The Gwinnett Braves' New Name Is ...

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — There's something fishy about the new name of the baseball team formerly known as the Gwinnett Braves.

The Lawrenceville-based, Triple-A farm club for the Atlanta Braves will now be known as the Gwinnett Stripers. The new name is a nod to the popularity of fishing in Lake Lanier — which sits partially in Gwinnett County — and is a twist on "Big Mouths," one of the names fans suggested in an online poll.

At a press conference Friday, the team said that Jay Andrews, of Sugar Hill, suggested the new name in May. In all, fans suggested 900 different names.

Over the summer, the Atlanta Braves' top farm club announced they would be changing their name and uniforms and asked the public to help choose their new mascot. After receiving thousands of suggestions, the finalists were:

• Gwinnett Big Mouths. Named after the state fish of Georgia, the Big Mouths would be a tribute to bass fishing on Lake Lanier.
• Gwinnett Buttons. The name would honor Gwinnett County's namesake, Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia.
• Gwinnett Gobblers. According to the team, the name Gobblers celebrates "the outdoors, hunting and eating all the foods we love in the state of Georgia."
• Gwinnett Hush Puppies. A popular seafood side or a quiet canine companion?
• Gwinnett Lamb Chops. The Lambchops name would "marry the region's love of home cooking with the Tomahawk Chop of the Atlanta Braves," the team says.
• Gwinnett Sweet Teas. The name would be a celebration of the laid-back lifestyle and a regional beverage icon.

While some fans on social media Friday were complaining about the club going off of the list of finalists for its final decision, the organization had made it clear throughout that the public polling was not binding.

Also Friday, the team announced that Chopper, the Gwinnett Braves' popular groundhog mascot, will continue to cheer on the squad, which plays at Coolray Field.

The striper, or striped bass, is a popular fish among anglers along the Atlantic coast, including in Georgia. They have been introduced widely at more inland locations, including Lake Lanier.

Photos courtesy Gwinnett Stripers