CINCINNATI

 How did I ever get so old and, being such an avid sports fan, never hear what the definition of a "Redleg" is?

Cincinnati's major league baseball team was originally the "Red Stockings"; then it was shortened to "Reds" when the major leagues were formed; then, when we were in the "cold war" with the Soviet Communists (who people referred to as the reds) they went to "Redlegs"; and then, when the Berlin Wall went down, "Reds" became acceptable again.  

Well, if you ever look up Redlegs, this is what you will find - believe it or not.  A Redleg is a name given to the poor white people of Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada and a few other Caribbean islands.  These were people who came from Ireland, Scotland and the west of England.  It is a derogatory name.

Most of this group were transported as slaves of a sort.    It is thought that they got the name because this fair skinned group were easily identifiable because of their sunburned legs.  They were a lower class of people on these islands than the blacks who emigrated from Africa and much lower than the olive skinned Spanish and Portuguese.  Who knew?