Top 10 Names For Hartford Club Released

Hartford, CT - The city of Hartford is set to begin a new chapter of professional baseball in April of 2016, and the team is close to getting a name. The selection committee received nearly 6,000 entries over the past two weeks and has narrowed the choices down to ten. Fans now have the opportunity to vote for their three favorite names on www.hartfordplaysball2016.com. The contest will run from today until March 11, 2015 when the final five names will be appear on the website along with the corresponding contestants who submitted the names. The winning name will be unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday, March 18th.

Top Ten Names (listed alphabetically)

1) Blue Frogs
2) Choppers
3) Hedgehogs
4) Honey Badgers
5) Hound Dogs
6) Praying Mantis
7) River Hogs
8) Screech Owls
9) Whirlybirds
10) Yard Goats

The "Name the Team Contest" officially kicked off at the Hartford Ballpark groundbreaking ceremony on February 17th. For the first time in more than 60 years, professional baseball will be played in Hartford. The spectacular new venue will anchor the redevelopment of Downtown North, and will sit between two major highways, I-84 and I-91. The new ballpark is set to open in April of 2016 for the start of the Minor League Baseball season.

Team Name with Explanation for name as submitted by contestant

Blue Frogs - Combining Hartford's literary and baseball history, "Blue Frogs" marries Mark Twain's book, Jumping Frog, and the name of Hartford's first baseball team, the Dark Blues.

Choppers - Celebrating Hartford's place in Aviation history, the "Choppers" honors Connecticut's invention of the first helicopter in 1939.

Hedgehogs - Known as the "Insurance Capital of America" the Hedgehog is a tribute to our insurance industry, while celebrating Hartford's fighting spirit.

Honey Badgers - Everyone loves a good alliteration and Honey Badgers is a fun name falls in line with the Lugnuts, Biscuits and other wacky names Minor League Baseball is known for.

Hound Dogs - A smart, loyal and useful dog who is always by your side, just like the community of Hartford.

Praying Mantis - As Connecticut's State Insect, the Praying Mantis embodies Hartford's fighting spirit and being known for punching above its weight.

River Hogs - This fun team name is a tribute to the legendary "Hog River" that flows under the city of Hartford.

Screech Owls - A Hartford native, the screech owls are known for their fierce piercing calls.

Whirlybirds - Celebrating Connecticut's helicopter manufacturing and the Northeast Helicopter School, the Whirlybirds opens up all kinds of fun mascot possibilities.

Yard Goats - Railroad slang for an engine that switches a train to get it ready for another
locomotive to take over, the Yard Goats honors Hartford's rich railroad history.