Philadelphia Rattlesnakes

Almost immediately after the announcement of the return of football to the City of Brotherly Love, new owner Sy Thompson put out a name-the-team contest in The Philadelphia Inquirer, stating a preference for patriotic themed names. The only name that was excluded was the Federals, a former name for one of the football teams in the city, now being used by Washington. Among the names that were seriously considered were the Liberty Bells, Rattlesnakes, Keystones, Stars, Patriots, Cannons, and Americans. The Americans, Stars, and Patriots were almost immediately ruled out due to Washington owner Bernard McCullough putting a moratorium on any blue/red/white identities to not be so close to the Federals. Thompson would then meet members of the press at the Warwick Hotel to unveil the new team to the world: the Philadelphia Rattlesnakes. The name comes from the Gadsden flag, an early symbol of the Revolutionary War, and the timber rattlesnake being one of the old national symbols of the U.S., since being surpassed by the bald eagle. Thompson still would make his team blue and gold after the city’s flag and the Philadelphia Federals team he once owned, but had to make them distinct enough from the Rivermen. 

He decided that the new team would be primarily old gold and navy, which differ slightly from the colors of the Gadsden flag. The primary logo for the team is the rattlesnake from the flag in the modified colors, with a wordmark similar to that of the Philadelphia Pennies baseball club. They will wear primarily gold uniforms at home, with blue and white stripes similar to that of Chicago Christian, while the away whites will swap the white in the striping for gold. The ‘Snakes will also wear a single pair of white paints with gold and blue stripes down the side, and a pair of navy socks to balance out the gold-heavy uniforms. The Rattlesnakes will make Liberty Field their home, the largest stadium in Philadelphia able to seat 78,000. 

1956-present 


 

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