The Baltimore Orioles are unique in minor league baseball in that all but one of their farm teams play in the same state as their parent club, and the one that doesn’t is the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, who play in neighbouring Virginia. But even with all those Orioles affiliates nearby,
Category: The Story Behind the Nickname
Embracing Change: The Story Behind the Susquehanna River Hawks
Along the banks of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, you’ll find a rejuvenated ecosystem, brought back from the brink of ruin by conservation efforts and a concerned citizenry. You’ll find lots of wildlife along the river, not to mention the humans recreating on the water. What you will not find, most likely,
Happy Trails to You: The Story Behind the High Desert Mavericks
When the gates open before a High Desert Mavericks baseball game, the loudspeakers play the song “Ride Ranger Ride” by iconic cowboy actor Roy Rogers. As staff puts the finishing touches on pregame preparations, the song’s harmonies ring throughout the stadium, indicating that it’s time for everyone to get their
Star Spangled Baseball: The Story Behind the Frederick Keys
Fort McHenry, a star-shaped military facility in Baltimore, Maryland, was built in 1798. It’s been a national park since 1925, but before that, it featured prominently in a handful of wars, including World Wars I and II, and, most notably, the War of 1812. It was during a battle in September
Revolutionary Raccoon: The Story Behind the Hudson Valley Renegades
If you were to get on a boat in New York City and travel north for about 75 miles along the Hudson River, you would arrive at a tiny town of Wappingers Falls, New York. On your way there, you would pass countless historical sites related to the American Revolutionary
Going with the Flow: The Story Behind the Norfolk Tides
On the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States lies an amorphous geographic region designated as Tidewater. It comprises primarily southeastern Virginia, but also (depending on whom you ask and what sort of mood they’re in) parts of North Carolina and Maryland. The Tidewater region is flat and, because its water features—the
Running Like a Viking: The Story Behind Ragnar Relays
If you’ve been hearing the word “Ragnar” a lot recently, it’s either because you’ve been watching the History Channel’s TV show “Vikings,” which details the exploits of Norse legend Ragnar Lothbrok, or you’re friends with one of those insufferable jerks who can’t stop talking about running. I happen to be
The Bucs Stop Here: The Story Behind the Erie SeaWolves
The Double-A Erie SeaWolves have all the qualities you’d expect from a loyal affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They play just under two hours north of the Bucs on the coast of Lake Erie, their nickname derives from a slang term for pirate, and their logo evokes Pittsburgh’s erstwhile primary mark
A Cut Above: The Story Behind the Kansas City T-Bones
Just across the river from Kansas City, Missouri, home of the reigning World Series champions, lies another Kansas City in another state with another baseball team. While the Royals, the better-known team in the better-known Kansas City, are steeped in tradition, carrying a regal name and a classic baseball identity
Departing Now: The Story Behind the Round Rock Express
More than a century and a quarter before the world was introduced to the Round Rock Express baseball team, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the International and Great Northern Railroad brought trains to Round Rock, Texas. The railroad industry changed the face of the city forever. According to the city’s
Chopping Onions: The Story Behind the Batavia Muckdogs
Since 1998, the short season Single-A Batavia Muckdogs have been represented by a snarling menace whose roots look like they should trace back to the toughest of junkyards. The unapologetically fierce dog, bursting from between the slats of a wooden fence, belies the true (and pretty well obscured) origin of
Cleared for Takeoff: The Story Behind the Wichita Wingnuts
Wichita, the largest city in the state of Kansas, is inextricably tied to the aviation industry. During the 1900s, the city produced more airplanes than any other. Six aircraft manufacturers were founded in Wichita in the 1920s and 1930s, and the industry would be responsible for more jobs than any other