Sixth finalist name for baseball team: Hush Puppies

The management has earned this team’s name. No one seems to have a clue about Richmond or the South. Richmond’s new baseball team should be called the Carpetbaggers.

anyone else have a father that referred to the toliet as “the hopper?“ everytime someone mentions that name I kind of think of a commode for Fred and Barney.

As the person who submitted Rock Hoppers (or one of many since there were duplicates) I figured I would explain my thinking after having read the posts over the last couple of days.

In my opinion a sports team name, particularly a professional one, should reflect something related to an area such as its culture, history, geography, etc. Coupled with this could/should be a word(s) that is relevant to the sport itself.

Seeing as the James River is central to this city that was my starting point, like a lot of those that submitted names I’d imagine.

Names like Rapids, River Dogs, River Rats have all been used elsewhere. Why not try something different?

I started with Rocks because in my eye they are the most prominent thing one notices especially when crossing the Manchester Bridge. From a historical perspective they played a vital role in the founding of this city. It may be urban “legend” but I’ve been told by numerous people that the first settlers stopped and rooted here because they couldn’t pass the rocks by boat traveling down the river.

Hoppers came to mind while thinking of the rocks and surrounding hills of the river. I used to own a mountain bike called a “rock hopper”. Now people who hop across rocks at the river are typically agile (should be) and fleet of foot. This fits with a crucial component of baseball - BASE RUNNING. Last time I checked the more bases a team runs the higher the probability they will cross home plate. But then again I’m no statistician.

Add an “S” to make it plural and you have the Richmond Rock Hoppers.

As a former college baseball player myself - who still thinks he can play -I would be thrilled to wear a uniform with any of the submitted names. After all, the game itself is bigger than any of us, or the names we give our teams.

Be thankful folks - baseball is back in Richmond. I know I am.

Okay, is it too late?  Wonder if anyone submitted the RICMOND RIDERS…combination of both Rams (VCU) and Spiders (UR)...and many ways to depict or interpret a rider, some serious, some fun….has a historical component of sorts as Robert E Lee is riding a horse not too far from the current stadium on Monument Ave…and the possible ties go on and on.

Man…wonder if this was submitted…if so, too bad they let a good one go for some bogus ideas…is City Council in charge of this or something because it seems to be a big joke!

Close to the name thats been here 40 years!