Which Major League Baseball team can trace its name to Brooklyn's 19th century romance with trolley cars, and which other earned its moniker for stealing players? Which NFL franchise was named after legendary world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, and which other owes its name to mystery writer Edgar Allan Poe? Which NBA club inherited its name from a famous incident that occurred in the American Civil War and which other from an official state demon?
These questions and many more are examined in Yankees to Fighting Irish, a fascinating and insightful look at the legends, facts and fiction behind your favorite sports teams' names. All 120 North American pro franchises - football, baseball, hockey and basketball - plus 150 college teams and 100 of the strangest names from other sports and leagues, are included.
Thoroughly researched, Donovan intersperses captivating trivia, famous legends and occasionally bizarre fiction in his pursuit of the story behind each team's name. The result is a wild and entertaining read - and a gold mine for trivia buffs and sports fanatics alike.