Ravens: Top 30 Moments in Team History
By Brett Foote
Aug 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; A Baltimore Ravens helmet sits on a box on the sidelines during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
March 29th, 1996 – The Ravens officially name the team following a series of fan polls.
Carlos Avent:
Bombers? Americans? Bulldogs? Marauders? Ravens? COLTS???
Yes. The Baltimore Colts were almost reincarnated, but the Indianapolis Colts were not willing to part ways with the name and identity that they stole 12 years prior, when they left Baltimore in the middle of the night.
Several fan polls were conducted to determine the name of the new Baltimore football team. A record breaking 33,748 people called the hotline of the Baltimore Sun newspaper to express their vote and opinion. Of the names submitted, three were chosen for the final selection: Americans, Marauders, and Ravens.
With 22,463 of the 33,748 votes (66.56%), the name “Ravens” emerged as the winner as chosen by the people, for the people.
It’s more than a name. The name “Ravens” was derived from a poem titled “The Raven” from legendary poet and Baltimore native, Edgar Allen Poe.
“In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he…Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.” — Edgar Allan Poe, 1845
151 years later, the city of Baltimore brought that Raven to life with the Baltimore Ravens.
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