Where to start the team off

[PNatsFan703]

So I am creating a world that semi mimics baseball in real life but with some changes here in there. One of them is in 1883 a team will join who would later move to San Diego in 1958. So they would semi mimic the Giants but the team is called the Mariners. Now my big issue is I can't figure out where to start them.

The first is Providence, Rhode Island. Seems like a good location for a team back then and the name works well with the area.

The second is somewhere in the Tidewater region of VA either by the name Hampton Roads or Virginia Beach. Now I know VA Beach was a nothing town in 1883 with mostly just being a rail junction but for some reason starting a team in that area sounded cool. The name I will be giving them from 1883 to 1885 would be either the Chesapeakes or the Tides

[italyprof]

New Bedford, Massachusetts, the center of the whaling industry in the 19th century and setting for Moby Dick.

[Juggernt]

Originally Posted by italyprof

New Bedford, Massachusetts, the center of the whaling industry in the 19th century and setting for Moby Dick.

I second this option.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by italyprof

New Bedford, Massachusetts, the center of the whaling industry in the 19th century and setting for Moby Dick.

Iwas going to suggest Norfolk but its too small throughout history. Here is New Bedfords population by decade
1880 26,845 +25.9% 1890 40,783 +51.9% 1900 62,442 +53.1% 1910 96,652 +54.8% 1920 121,217 +25.4% 1930 112,597 −7.1% 1940 110,341 −2.0% 1950 109,189 −1.0% 1960 102,477 −6.1% 1970 101,777 −0.7%Moving them to Califormia in 1958 would make sense since many starting leaving around that time.

[BBGiovanni]

Hartford actually had a major league team and would make sense with that mascot (although I would call them Whalers until the move, myself ).