Logan Square Neighborhood Guidebook
September 6, 2024
Chicago is a legendary sports city, and one of twelve cities that has teams in each of the United State’s major sports leagues. Many of the city’s teams such as the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Bears are famous around the world, but have you ever wondered where their names come from? In this article, we will take a look into the origin and significance of each of Chicago’s sports team names.
1919
Soldier Field
NFL Championships (Pre-Merger) – 1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963
Superbowls – 1985
The Chicago Bears are one of the NFL’s founding franchise teams, and started life in 1919 as the Decatur Staleys. In 1921, the team moved to Chicago and played its games at Wrigley Field, now home to the Chicago Cubs. The team’s owner George Halas decided to change the team’s name to the Bears in 1922 as a way of being more closely associated with the Cubs. Halas believed that football players were bigger than baseball players, much like bears are bigger than cubs.
1876
Wrigley Field
World Series Champions – 1907, 1908, 2016
The Cubs were established in 1876 and went through several interesting name changes in their early years, including the White Stockings, the Colts, and the Orphans. 1903 they were nicknamed the “Cubs” by the Chicago Daily News, referencing the many young players that were on the team at the time. By 1907, the nickname became the team’s official name.
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1894
Guaranteed Rate Field
World Series Championships – 1906, 1917, 2005
The Chicago White Sox‘s name dates back to 1900 when team owner Charles Comiskey moved the St. Paul Saints to Chicago. The team was originally known as the White Stockings, a name previously used by their North Side rivals, The Chicago Cubs. Eventually, this was shortened to the “White Sox” by newspapers that liked the shorter name because it fit better in headlines.
1926
United Center
Stanley Cups – 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015
The Chicago Blackhawks were founded in 1926 by Frederic McLaughlin, a former commander in the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion of the 86th Infantry Division during World War I, nicknamed “Blackhawk Division.” The division was named after Black Hawk, a prominent leader of the Sauk Native American tribe in Illinois.
1966
United Center
NBA Championships – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
When the Chicago Bulls were founded in 1966, their owner Richard Klein wanted a name that evoked Chicago’s historical role as the meat capital of the world. Since the city was already home to the Cubs and the Bears, he felt a similarly powerful animal name would be fitting. The Bulls name was allegedly selected after Klein’s son Mark said, “Dad, that’s a bunch of bull”, while they were discussing possible team names.
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The Chicago Fire’s name commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, one of the most significant events in the city’s history. The fire devastated Chicago, but it was also a pivotal turning point for the city and symbolized Chicago’s resilience and rebuilding efforts.
Founded in 2006, the Chicago Sky’s name was selected as a reflection of the city itself. The name “Sky” symbolizes the aspirations and limitless possibilities of the team and its hometown. It’s also a nod towards Chicago’s iconic skyline.
Chicago’s sports teams all carry names that are connected in some way to the city’s history and culture. For residents of the city, these names are not just identifiers but symbols of Chicago’s enduring spirit and unique perspective.
As Chicago continues to grow and evolve, so too does the legacy of its sports teams, forever linked to the city’s storied past and its bright future.
