to help your baserunning.