Sluggers to Spaniels: Your top picks for the name of Spartanburg's new Minor League team.

Samantha Swann, Herald-Journal
Updated ·4 min read

The Herald-Journal's just-for-fun survey asked our readers to think of names for the new Minor League Baseball team earlier this month and you all offered up more than 400 ideas.

Of our suggestions, Spartanburg Sluggers, the name of a historic Black League team that played in Duncan Park was the most popular, garnering 132 votes. The name was also submitted as a suggestion through the survey more than a dozen times. Coming in second, the Hub City Trailblazers, with 119 votes.

Some readers want to see the team named after Spartanburg's Revolutionary War or rich, railroad "Hub" history.

The spaniel ― the Boykin Spaniel hunting breed has an interesting downtown origin story ― was the most popular animal mascot with 68 votes and 15 submissions. Reader-submitted animals included the Whistle pigs, Hawks and Spiders.

While there's no new information about the team or its naming process, Spartanburg leaders have noticed the enthusiastic response residents have had to the news.

"The response from all of residents has been incredible and shows the great interest everyone has in this exciting project," County Councilman David Britt said in an email to the Herald-Journal.

There were 322 write-in suggestions submitted through the survey.

While most names were submitted only once, we noticed a number of themes emerge. Here are some of the more popular ones:

Miss South Carolina contestants give their lunch orders to J.C. Stroble, right, as he calls out the orders at the Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg, Saturday afternoon, June 28, 2008.
Miss South Carolina contestants give their lunch orders to J.C. Stroble, right, as he calls out the orders at the Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg, Saturday afternoon, June 28, 2008.

A return of the Spartanburgers ... or Hot Dogs?

Fans of the Spartanburgers, a Coastal Plain League team that played in Duncan Park for one season in 2021, suggested that the name — and in some cases, the ketchup bottle mascot — be reused for the Minor League Team.

Other food-themed names showed up in the open suggestions section of the survey, including the Sliders, though this could also refer to the action of sliding to bases, the Burgers and the Hot Dogs.

Some readers also chose to honor one of Spartanburg's oldest restaurants, The Beacon, which is located about a mile from the future baseball stadium site. Suggestions included the Spartanburg or Hub City Beacons, the Spartanburg A-Plenty's, a reference to the drive-in's menu and its large portions, and the Hub City Strobles in tribute to J.C. Stroble, developer the restaurant's iconic order-taking method, who died almost 10 years ago.

The Spartanburgers played the Savannah Bananas in Coastal Plain League baseball at Duncan Park on June 10. These are the fans that came out to support the teams and local baseball. Callan Corbin, 7, of Spartanburg greets team's mascot Tom 8-0.
The Spartanburgers played the Savannah Bananas in Coastal Plain League baseball at Duncan Park on June 10. These are the fans that came out to support the teams and local baseball. Callan Corbin, 7, of Spartanburg greets team's mascot Tom 8-0.

Revolutionary reactions

A number of readers chose to honor Spartanburg's participation in the Revolutionary War with suggestions like the Spartanburg Swamp Foxes, the Colonials, the Hub City Heroes, the Spartanburg Regiment, the Spartanburg Generals, the Patriots, Spartanburg Militia, and the Spartanburg Riflemen or Rifles.

There were also some patriotic-adjacent names. About a dozen readers said the Spartanburg or Hub City Sparklers, Sparks, or Sparkles should be the team name. While inspired by the city's "Sparkle City" nickname, the names do evoke thoughts of fireworks and the Fourth of July.

A special economic development announcement was made by BMW at its plant in Spartanburg County on Oct. 19, 2022. The company plans to invest more than a billion dollars in the production of electric cars and batteries to power them at the Spartanburg plant. Trains are used to ship cars from the plant.
A special economic development announcement was made by BMW at its plant in Spartanburg County on Oct. 19, 2022. The company plans to invest more than a billion dollars in the production of electric cars and batteries to power them at the Spartanburg plant. Trains are used to ship cars from the plant.

All aboard for a railroad-themed name

Spartanburg got its Hub City nickname due to its railroading past and plenty of readers were on board for a train theme. The Locomotives was a popular name suggestion, usually prefaced by Spartanburg or Hub City.

Other railroad-themed name suggestions included the Hub City Spikes, Hub City Railroad, Hub City FreightHopper, Hub City or Spartanburg Steamrollers, Spartanburg Steam, Hub City Express, Rail Riders, Hub City Railroaders, Hub City Railers, Hub City or Spartanburg Conductors, Spartanburg Steam Trains, Spartanburg Engines, Hub City Engineers, Hub City Railmen, Night Trains, and Spartanburg Railriders.

Here's what readers had to say about the new team

More than a dozen readers wrote in to share their thoughts about the new team and its future name. Here are some of their ideas:

Since the Beacon Restaurant is close to the field and will probably be a hot spot, I think the Beacons would be a good name…Sparkle City Beacons. Also, there could be a large light, on a beacon lighthouse, in the park. When a home run is hit, the lights can get turned out and the beacon light flash. In the day games, maybe a fog horn for a home run. ― Helen and Tony Merriweather

I think the new team should be named the Hub City Frets.  Then there would be 2 connections, Francis Fretwell and Spartanburg’s musical history (think guitar frets). ― Sean Camby

Sparkle City Conductors. With Spartanburg's rich history in music, food, textiles and railroads, I thought the name would be appropriate. Why not use a vintage or retro image of a train conductor holding a bat or ball as a mascot?  ― Bobby Farrell 

I think the baseball team should be named the Spartanburg Beamers. It pays homage to BMW Plant Spartanburg, which is the employer of many Spartanburg residents. ― Ian Batson

"The Generals" for General Daniel Morgan - same as Spartanburg’s Morgan Square. ― Susan Berry Duncan

Spartanburg Racers — Spartanburg's home to racing HOF David Pearson, Bud Moore, Cotton Owens and Rex White. ― Bill Vaughn

The Hub City Hogs with a steam train locomotive (known as a "hog") as the logo. Train horn sounding for home runs and such. The park itself could be called Spartan Station. Train theme all around. ― Danny Jackson

Samantha Swann covers city news, development and culture in Spartanburg. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Contact her at sswann@shj.com or on Instagram at @sam_on_spartanburg. Can't get enough food news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for foodies, Spartanburg Eats.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg history inspires your ideas for name of Minor League team