- 1883
- 1884
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Gothams Team Formation
The San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball originated in New York City as the New York Gothams in 1883 and were known as the New York Giants from 1885 until the team relocated to San Francisco after the 1957 season. During most of their 75 seasons in New York City, the Giants played home games at various incarnations of ... -
First Non Letter Logo
While it’s certainly an incredible object to look at, it’s significant too. It could well be the first non-typographic decoration of any kind on a Major League Baseball uniform.
History of the Gothams
The New York Gothams have a long and storied history in Major League Baseball. The team was founded in 1883 as the New York Gothams, and they were one of the original teams to join the National League when it formed that same year. They would go on to win their first pennant in 1888, making them one of only two teams to do so before 1900. Throughout their tenure with the National League, they won four more pennants and three World Series titles between 1888-1923.
In 1962, after 40 years with the National League, ownership changed hands from William DeWitt Sr., who had owned them since 1919, to Joan Whitney Payson & Mantle-Richardson Corporation, renamed them “the Mets” (for Metropolitan). The new owners also moved from Polo Grounds Stadium into Shea Stadium, giving rise to a new era for baseball fans across America – especially those living in New York City!
The Mets have gone on an incredible journey since then, including winning two World Series Championships (1969 & 1986), five NL Pennants (1969–1973 & 2000), and six Division Titles (1988–1993). In addition to these successes, field activities such as hosting events like concerts at Citi Field or partnering up with local charities have helped create a strong bond between both players/staff members alike while connecting generations of fans through shared experiences over time! With all this said, it is no surprise why people still talk about how great Gotham's past was even today despite having been rebranded under another name decades ago!
Established
1883
City
New York – San Francisco
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1883 – 1999 / National League
Team History
1958 – Present / San Francisco Giants
1885 – 1957 / New York Giants
1883 – 1885 / New York Gothams
Nickname
Gothams - Baseball fans nationwide know and love the New York Gothams, one of Major League Baseball's most storied franchises. But do you know where their nickname came from? It may surprise you that it has its roots in a long-forgotten piece of baseball history.
It all began in 1883 when two teams – the New York Metropolitans and Brooklyn Bridegrooms – merged to form what would become known as the “Gotham Base Ball Club.” This was an unusual combination for its time, but it made perfect sense given both teams' strong fan bases in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The name "Gotham" was chosen because newspapers had already used it to refer collectively to both cities - hence why Gotham became synonymous with New York City itself over time!
The team kept this moniker until 1888 when they changed their name again, becoming known as simply “the Giants” due to their large size compared with other clubs then playing professional baseball (such as Boston Beaneaters or Philadelphia Phillies). However, even though they no longer use “Gotham” officially today, many diehard fans still lovingly refer affectionately call them as "The Gothams."
So next time someone asks about your favorite baseball team's nickname origins, remember: there is more than meets the eye behind those three simple letters!
Championship
World Series 0
2014, 2012, 2010, 1954, 1933, 1922, 1921, 1905
Stadium
2000 – Present / AT&T Park
1960 – 1999 / Candlestick Park
1958 – 1960 / Seals Stadium
*New York*
1883 – 1957 / Polo Grounds
Owner
2012 – Present / San Francisco Baseball Associates LLC
2008 – 2011 / Bill Neukom
1993 – 2008 / Peter Magowan
1976 – 1993 / Bob Lurie
1936 – 1976 / Horace Stoneham
1919 – 1936 / Charles Stoneham
1912 – 1919 / Harry Hempstead
1902 – 1912 / John Brush
1895 – 1902 / Andrew Freedman
1893 – 1895 / C. C. Van Cott
1883 – 1893 / John Day
Retired Number
3 / Bill Terry
4 / Mel Ott
11 / Carl Hubbell
20 / Monte Irvin
24 / Willie Mays
25 / Barry Bonds
27 / Juan Marichal
30 / Orlando Cepeda
36 / Gaylord Perry
42 / Jackie Robinson
44 / Willie McCovey
*Blue is this team’s history