What Was That Baseball Team Called Again? Quiz

Answer: St. Louis Browns

This franchise began in 1894 as the Milwaukee (WI) Brewers in the Western League (the predecessor to the American league). In 1902, the team moved to St. Louis, MO and renamed itself the Browns. The Browns had limited playoff success, appearing in only one World Series (1944) which they lost to their intra-city rivals, the Cardinals.

In 1954, the Browns moved to Baltimore, MD and renamed themselves the Orioles. The Orioles won their first World Series in 1966.

Answer: Baltimore Orioles

The newly-named American League added a team to Baltimore, MD --the Orioles-- for the 1901 season, replacing a previous Baltimore Orioles team that had represented first the American Association (1892-1891) and then the National League (1892-1899) before the team was shut down.

In 1903, the AL Orioles moved to New York, NY, and became the Highlanders. In 1913, the Highlanders changed their name to the Yankees. The New York Yankees were the most successful franchise in Major League Baseball during the 20th century, winning 26 World Series titles.

Answer: Washington Senators

The Kansas City (MO) Blues were a 1894 member of the Western League that were moved to Washington, DC, in 1900 and became the Senators. In 1901, the team became a charter member of the American League. Over the next sixty seasons, the names "Senators", "Nationals", and "Nats" were used almost interchangeably by the media and fan base.

In 1961, the Senators moved to Minneapolis, MN, and changed their name to the Minnesota Twins, reflecting Minnesota's "Twin Cities"--Minneapolis, and St. Paul, MN.

The Senators won a World Series in 1924 and their first as the Twins in 1987.

Answer: Washington Senators

The Washington Senators were a 1961 expansion team in the American League, replacing the previous Washington Senators franchise that had previously moved to Minnesota. In 1972, the Senators, moved to Arlington, TX, and renamed themselves the Texas Rangers. The Senators/Texas Rangers have had limited playoff success, not appearing in their first World Series until 2010.

Answer: Boston Red Stockings

The Boston (MA) Red Stockings were founded in 1871 as a member of the National Association. When the National League was formed in 1876, the Red Stockings joined that league and changed its name to the Red Caps. In 1883, the Red Caps changed its name to the Beaneaters.

The Beaneaters became the Doves in 1907 and the Rustlers in 1911. In 1912, the Rustlers became the Boston Braves. With the exception of five years (1936-1940) when they were the Bees, the Braves have kept that name. In 1953, the Braves moved to Milwaukee, WI and in 1966, the team moved to Atlanta, GA.

The team won the 1914 World Series as the Boston Braves, the 1957 World Series as the Milwaukee Braves, and the 1995 World Series as the Atlanta Braves.

Answer: Montreal Expos

The Montreal Expos were a 1969 expansion team in the National League, named after the 1967 Expo held in that city. Struggling with attendance, the team had some home games in San Juan, PR, in the early 2000s. In 2005, the team moved Washington, DC, and renamed itself the Nationals. The team advanced to the National League Championship Series for the first time in 1981.

Answer: Seattle Pilots

The Seattle (WA) Pilots were a 1969 expansion team in the American League. After one season in the Pacific, the team moved to Milwaukee, WI, and renamed itself the Brewers. In 1998, the team switched to the National League as part of an alignment of baseball. The team appeared in their first World Series in 1982, representing the American League.

Answer: Brooklyn Atlantics

The Brooklyn (NY) Atlantics were founded in 1883 and joined the American Association the next year. The Atlantics changed their name to the Grays in 1885 and the Bridegrooms in 1888. In 1890, the Brooklyn Bridegrooms moved to the National League and shortened their name the next year (1891) to the Grooms, before returning to their previous name in 1896.

The Bridegrooms changed their name to the Superbas in 1899 and became the Trolley Dodgers in 1911. The Trolley Dodgers returned to the name Superbas for one year in 1913 before becoming the Robins in 1914 and the Dodgers in 1932.

In 1956 and 1957, a limited number of home games were played in Jersey City, NJ. In 1958, the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, CA. The Dodgers won the World Series in 1955 before moving; and their first WS title after the move was in 1959.

Answer: New York Gothams

The New York (NY) Gothams were established in 1883 in the National League. In 1886, the team changed its name to the Giants. In 1958, the Giants moved to San Francisco, CA. The Giants have won five World Series before the move (1905, 1921, 1922, 1933, 1954).

Their first after the move came in 2010. They also won the 1888 and 1889 "World Series" as the National League representative versus the American Association.

Answer: Houston Colt. 45s

The Houston (TX) Colt .45s were a 1962 expansion team in the National League. In 1965, the team changed its name to the Astros. In 2013 the Astros moved to the American League as part of the realignment of Major League Baseball. The team first represented the National League in a World Series in 2005.