The Wackiest Team Names in Sports

Sports can be serious business, but some people understand that sports are too important to be taken seriously. Just look at team names.

While many teams have straightforward names — often an ode to the town or part of a country where they play — others take a more lighthearted, uncommon, even oddball approach in how they represent themselves.

Instead of having an ordinary name, logo or mascot, some teams opt for creativity and humor (sometimes unintentionally) to inspire.

These are the weirdest, wackiest, most unique team names in sports.

Hartford Yard Goats

Animal trainer Ted Krogh with Hartford Yard Goats mascot Fancy Pants, left, during a 2019 game at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford. Jessica Hill / AP Photo

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Double-A affiliate of Colorado Rockies)

Established: 1983

Location: Hartford, Connecticut

Bottom line: This Minor League Baseball team gives opponents the horns.

Not sure what the difference is between a Yard Goat and a regular goat. Maybe only Yard Goats chew baseball bats?

This one looks particularly hungry.

Indiana State Sycamores

Larry Bird put the Indiana State Sycamores on the map. Brian Horton / AP Photo

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1950s

Location: Terre Haute, Indiana

Bottom line: As bland as Indiana State sounds, the nickname doesn’t add much punch to it.

By definition, sycamore is a variety of plane tree native to eastern and central United States.

If Larry Bird hadn’t been a Sycamore, it might be the lamest name in all of team sports.

Montgomery Biscuits

Hungry? Montgomery Biscuits / Facebook

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Double-A affiliate of Tampa Bay Rays)

Established: 2004

Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Bottom line: A Double-A minor league affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, this team rises in the heat of summer.

For a summer-month team in the South, the Biscuits are a fitting name.

The logo utilizing butter for a tongue is a nice touch for those looking to fill their closets with some hot, moist goodness.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Jeremiah Masoli played his college ball at Oregon and Ole Miss. Hamilton Tiger-Cats / Facebook

Sport: Canadian Football League

Established: 1950

Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Bottom line: A Tiger is technically a cat, so what are we doing here?

This Canadian Football League team is based in Hamilton, Ontario, and has a lot of tradition north of the border.

Its current quarterback is former University of Oregon and Ole Miss standout Jeremiah Masoli.

Webster University Gorloks

Meet the Gorlok. Webster University

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1991

Location: Webster Groves, Missouri

Bottom line: If you didn’t have to look up what a Gorlok is, you probably went to Webster University.

The story behind this: A Gorlok is a make-believe creature designed by staff and students through a contest in the 1980s.

It has the paws of a cheetah, the horns of a buffalo and the face of a St. Bernard. Yeah.

South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology football

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology plays Division II football. South Dakota School of Mining and Technology

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1895

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota

Bottom line: Rocking hard since 1895, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology originally went by the “Lonhgairs.”

This name perhaps was a result of a lack of available grooming products in South Dakota back then or due to the population’s free-spirited nature.

Given that, HardRockers is the next logical place to go.

Modesto Nuts

Go Nuts. Modesto Nuts Professional Baseball Club

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Class A-Advanced affiliate of Seattle Mariners)

Established: 2005

Location: Modesto, California

Bottom line: Formerly known as the Modesto Athletics, linked through their affiliation to the Oakland Athletics, Modesto changed its name to the “Nuts” following a redesign and new affiliation with the Seattle Mariners.

It’s a tribute to the variety of nuts that grow in the area.

Nice Nuts, Seattle.

Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Giddy-up. Binghamton Rumble Ponies / Facebook

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Double-A affiliate of New York Mets)

Established: 2017

Location: Binghamton, New York

Bottom line: Looking to spark some increased interest and positive PR, the Binghamton Mets rebranded as the Rumble Ponies just a couple of years ago.

The contrast of the two words “Rumble” and “Ponies” looks as confusing as it sounds.

The team has two main logos, and from the look of it, the mascot is either a pony that walks on two legs and boxes, or a fake horse on a merry-go-round.

St. Bonaventure Bonnies

St. Bonaventure has a long tradition of basketball. Jen Fuller / AP Photo

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1992

Location: St. Bonaventure, New York

Bottom line: Despite being named the Bonnies, St. Bonaventure’s mascot is actually a wolf, called the “Bona Wolf.”

The school’s original nickname was the “Brown Indians,” so the decision to do away with that name in the early 1990s was at least a step in the right direction.

Stony Brook Seawolves

Stony Brook plays football in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. David Zalubowski / AP Photo

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1994

Location: Stony Brook, New York

Bottom line: After bouncing around between a few nautical-themed nicknames given the school’s origins at Oyster Bay, Stony Brook settled on the mythical creature of the Seawolf in the 1990s.

The mythical sea animal comes from the Tlingit tribe, whose legends tell the story of a creature bearing good luck to those who can spot it.

Clinton LumberKings

It’s good to be the Lumberking. Clinton LumberKings / Facebook

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Class A affiliate of Miami Marlins)

Established: 1954

Location: Clinton, Iowa

Bottom line: This minor league affiliate of the Miami Marlins calls Clinton, Iowa, home.

The LumberKings’ logo features a king swinging a baseball bat. A little on the nose? Maybe.

But the raised eyebrow adds a little bit of intrigue as to his actual intentions.

Santa Cruz Banana Slugs

The UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs entered pop culture lexicon after “Pulp Fiction.” Lee Shaker / Twitter

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1974

Location: Santa Cruz, California

Bottom line: The Santa Cruz Banana Slugs strike fear into the hearts of many who are grossed out by slimy creatures.

The name became official in 1986 after students and athletes rejected the more traditional “Sea Lions” favored by school administrators and voted to be the “Banana Slugs.”

This name became even more popularized because of “Pulp Fiction,” when John Travolta’s character donned the blue and yellow on a T-shirt, which is now somewhat of a collector’s item.

Victorian Bushrangers

The Victorian Cricket Team were known as the Bushrangers from 1995 to 2018. Victorian Cricket Team / Facebook

Sport: Cricket

Established: 1995

Location: East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Bottom line: A “bushranger” in Australian history was considered an “outlaw living in the bush.”

But the modern-day idea conjured up images of a park ranger managing wildlife regulations in between wickets, which is not all that intimidating.

The club thought better of keeping the Bushrangers name and rebranded to the Victorian Cricket Team in 2018.

Akron Zips

Zippy, the Akron mascot, is a kangaroo. David Dermer / AP Photo

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1950

Location: Akron, Ohio

Bottom line: Akron University is named the Zips for a tie-in with the local BF Goodrich Company of Akron.

The school gets its nickname from a shortening of “Zippers,” which is a pair of rubber overshoes made by the company.

That origin story may seem odd because the mascot is a kangaroo, named “Zippy,” perhaps because an overshoe costume was too awkward.

Campbell Fighting Camels

The Campbell Fighting Camels compete in Division I for NCAA sports. Campbell University Fighting Camels / Facebook

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1934

Location: Buies Creek, North Carolina

Bottom line: Located in camel-packed Buies Creek, North Carolina, the small school known as the Fighting Camels (and Lady Camels) features a camel named Gaylord as its mascot.

The origins of this name are fairly unknown, but sources say the decision was made on Hump Day.

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Veteran Miami Marlins infielder Martin Prado joined the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on a rehab assignment in July. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp / Facebook

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Double-A affiliate of Miami Marlins)

Established: 2016

Location: Jacksonville, Florida

Bottom line: Typical of minor league baseball teams, this name is a little tongue-in-cheek.

However, the Jumbo Shrimp have the full support of the local Jacksonville community, which has gotten weirdly prideful and sensitive about the name.

The rebranding did away with the Jacksonville Suns, a previously prominent incarnation of the Marlins affiliate.

Thailand Tobacco Monopoly Football Club

Ney Fabiano became the first foreign player to be the Thai League 1 top scorer while playing for the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly Football Club in 2007. The Land of Footbon — English Thai Football Page / Facebook

Sport: Thai soccer

Established: 1964

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Bottom line: Most might assume this is the name of an ironic, anti-tobacco social club. However, the name is all too real.

The club, based in Bangkok, began as a work team for the company by the same name, and branched out to pro soccer in 1996.

It dissolved just a few year ago,

Scottsdale Community College Fighting Artichokes

The Fighting Artichokes basketball team in 2018. Fighting Artichokes Basketball / Facebook

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1969

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Bottom line: Maybe this is picking on a small school, but you get what you pay for when you start naming teams after vegetables.

Maybe another member of the legume family would have been more fitting to dub “Fighting,” but an artichoke doesn’t exactly get the job done.

University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos

They are the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos. Merrie Hansen / Facebook

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1930s

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Bottom line: UMKC originally chose this nickname in the 1930s, during the same time as the Kansas City Zoo announced the birth of twin kangaroo babies.

Adorable and probably a little shortsighted.

Wichita Wingnuts

Long live the Wichita Wingnuts. Wichita Wingnuts / Facebook

Sport: American Association Baseball

Established: 2008

Location: Wichita, Kansas

Bottom line: Sadly, this team disbanded in 2018, but the spirit of the Wingnuts lives on.

A squad in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, the logo features a wingnut on the head of an angry baseball.

Maybe loosen it up a little bit.

Traverse City Beach Bums

The Traverse City Beach Bums play in the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. tcbeachbums / Instagram

Sport: Frontier League Baseball

Established: 1995

Location: Blair Township, Michigan

Bottom line: Located near scenic Lake Michigan, the Beach Bums are meant to capture the summer vibe on the water.

Where the bear with sunglasses fits in is not entirely clear.

But he does look very chill.

Akron Rubberducks

The RubberDucks pay homage to Akron’s standing in the rubber industry. Akron RubberDucks / Facebook

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Double-A affiliate of Cleveland Indians)

Established: 1997

Location: Akron, Ohio

Bottom line: You don’t want to sound quite as fierce as the Oregon Ducks and want to stay far away from the formerly dubbed Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

That’s how Akron’s baseball team opted for the inanimate version.

The name is a reference to Akron’s notable place in the rubber industry.

Presbyterian College Blue Hose

The Presbyterian College Blue Hose mascot. Presbyterian Blue Hose Basketball / Facebook

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1950s

Location: Clinton, South Carolina

Bottom line: The Presbyterian College Blue Hose were named for the color of the team’s stockings — the peak of early-20th century creativity.

They bounced back and forth between the “Hose” and “Stockings” until Blue Hose stuck in the mid 1950s.

Youngstown State Penguins

The Youngstown State mascot, Pete the Penguin, at the FCS championship game against James Madison in Frisco, Texas, in 2017. Tony Gutierrez / AP Photo

Sport: College athletics

Established: 1933

Location: Youngstown, Ohio

Bottom line: The adorable Penguins of Youngstown State call Ohio home, and while Ohio may not connote “Penguin,” it can get pretty chilly.

The name stuck in the 1930s, and they’ve been land-based birds ever since.

Albuquerque Isotopes

Manny Ramirez played a few games for the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2009 when they were the Dodgers’ Triple-A team. Craig Fritz / AP Photo

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Triple-A affiliate of Colorado Rockies)

Established: 2003

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Bottom line: Lots of head shakes here. The Albuquerque Isotopes are named as a tribute to an old episode of “The Simpsons” that featured a local team by the same name.

Safe to say this will be lost on fans in the coming years.

Richmond Flying Squirrels

The Richmond Flying Squirrels are the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Flying Squirrels Baseball / Facebook

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Double-A affiliate of San Francisco Giants)

Established: 2009

Location: Richmond, Virginia

Bottom line: Straight out of the pages of Rocky and Bullwinkle J. Moose, Richmond’s Flying Squirrels have been gliding through the minor leagues since 2009.

Thank the readers of the Richmond Times-Dispatch for this creative little critter. Before that, Richmond’s squad was named the Defenders.

Big improvement.

Montreal Alouettes

Montreal Alouettes defensive back Reggies Durden tries to break up a pass intended for Edmonton Eskimos wide receiver Sylvain Girard during the Grey Cup game in 2002. Ryan Remiorz / AP Photo

Sport: Canadian Football League

Established: 1946

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Bottom line: Montreal’s Canadian Football team was named the Alouettes in the 1940s, basing the name off of a work song revolving around plucking feathers from a skylark.

Sure, it’s a little bit disturbing, but then again, so is football.

It’s a slight nod to the area’s French-speaking population.

Seattle Mist

Seattle Mist players. Seattle Mist / Facebook

Sport: Legends Football League

Established: 2009

Location: Seattle, Washington

Bottom line: As if fans in Seattle needed another reminder of their climate, this team from the Legends Football League (formerly the Lingerie Football League) rubs a little salt in the wound.

The irony of the Legends League is there isn’t even any mist on the field, which might add something to the game.

It’s kind of like if instead of the Hawks, Atlanta’s NBA team was named the “Strip Club.”

Fort Wayne Mad Ants

Mad to the bone. Fort Wayne Mad Ants / Facebook

Sport: NBA G League

Established: 2007

Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Bottom line: Wanting to pay tribute to its ant populations, Fort Wayne’s G League team added “Mad” to the moniker to add a dose of fear into opposing teams.

In all seriousness, it’s a pretty decent tribute to General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, for whom the city was named originally.

New Orleans Baby Cakes

The New Orleans Baby Cakes are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. New Orleans Baby Cakes / Facebook

Sport: Minor League Baseball (Triple-A affiliate of Miami Marlins)

Established: 2017

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Bottom line: This minor league baseball team went by the “Zephyrs” for most of its history, then rebranded as the Baby Cakes for the 2017 season.

It’s a solid tribute to New Orleans, but for folks outside the Bayou, the cake baby is downright disturbing.

The team didn’t learn from the NBA’s Pelicans using a terrifying Cake Baby mascot.