Is it time to do away with the offensive nicknames?

I recently noticed Nig Clarke and Nig Cuppy's cards. I really shouldn't have to tell STRAT-O-MATIC this but those nicknames probably should have been taken off their cards, in favor of , their birth names a century ago.

Who would be against this,... anyone?

Why hasn't it happened yet? Come on STRAT-O-MATIC, you should know better than this!

I'm sure Strat just goes by some official source as far as what names to use. MLB for example: https://www.mlb.com/player/nig-cuppy-112949

That said, Baseball Reference recently made the decision to stop using certain offensive nicknames as identifying names. The blog post they wrote explaining their reasoning was very interesting. One of the things they found were that many of these nicknames were not as prevalent during the players' careers as people assume. Many of the nicknames became the "official" identifying names largely because of one employee of Macmillan who was extremely fond of nicknames. But if you go back and read news reports of the time, players would be referred to by their given names as often or more often than the nicknames that later became "official." So the argument against changing them that you're "changing history" isn't as straightforward as it might first appear.

https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2 ... ven-names/

Personally I found Baseball Reference's reasoning to be quite persuasive and would be pleased to see Strat undertake a similar effort. Even better would be for MLB to take the initiative themselves.

I'm sure Strat just goes by some official source as far as what names to use. MLB for example: https://www.mlb.com/player/nig-cuppy-112949

That said, Baseball Reference recently made the decision to stop using certain offensive nicknames as identifying names. The blog post they wrote explaining their reasoning was very interesting. One of the things they found were that many of these nicknames were not as prevalent during the players' careers as people assume. Many of the nicknames became the "official" identifying names largely because of one employee of Macmillan who was extremely fond of nicknames. But if you go back and read news reports of the time, players would be referred to by their given names as often or more often than the nicknames that later became "official." So the argument against changing them that you're "changing history" isn't as straightforward as it might first appear.

https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2 ... ven-names/

Personally I found Baseball Reference's reasoning to be quite persuasive and would be pleased to see Strat undertake a similar effort. Even better would be for MLB to take the initiative themselves.

Baseball Reference changed Chino Smith's and Jap Barbeau's names as well, though I've seen no evidence as to why Barbeau received that moniker.

Agreed but I think you meant “first name” or “given name” or “forename”. Christian name is only given at baptism and not everyone is baptized.

SOM needs to create a ATG Snowflake set for the perpetually offended. Nameless cards so you Karens are not offended. Also replace Right and Left with something politically neutral.

Y'all worry about the dumbest stuff...do you even know why they have those nicknames? Seriously who really cares?

"Nig| Clarke's birthname is NIGEL

"Nig| Clarke's birthname is NIGEL

Source? because every site I saw to him said his name was Jay Clarke or Jay Justin Clarke:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... ni01.shtml

https://baseball.fandom.com/wiki/Nig_Clarke

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nig_Clarke

I admit I had never heard of this guy or noticed his card before this thread, so maybe I am missing something, but I can't find anything about a Nigel Clarke that was a baseball player.

As for what the nickname means, putting aside the obvious connection to the racial slur, two of the sites above discuss that several players had this name as a reference to their dark complexion and in specific reference to the racial slur. The sources cited are thin so I guess there could be some doubt as to this explanation, but seriously what level of historical proof that this is a slur before you would just not use it? Further what alternate explanation of the nickname are you going to offer? "Short for Nigel" seems right out.

The dumbest stuff?!? What we are talking about is a known racial slur that people rightfully find offensive. This is low hanging fruit-- don't use offensive terms. I will turn it around, some people do worry about the dumbest stuff--why on earth would you spent even 20 seconds making a post defending this term?

Not defending it in the least. I AM saying it was their nickname, and it really doesn't make any difference.

By the way both did have darker complexions, but Nig Cuppy was from Bavaria, Germany and the other guy was of Indian descent for lack of a better term from Canada.

You are right, it is low hanging fruit, why bother with it? Find something of true importance to change.

Go on be offended, it's what people do these days.

Not defending it in the least. I AM saying it was their nickname, and it really doesn't make any difference.

By the way both did have darker complexions, but Nig Cuppy was from Bavaria, Germany and the other guy was of Indian descent for lack of a better term from Canada.

You are right, it is low hanging fruit, why bother with it? Find something of true importance to change.

Go on be offended, it's what people do these days.

Forget these old days guys, SOM has to get censor out Brandon Morrow and the other Brandons. Can't allow anyone to post "Let's Go Brandon".