Through Opening Day , we ’ll be look at the stories behind the greatest squad names in Minor League Baseball .
Fans in Richmond , VA were only without baseball for one season following the 2008 departure of the Richmond Braves . America ’s pastime would return to River City for the 2010 season in the form of the Giants ' two-fold - A affiliate .
The team had antecedently been sleep with as the Connecticut Defenders but , as is often the case , the move serve as a prime opportunity to update the name . In conjunction withThe Richmond Times - Dispatchtheteam solicited suggestions from fans , receive over 6,000 entries . The front office narrowed it down to five finalists : the Flatheads , the Flying Squirrels , the Hambones , the Rhinos and the Rock Hoppers . Meanwhile , CNBC.comheld their own competition to ascertain a " hazardous menu " debut and were glut with over 9,000 options . sport business newsman Darren Rovell choose Hush Puppies as the final finalist say , " It ’s Thomas Kid - friendly , has great mascot hypothesis and I ’m certain it will be a very pop conceding token . "
The field was soon slimmed back down to five , however . Complaints arosethat " Hambones , " which was intend as a computer address to Virginia ham , is disparaging towards the African - American community . Historically , " hambone " was the name of a terpsichore brought here by enslave West Africans and later performed at jongleur appearance .
From the final five , the front office was tasked with take the official new moniker . Displaying an admirable lack of ego - seriousness , the squad was unveil as the Flying Squirrels on October 15 , 2009 . Brad Mead , the human being creditworthy for the winning suggestion , make headway two time of year tickets to Flying Squirrels ' games for living .
The name was a quick favorite : the teamled the Eastern League in attendancein their introduction season , and bluster the top - sell product in all of Minor League Baseball .
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