Talk:Columbia Comers
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Columbia Commies
[edit]The league article calls the 1911 Columbia team the “Commies”, a plausible nickname for the official name “Commissioners”. But this article states that “Comers” was the shortened version of “Commissioners”. Then we read that in 1912 the team was “finally” named the Comers. The internal contradiction reads as if someone was offended by “Commies” and replaced it with the later team name.
“Commies” was associated with Communists no later than the 1917 Red Scare following the October Revolution. In 1911 “Commies” may or may not have implied radical political views, and even if it did, it may have seemed humorous then rather than ominous or “bad for business.”
“Comers” (as in “Up and Comers”) seems to have been a self-consciously booster-ish name, seeking to promote Columbia as an “up and coming” city.
This whole subject could use further investigation in reliable sources. Did the team name attract notice beyond South Carolina? Maybe this was a nine days’ wonder in the national press.
Is it OR to search Columbia newspapers for contemporary opinions of the team names? — ℜob C. alias ALAROB 17:02, 8 November 2025 (UTC)
- Also, what prompted the name “Commissioners”? Did Columbia adopt a commission government around 1911? — ℜob C. alias ALAROB 17:07, 8 November 2025 (UTC)