There has been a lot of talk lately about the Chattanooga Lookouts especially surrounding the new stadium. This weeks fun facts are all about the baseball team that calls Chattanooga home. Get ready to wow your friends with trivia facts answering things like how the Chattanooga Lookouts got their name, and how Chattanooga was the home for even more historical moments.



Baseball has been in Chattanooga since 1885



From 1885 until 1909 baseball comes and goes in Chattanooga starting with the semi pro Roanes sponsored by Roane Iron Company. Leagues and teams both changed several times in those two decades.



The Lookouts could have been named the Cracks



In January of 1909 a fan contest was started to come up with the new name for the Chattanooga baseball team. The contest was open until February 1st and saw entries such as the Chatters, Lookout Sallies, Boosters, Hustlers, Wets, State-widers, Johnies, and the Chattanooga Braves. There were 15 people who submitted the name the Lookouts,  W.O. Powell was the official winner since his entry was the first received.



One of the first female pitchers in baseball history played for the Lookouts



The Yankees played an exhibition game against the Lookouts in 1931. 17 year old Jackie Mitchell was pitching during that game and struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig back to back. Later that week baseball commissioner voided her contract because “baseball is to strenuous for women”. Jackie continued to play professionally going on to pitch for House of David.



The Lookouts have been affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds Twice



The Lookouts were the minor league team for the Reds from 1988-2008 and again from 2019 – now. Other teams they have been affiliated with are: the Washington Senators, the Phillies, the Oakland A’s, the Cleveland Indians, the Mariners, the Dodgers, and the Minnesota Twins.



The Lookouts Logo is one of the longest standing logos in Minor League History



Matthew Riley, the teams assistant manager in 1991, drew a set of “Garfield Eyes” inside a letter C and the logo was officially adopted in 1993.