In skilled sports activities, group names imply every little thing. Just take a look at the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens franchises — superbly paired ornithologically, traditionally and literarily (the latter as a nod to Edgar Allan Poe). We’re not claiming the groups’ successes this 12 months have been pushed by their well-chosen monikers. Or that the names have been even, looking back, powerful calls to make, given the dearth of species referred to as “Baltimore something-or-other” or large literary figures who wrote a few raven and are actually buried in Baltimore. But, hey, the names clearly didn’t damage. Just have a look 50 miles south on the Washington, D.C., space, the place baseball and soccer followers are caught with, respectively, “Nationals” (manner, manner too apparent) and “Commanders,” a post-Redskins, post-WFT (Washington Football Team) title so bland and borrowed that the NFL group (within the strategy of being bought) was lately denied a trademark for it.
This brings us to Hagerstown, which is as soon as once more at a crossroads which is becoming for “Hub City,” however extra about that in a second. For those that haven’t essentially been being attentive to minor league sports activities in Western Maryland, Hagerstown is within the strategy of trying to create a Baltimore-style downtown revival with a brand new multi-use stadium constructed with tax {dollars} — a $70 million challenge supervised by the Maryland Stadium Authority. It shall be house to a Single-A Atlantic League of Professional Baseball franchise, having misplaced the Hagerstown Suns, a Nationals affiliate, which folded following the 2020 season after 40 years.
So it’s farewell Suns, hiya … what? That’s the query, and the hassle to reply it has been joined by the Hagerstown Herald-Mail, the native newspaper, and franchise house owners Downtown Baseball LLC. They are sponsoring a contest to give you the brand new identify. People have till June 5 to enter (simply hit the hyperlink from the Herald-Mail web site, heraldmailmedia.com). Up to fifteen winners can qualify for prizes starting from season tickets and equipment to 2 tickets to a single sport.
Alas, there is no such thing as a apparent feathered choose — though we’ve all the time been keen on osprey (simply take a look at the University of North Florida’s mascot, Ozzie) — we suspect the Sun’s readers are as much as the problem. Calling folks names is kind of a Baltimore factor. So to get these inventive juices going, and perhaps begin padding these entry kinds, we are able to provide these 4 strategies:
Hagerstown Hubs. Hagerstown earned the title “Hub City” within the nineteenth century as a result of it was an vital hub for varied railroads, together with the Baltimore & Ohio. We can think about hub caps within the emblem and perhaps a Fifties vibe. The mascot may very well be an overstuffed “hubby” who tells dad jokes if that’s not considered too sexist.
The Aviators. This additionally ties into historical past. Not solely is there a Hagerstown Regional Airport, however Fairchild Corporation (later Fairchild Industries) as soon as employed 10,000 folks in Hagerstown to construct plane — till the plant closed down in 1984. Still, airplanes are cool. There is perhaps a tie-in with “Jay Jay the Jet Plane,” the Nineties youngsters’s present.
The Ransomware. OK, not standard, we grant you, however Hagerstown is known as one in every of three Maryland cities as soon as held for ransom by the Confederate Army looking for money and clothes in the course of the Civil War. And the locals paid it. Maybe attacking the extra up to date downside of malicious software program would put Hagerstown on the excessive tech map.
The Hagers. Ever surprise the place Hagerstown’s identify got here from? That’s Jonathan Hager, the German-born French and Indian War veteran who began the place again within the 18th century. Wouldn’t a real-life model of the “Hägar the Horrible” cartoon character look cool as a mascot? Slight spelling variations shouldn’t matter. After all, we’re speaking about baseball.
Baltimore Sun editorial writers provide opinions and evaluation on information and points related to readers. They function individually from the newsroom.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com