Diedrich Knickerbocker

The word knickerbocker is also used to refer to people who live in Manhattan,[1] and was adopted in a shortened form as the Knicks by the city's NBA professional basketball team.

To promote the book he started a hoax by contacting various newspapers in New York City that "well-known Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker had disappeared from his hotel".

Many people at the time believed the story and when Irving finally revealed it was all made up he gained enough local fame to help his book become an instant success, practically launching his literary career.

A popular daily newspaper serving Albany, NY was named the Knickerbocker News for the region's Dutch heritage and Irving's character.

In May 1949, polyglot city official James J. O’Brien toured the globe dressed as Father Knickerbocker on behalf of the New York World Trade Week Committee.