Humpback chub — it’s a fish.

Giggles seem to materialize with the mere utterance of the name. But it is really a fish and not some kind of human activity or function.

The fish is native to Colorado and has been on the endangered list since Richard Nixon was in office, and for those of you taking notes, it evolved around 3.5 million years ago and is only found in warm-water canyons of the Colorado River basin.

But this is no big fish story, or maybe it is.

This story is about a Fruita Monument High School graduate who hatched an idea, or rather spawned one, the summer after turning the blue and white tassel in 2019.

While hanging out with friends, and alcohol may or may not have been involved, Ian Lummis thought that humpback chub would be a great name for the minor league baseball team here in the Grand Junction.

Whether it was booze or boredom or both, the idea was hooked and a plan was formulated.

As a youngster, Lummis fished the mountain streams and lakes in the area with his grandfather, Greg Dillon.

But he never fished the Colorado River much, where this notorious odd-looking fish once called home.

“One of the reasons I was familiar with the whole humpback chub effort was my grandfather complained about it,” Lummis said.

The chub, just to shorten the name, was kind of like the spotted owl of the Colorado waterways at one time.

Over the years, Dillon expressed skepticism of the re-introduction effort of the chub. His irritation was around the effort and the effect it would have the one-time robust smallmouth bass population in the river, which he loved to fish.

For Lummis, who wouldn’t know the difference between a curveball and a slider, the fish with the strange name seemed like a perfect quirky moniker for a minor league baseball team.

“So one of the reasons I thought the name would be good, besides being funny, was it was a semi-controversial issue in town,” Lummis said.

Minor league baseball names have long been quirky, funny, odd, unique and downright baffling, but many of them embrace the philosophy of being different.

From the Durham Bulls to the Portland Pickles to the Amarillo Sod Poodles (scratch head now), to the Akron Rubberducks to the Louisville Bats (awesome name — think Slugger), minor league clubs have long latched on to quirky names.

And many of them also latch on to a name with a location reference, which Lummis also did with his idea.

Names like the Albuquerque Isotopes (think nuclear testing), Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Nashville Sounds and the Lansing Lugnuts (once home to General Motors).

“It’s baseball, it’s fun and the name should be fun,” Lummis said. “I never liked the name Rockies, I thought it was boring.”

And that’s how he pleaded his case for the Humpback Chubs.

Rockies was a natural connection when the team was associated with the Colorado Rockies but even then, Lummis wasn’t a fan.

“Grand Junction is a unique place and it’s not really in the Rocky Mountains,” he said.

No one took the bait, and the idea was gutted like a fish.

However, when the ownership changed, Lummis decided to cast his idea again to see if he could breath some life into the Humpback Chub name.

The name Jackalopes was picked for the new name but he said there was interest in the chub name.

Like being perched on a rock at a lonely fishing hole, there was hope.

He was told that since they rebranded the team Jackalopes in 2022, that it was too soon for another rebranding.

But, let’s just say they were hooked on the idea. Instead of a full-blown name change, the ownership decided on a compromise to get the Humpback Chub name into the mix.

For Lummis, this quest had nothing to do with a love for baseball.

“I did not play baseball growing up. My dad wanted me to play and he took me to tee ball, and I said ‘let’s go sign up for soccer instead,’” he said with a bit of a chuckle.

When the folks from the Jackalopes contacted him and told him of the compromise, Lummis was thrilled.

The team would use the Humpback Chubs name for Wednesday home games.

Humpback, hump day — get it?

Lummis is still holding out hope for the ultimate change — Humpback Chubs everyday.

“So they said this would be a good place to start. Hopefully, the reaction from the public will be good.”

It’s already created some excitement and some cool creative Chub logos.

“I think people realize that minor league baseball is a place to have fun,” he said.

For most, the Humpback Chub name means little. Just an odd name that might elicit some giggles and smirks.

Now that he’s finished his days at the University of Colorado and now lives in Denver, Lummis is just happy that they finally saw the fun in the name.

“When the GM reached out to me and told me he thought it was a great idea, it was great,” Lummis said.

“The whole thing is about having fun. I’m definitely very happy and excited that it worked out.”

Back when he first cast the idea, he even had a plan about helping the humpback chub effort — to bring attention to the endangered fish.

As part of the Wednesday name change, the Jackalopes are also embracing the endangered fish theme and will be donating funds to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help local wildlife efforts.

“It makes sense, it goes hand in hand,” Lummis said. “If you’re going to name your organization after an endangered animal, you should be involved with that.

“I’m definitely happy they are doing that.”

When the Wednesday name change was announced, Lummis’ father, James, rushed down to the Jackalopes office to grab some swag.

The people in the store immediately recognized the last name and handed out some free Humpback Chub merch.

“The day it was announced, my dad went down there and they saw his name, and gave him four T-shirts,” Ian said.

Ian’s grandfather recently passed away but even though he may not have been enamored with the idea of those dang chubs pushing out the smallmouth bass in the Colorado River (bass were eventually removed), he was elated when he got the news that his grandson’s idea was finally approved.

“He loved my idea and was thrilled when the team made the announcement,” Ian said.

And now an idea, hatched in a basement out of boredom, has become a reality.

On Sunday — Father’s Day — Ian will be in town and will be on the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

He’s hoping he throws a strike but even if he doesn’t he knows his idea was a grand slam — finally.

“It was a fun thing six years ago, and now I couldn’t be happier that they are doing this,” he said.

The Grand Junction Humpback Chubs — it’s OK, go ahead and have yourself a little giggle.

What a great name for a minor league baseball team.

I’m hooked, it’s kinda catchy.