Can You Unscramble the Names of All 30 MLB Teams?

By: Beth Hendricks
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Unscramble the Names of All 30 MLB Teams?
Image: The New York Mets / Chicago White Sox / Oakland Athletics / Detroit Tigers / MLB

About This Quiz

We could cue up the lyrics to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” when it comes to Major League Baseball, and the descriptions would match the teams perfectly: “From the lakes of Minnesota (Twins), to the hills of Tennessee/Across the plains of Texas (Rangers), from sea to shining sea/From Detroit (Tigers) down to Houston (Astros) and New York (Yankees) to L.A. (Dodgers) ...” It’s like Greenwood was thinking of America’s favorite pastime when he wrote that song!

And it is at least America’s “national pastime,” according to one newspaper that said so back in the 1850s. (Of course, the first collegiate football game wouldn’t be played for almost another two decades, but we digress.) The years that followed were legendary: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson. The Bronx Bombers. The Gashouse Gang. The Big Red Machine. There’s no questioning the rich history of baseball ... and baseball in America. 

Today, there are 30 MLB teams from coast to coast, giving you the opportunity to don the colors, grab your ball cap and mitt and home “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” alongside 30,000 of your closest friends. Despite declining numbers at ballparks across the country, nearly 70 million people took in a game during this past season. 

Were you one of the 70 million? Let’s test your baseball IQ with this mixed-up mash-up of scrambled MLB team names. Can you untangle the letters to identify teams from the Angels to the Yankees (and all varieties of “Sox”)? Batter up!

5-World Series
Wiki Commons by Shealah Craighead
Champs! The “slaaiotnn” are the 2019 World Series titleholders. What team is it?
Nationals
Transitional
Slants
Laterals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Washington Nationals finally brought a World Series title to the nation’s capital in 2019 after several attempts at a Nationals franchise in D.C. The Nationals were formerly known as the Montreal Expos, before heading south in 2005.

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8-Baseballs
RBFried / E+ / Getty Images
Fans of the “eewrrsb” are one of six fan bases in MLB that have never celebrated a World Series title. Who do they cheer for?
Sewers
Brewers
Webbers
Stewards
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Milwaukee Brewers keep trying, but they are one of six franchises in Major League Baseball that has never world a World Series title. They appeared in the World Series in 1982 but lost to the Cardinals.

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7-Red
Yellow Dog Productions / Stockbyte / Getty Images
Throughout history, this team’s name has included both the words “legs” and “stockings.” Now, they are simply known as the “sdre.” Which team are we referencing?
Seder
Reds
Dreads
Dress
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cincinnati Reds used to have much longer (and more complicated to unscramble) team names, including the Red Stockings and the Redlegs. Today, they are simply the Reds, owners of five World Series titles.

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12-Denver
Brad McGinley Photography / Moment / Getty Images
You can visit a popular mountain range while checking out a “cksiero” game, but first you need to know which of these it is. What’s your guess?
Rockies
Sickies
Crocks
Soccers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Colorado Rockies, not surprisingly, are named for the Rockies (or the Rocky Mountains) that inhabit the Denver, Colorado area. The Rockies were established in 1991 but didn’t begin play until two years later.

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10-Manager
RBFried / E+ / Getty Images
Someone affiliated with the “rdnasliac” invented the farm system, which MLB relies on for training and finding young talent. What squad are we talking about?
Draculas
Nationals
Slanders
Cardinals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was Branch Rickey who created the foundation of the minor-league farm system that teams still use today. Rickey, who was a Cardinals manager, is also credited with signing Jackie Robinson, breaking the league’s color barrier.

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13-Dodgers
Pixabay by David Mark
This team started in New York before making a cross-country journey to become the “ddgreso.” Which franchise is it?
Sodders
Rogers
Dodgers
Goddess
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t always been in sunny California. The franchise actually got its start in Brooklyn but moved across the country before the start of the 1958 season.

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6-Baseball
cmannphoto / E+ / Getty Images
In 2018, this team broke a 108-year World Series championship drought. Can you unscramble the “ucsb?”
Scuba
Bucs
Scrubs
Cubs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2018, they broke the longest title drought in professional baseball — 108 years without a championship. In fact, it was the longest drought in all professional sports.

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11-Sliding
RBFried / E+ / Getty Images
The “dsobmaacdink” joined MLB in 1998 and won its first World Series three years later. What team is it?
Quarterbacks
Diamondbacks
Backpacks
Almonds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Arizona Diamondbacks joined Major League Baseball as an expansion team in 1998 and became the quickest to ever win a World Series title, just three years later. And they beat the Yankees to do it!

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9-Pirates
Pixabay by David Mark
You may hear people call this team the “Bucs,” but make no mistake: their team name is the “sateipr.” Which one of these is it?
Pirates
Stripes
Stapes
Rapids
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Pittsburgh Pirates are often referred to as the “Bucs,” a nod to the word “Buccaneer,” which is often used in place of the used “Pirate.” The team has been the Pirates since 1891.

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3-NYC Baseball
@ Didier Marti / Moment / Getty Images
Blue and orange: The “estm” combined the colors of the two teams that left New York to make up the new one. What team are we talking about?
Mets
Stems
Tens
Seats
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the New York Mets came along, they did so as a result of the departing Giants and Dodgers. But they held onto pieces of both teams, combining the colors blue (Dodgers) and orange (Giants) to serve as the Mets’ new color scheme.

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16-Stadium
Thomas Northcut / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Baltimore is big on birds! They have the Ravens and MLB’s “ooselri.” What team is it?
Losers
Rollers
Soilers
Orioles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Baltimore Orioles and the Ravens (Baltimore’s NFL team) complement each other in the “bird” category. The Orioles’ nickname was selected to honor Maryland’s state bird and have been based in Baltimore since 1954.

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17-Seats
Pixabay by Eveline de Bruin
This team knows how to accessorize: Their team name, the “dre oxs,” is based on the color of their hose. Which of these is it?
Red Sox
Dear Sox
Fox Sox
White Sox
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Some teams are named for animals; others for valiant warriors. The Boston Red Sox are named for the color of the hose, or socks, they’ve historically worn with their uniforms. Hey, we’re not hating — accessories are life!

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18-Yankees
Pixabay by Sue Park
We call them the Bronx Bombers, but you might know them best as the “seeknay.” Which franchise are we talking about?
Snakes
Keystones
Snacks
Yankees
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The New York Yankees are the Major League Baseball team that everyone loves to hate. And for good reason. The squad has 27 World Series championships to its credit, far more than any other MLB team.

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14-Padre
Pixabay by David Mark
San Diego’s only pro sports team is the “drepas,” after the NFL’s Chargers left in 2017. What is this team’s name?
Drapers
Saddens
Padres
Dancers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The San Diego Padres are the lone professional sports franchise now in “America’s Finest City.” The Chargers left for Los Angeles in 2017, leaving the Padres alone to capture the hearts of pro sports fans.

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19-Tampa Bay
Busà Photography / Moment / Getty Images
They took the “Devil” out of their name in 2007, but the “ayrs” stuck. How would you unscramble it?
Rays
Sayers
Years
Yards
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They began as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but are now just the Tampa Bay Rays — since just after the 2007 season. The nickname is meant to pay homage to Florida’s sunny climate, though the manta ray ocean creature still plays into its branding.

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15-Giants
Pixabay by David Mark
Winner, winner, “aignts” dinner! Which of these franchises has won baseball’s largest number of games?
Saints
Giants
Stains
Grants
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The San Francisco Giants hold the record for most games won in the history of American baseball. They have been playing since 1883, when the team was known as the New York Gothams.

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2-Seats
Jay's photo / Moment / Getty Images
The “inrlsma” once belonged to Florida as a whole. Now, they identify more closely with Miami. What is the unscrambled word?
Slammers
Ramblings
Marlins
Martins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Marlins went by the name the Florida Marlins when they first entered MLB as an expansion team in 1993. In 2011, the team once awarded to the CEO of Blockbuster changed its name to the Miami Marlins.

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23-Tigers
Walter Bibikow / DigitalVision / Getty Images
What other name do the “Motor City Kitties” go by? Try to untangle “grseit.”
Tigers
Stickers
Stingers
Grits
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Detroit Tigers are known by locals as the “Motor City Kitties,” a nod to the town’s automotive roots. The Tigers have been a fixture in the Detroit sports arena since 1901. That’s a lot of baseball!

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20-Toronto
Safwat Ghabbour / Moment / Getty Images
The original owners of this team transferred one of its brand words to the team name itself: The “lube yajs.” How do you unscramble this?
Devil Rays
Lube Rays
Blue Says
Blue Jays
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Toronto Blue Jays were simply meant to be blue. Incorporating the color from Toronto’s other pro teams and from its original owners, who manufacturer the beer known as Labatt’s Blue, the “Red Jays” just wouldn’t have sounded the same!

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22-Indians
Pixabay by John B
The 1989 movie “21-Mascot” used this team as its storyline. Can you unscramble “dinnias?”
Indians
Sandies
Nationals
Darlings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cleveland Indians lent its name to the popular sports film starring Charlie Sheen, titled “Major League.” The movie was about the Indians’ fictional owner hiring a team of slackers to help the team fail, only to achieve the opposite results.

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4-Philly
VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm / Photodisc / Getty Images
One name and one location are the hallmarks of the “silhlepi,” one of the oldest franchises in professional sports. Do you know what it is?
Sillies
Stipples
Willies
Phillies
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Philadelphia has been home to the Phillies since 1890. A few years before that, the team was founded — still in Philly — but went by the name “Quakers.” Unlike many other teams, they’ve only ever been in Philadelphia.

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24-Kansas City
Henryk Sadura / Moment / Getty Images
The nickname “yolasr” pay homage to a livestock and horse show that takes place in the team’s hometown. Which of these is it?
Slayers
Royals
Yarders
Orioles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The American Royal is the event that the Kansas City Royals derived its name from. The “Royal” is a combo livestock and horse show, as well as a cooking competition and rodeo in the Kansas City area dating back to the early 1900s.

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25-Twin Cities
Davel5957 / E+ / Getty Images
Minneapolis and Saint Paul share equal parts in the “wints” name for a very logical reason. What team are we referencing?
Twins
Stains
Winters
Swings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Minnesota Twins got its name thanks to the “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Twin cities are towns located near to one another whose growth over time causes them to mesh together.

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26-Seats
AnthonyRosenberg / E+ / Getty Images
NASA has had an impact on at least one MLB team — the “rostas.” Can you unscramble it?
Stories
Rosters
Stars
Astros
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Houston Astros, like the town’s NBA team the Rockets, are named in honor of the city’s presence among NASA’s space programs. Specifically, the Astros were named following the opening of the Manned Spacecraft Center.

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28-Player
David Madison / DigitalVision / Getty Images
An elephant serves as the mascot of the “theascitl,” at first bearing the name “Harry Elephante.” Which team is it?
Statistics
Athletics
Aesthetics
Acrobatics
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Oakland Athletics adopted an elephant as its mascot in the early 1900s, finally created an on-field mascot they dubbed “Harry Elephante” in the mid-1980s. Today, he is known as Stomper.

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29-Seatlle
Alaska Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Water and wildlife played into the name of this team, the “ranierms.” Can you unscramble it?
Signers
Smarters
Salients
Mariners
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Seattle’s presence on the coast and marine wildlife in the area helped contribute to its MLB team’s name — the Mariners. Throughout history, the team’s colors have included shades of greens and blues to reflect that influence.

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30-Ranger
Dave Wilson, WebArtz Photography / Moment / Getty Images
The “nraegrs” got its name from a Texas law-enforcement agency. Do you know what it is?
Rangers
Sangers
Grangers
Regamers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you’re in Texas and talking about the Rangers, you better get clarification on whether it’s the law enforcement agency or the baseball team based in Arlington. The team has been called the Rangers since the early 1970s.

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27-Gene Audry
Wiki Commons by New York Sunday News
A singing cowboy was the original owner of the “slange.” Which team did Gene Autry help found?
Slangs
Glands
Angles
Angels
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The actor and singer Gene Autry was one of the first owners of the Los Angeles Angels, choosing the “Angels” nickname in honor of a previous team with that moniker. The Angels became part of MLB in 1961.

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21-Mascot
Wiki Commons by stringbot
“Twihe Oxs?” Which of these teams has a green mascot?
While Sox
White Sox
Bright Sox
Red Sox
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Can you imagine why a team known as the White Sox would have a giant GREEN mascot? We can’t either. The Chicago White Sox mascot, though, named Southpaw is a big ... green ... thing. Yeah, that’s it!

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1-Atlanta
Riddhish Chakraborty / Moment / Getty Images
This team has gone through a slew of nicknames, including the Bees, the Doves and this current one – the “vbares.” Which team is it?
Ramen
Ravens
Braves
Blames
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You likely recognize the Braves as belonging to the city of Atlanta, but they weren’t always. The team was once in Boston and Milwaukee. Fun fact: They remain the only MLB team to win a World Series in each location.

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You Got:
/30
The New York Mets / Chicago White Sox / Oakland Athletics / Detroit Tigers / MLB