What’s in a name, anyway?

Last week the Cleveland Indians announced that Jacobs Field, their home since 1994, will be renamed Progressive Field.  Does anyone else find it annoying that over the last few years, more than half a dozen ballparks have been renamed disgustingly commercialized names?  While the rotoworld.com writers point out the irony in the fact that the team playing in Progressive Field has a Native American nickname, I can’t get over the ridiculousness of the never-ending changes of the names of baseball parks.  I know it’s about money, but it takes away from the game.  If a name is good enough for the stadium’s first name, it should never need to be replaced (except in the case of Enron Field).

What about teams changing names?  I bet some baseball fans don’t even know that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are no longer – they are now the Tampa Bay Rays.  And don’t get me started on the California Angels turned Anaheim Angels turned Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

In just the last five years, these seven stadiums have changed names:

Jacobs Field to Progressive Field (Indians)

Comiskey Park to U.S. Cellular Field (White Sox)

SkyDome to Rogers Centre (Blue Jays)

Edison International Field to Angel Stadium of Anaheim (Angels)

Bank One Ballpark to Chase Field (Diamondbacks)

Pacific Bell Park to SBC Park to AT&T Park (Giants)

Pro Player Stadium to Dolphins Stadium to Dolphin Stadium (Marlins)

Believe it or not, the ballpark where the Marlins play their home games has held five different names since its opening in 1993.  Before being renamed Pro Player Stadium, it was Pro Player Park.   And before taking on the name Pro Player Park prior to the 1996 season, it was called Joe Robbie Stadium.

My question is: are Fenway and Wrigley next?