Spinners want 'Yankees' teams out of youth leagues:

The Red Sox Single-A affiliate announced today that it is on a mission to get rid of the name "Yankees" from youth league teams around New England. Not coincidentally, the team is trying to change those monikers to the "Lowell Spinners." ...

The Spinners estimated that close to half of the youth baseball leagues in New England include a team named the "Yankees," and the team said it has already begun contacting organizations in an attempt to convince them to adopt the name change. ...

So far, the Spinners claim, three organizations have agreed to the switch: the Chelmsford Little League, Methuen Instructional League, and Tewksbury Youth Baseball.

If the league agrees, the Spinners pay for the uniforms and the team gets to play at the Spinners field before a Spinners game.

Now, really, I think it's crazy. I know it's for fun, etc. Nonetheless, I was in little league in New England for every year that I played except for the final one. For me, this is the ages of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Fall ball (1 year) and all star teams notwithstanding, I was the Indians (3 years), P.A.L. (Police Athletic League), Expos and I forget (may have been Expos for 2 years). I was never the Red Sox or the Yankees. I would have certainly liked to play for the Yankees in the league, but it was no big deal. I'd tend to believe that is how most kids are. Even if I was on the Red Sox, I certainly wouldn't have been "devastated." I believe it would have been a good joke in my family ("Patrick plays for the Red Sox, ha ha"). I didn't pray not to be on the Red Sox.

I like this quote:

In fact one coach told me he is tired of seen and eight year-old kids in Yankee jersey getting booed at hometown parades.

Let's think about this one. First question: what kind of person boos at little league games? Ok, now... what kind of person boos 8 year old little leaguers? Ok, now... er... what kind of person boos them in a parade (not a game) in their hometown? I'd guess this type of person would be a very tiny minority, myself.

Via Steve.