<P> Following the 1956 season, owner Calvin Griffith decided to officially change the name to Senators, but it wasn't until 1959 that the word "Senators" finally appeared on their shirts . (Okkonen) They and their expansion - replacement in 1961 would remain officially the "Senators" for good, although space - saving headline writers continued to refer to them as "Nats" frequently . </P> <P> The Washington Nationals of the National League, transplanted from the Montreal Expos in 2005, revived the old Nationals name, and with modern marketing techniques it appears the name will stick this time . The time - honored headline abbreviation "Nats" has also been revived . Any possibility of using the name "Washington Senators" was prohibited by the Texas Rangers still owning the rights to that trademark . Although there was some sentiment to revive the name Senators, political considerations factored into the choice of Nationals, a revival of the first American League franchise's "official" nickname used from 1905 to 1956 . Politicians and others in the District of Columbia objected to the name Senators because the District of Columbia does not have voting representation in Congress . Although the Rangers still owned the rights to the Senators name, the Nationals were able to acquire the rights to the curly "W" from the Rangers . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td_colspan="3"> National League </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> City </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Date and source </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Boston </Td> <Td> Braves Bees </Td> <Td> 1912 (uniform logo) 1915 (uniform name) 1936 - 1940 (owner declaration) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Brooklyn </Td> <Td> Dodgers </Td> <Td> 1932 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chicago </Td> <Td> Cubs </Td> <Td> 1906 (scorecards) 1908 (uniform logo) 1909 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cincinnati </Td> <Td> Reds Redlegs </Td> <Td> 1911 (uniform name) 1953 - 1960 (owner declaration) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New York </Td> <Td> Giants </Td> <Td> 1918 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Philadelphia </Td> <Td> Phillies </Td> <Td> 1933 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pittsburgh </Td> <Td> Pirates </Td> <Td> 1912 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> St Louis </Td> <Td> Cardinals </Td> <Td> 1918 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="3"> American League </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> City </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Date and source </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Boston </Td> <Td> Red Sox </Td> <Td> 1908 (uniform logo) 1912 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chicago </Td> <Td> White Sox </Td> <Td> 1910 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cleveland </Td> <Td> Indians </Td> <Td> 1915 (newspaper contest) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Detroit </Td> <Td> Tigers </Td> <Td> 1901 (cap logo) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New York </Td> <Td> Yankees </Td> <Td> 1923 (stadium name) 1927 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Philadelphia </Td> <Td> Athletics </Td> <Td> 1901 (uniform initial) 1927 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> St Louis </Td> <Td> Browns </Td> <Td> 1934 (uniform name) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Washington </Td> <Td> Nationals Senators </Td> <Td> 1905 - 1956 (uniform name) 1957 - 1960 (owner declaration) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td_colspan="3"> National League </Td> </Tr>

Who came first the red sox or the white sox