Was it that embarassing trip on the athletic field, or the mismatching socks you wore on the court that gave you your first nickname? Maybe it was that “athletic” crew cut, or your hunter orange hair that labeled you from birth.

It’s funny how a nickname sticks with you all your life, at least with the friends who gave it to you.

When I travel back to my home town in Wisconsin, I have to remember who I was when I grew up there. In the small midwestern town of Whitehall, with a population of nearly 1,300, everybody knows their neighbors. And the people that grew up there knew everybody.

I don’t get back to Whitehall often now with my family gone, but when I do return, it seems nothing has changed, and time has stood still. There are a few more houses, and the barns are leaning a little more. Some restaurants have changed owners, and storefronts have been remodeled. But what never changes for me is what I’m called when I stop in to visit old friends downtown, in the newspaper office, or the country club.

They all call me “Hammer.” Now I’ve been in New England since 1991, and returned home a half-dozen times to see family and friends since then. I graduated twenty-some years ago from high school, and seen my buddies very few times since them. You would think they forgot about that name! What happened to Bob, the name my New Hampshire friends know me by?

I’ll tell you what happened. Nothing! They never knew Bob. They only knew Hammer (prounounced “Hamma” in New Hampshire). My father was called Hammer when he was young. It was short for Hammerstrom. As I grew up playing sports, the name was passed down to me. After all, I was a big guy, and the name was a lot easier to pronounce. But how about getting introduced by your buddies to girls in college as Hammer? That’s not too cool.

My friends picked up nicknames like “Norman” for Tom (can’t expain that one), “Duey” for Duane, “Ernie” (Renee spelled backwards - sort of), “Monkey” for Ron (???), and “Leaker” for Eric (I won’t go there).

Well, I’ve accepted the name they call me, and my son has picked it up as well. Rather than reading ”Brandon” on his athletic clothes, it reads “Hammer.” He’s a big boy too, so that plays in to it a little.

What names did you pick up as a young athlete? Come on, if you don’t admit them, someone will! Does your child have one yet?

 -Bob Hammerstrom

Tags: bob hammerstrom, Brandon, Duane, hammer, nicknames