The London Rippers?
Wednesday, November 16 2011 @ 12:42 PM EST
Contributed by: #2JBrumfield
The return of professional baseball in London, Ontario is off to a controversial start. The London Rippers will begin play in the independent Frontier League in 2012. The nickname was introduced Tuesday and its likeness to serial killer Jack The Ripper is drawing plenty of criticism. London City Council has asked the club to reconsider its moniker.
The new logo for the London Rippers of the Frontier League.
Word of professional baseball returning to London began circulating in September. It's not the first go-around for independent ball in London. The London Werewolves were Frontier League members from 1999 to 2001 and won the league title in its first season. Their mascot was Warren Z. Vaughn, get it? Before the Werewolves, London hosted Detroit's Double-A affiliate, the London Tigers, from 1989 to 1993, winning the Eastern League title in 1990. Also, there was the London Monarchs of the independent Canadian Baseball League in 2003 but the league folded before the year was out. Former K.C. Royal Willie Wilson managed the club, who played the first league game against Montreal before 7,000 fans at Labatt Park but averaged 500 butts in the seats before going out of business.
The new London franchise, formerly the Oakland County Cruisers out of Waterford, Michigan, will play at the award winning Labatt Park next season.
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