Baltimore Elite Giants (1938-1951)
February 17, 2026 No Comments
The Baltimore Elite Giants arrived in Maryland’s largest city in 1938, after stints in Washington, D.C., Columbus, OH, and Nashville, TN, where they were established in 1920.
Spotlight
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Chicago Fire (1974)
October 22, 2014 1 Comment
Not to be confused with the modern day Major League Soccer franchise, the Chicago Fire were founding members of the upstart World Football League in the summer of 1974. The WFL sought to challenge the supremacy of the National Football League as a major league football product and launched raids on NFL rosters. The Fire got off to a promising 7-2 start and drew strong crowds to Soldier Field. But an 11-game losing streak and a series of embarrassing financial setbacks across the league cooled Fire boss Tom Origer’s enthusiasm. The exasperated owner forfeited the Fire’s final game and shuttered the franchise soon afterwards. Rookie receiver James Scott was the Fire’s breakout star. After the demise of the WFL Scott went on to play seven seasons for the Chicago Bears from 1976 to 1983.
Honoring the Negro Leagues
Seattle Steelheads
April 21, 2025 No Comments
The Seattle Steelheads were members of the West Coast Negro Baseball Association (WCNBA) in that circuit’s only season, 1946. The team was actually the Harlem Globetrotters baseball club and returned to barnstorming when the WCNBA ceased operations.
Retro Hockey
Detroit Cougars / Detroit Falcons (1926-1932)
February 6, 2026 No Comments
The Detroit Cougars were established when the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) relocated to Michigan and joined the National Hockey League (NHL).
baseball History
Portland Beavers (1906-1972)
July 18, 2022 No Comments
Today we look at the original Portland Beavers baseball team of 1906-1972, the first and most enduring of three clubs to play under the Bevos name in the storied Pacific Coast League. When the team finally moved away to Spokane, Washington in early 1973, Portland became the last of the original six PCL cities of 1903 to lose its minor league baseball franchise. The second version of the Beavers would return to Portland’s Civic Stadium in 1978.
Soccer Indoor and outdoor
Orlando Sundogs
March 26, 2021 No Comments
The Orlando Sundogs were a pro soccer team that endured a single grim campaign in the USISL A-League during the summer of 1997. The A-League was the 2nd Division of men’s pro soccer in the U.S. at the time, one level below Major League Soccer. The Sundogs’ troubles were many, but a big one was their choice of stadium: the 64,000 Citrus Bowl, a former World Cup (1994) and Olympic (1996) stadium. The ‘Dogs averaged an invisible 1,278 fans per match in the gargantuan bowl.
Arena Football
Carolina Cobras (2000-2004)
August 3, 2020 2 Comments
The original Carolina Cobras were an Arena Football League franchise that split their time between Raleigh (2000-2002) and Charlotte (2003-2004).The Cobras never finished better than .500 in five seasons of competition, but did manage to make the playoffs in 2001 and 2002. The hapless 0-16 Cobras squad of 2003 demands consideration as the worst in the 32-season history of the Arena Football League.
Los Angeles Stars (1968-1970)
October 20, 2014 1 Comment
The Los Angeles Stars basketball team was a short-lived effort by the American Basketball Association to plant its flag in L.A. during the early years of its rivalry with the National Basketball Association. The Stars labored in the shadows of the NBA’s Lakers and never established a substantial following. Coached by Hall-of-Famer (and future Lakers coach) Bill Sharman, the Stars did enjoy a thrilling Cinderella playoff run at the end of their second and final season in L.A.
San Antonio Texans
November 4, 2018 4 Comments
The San Antonio Texans were a One-Year Wonder in the Canadian Football League, playing a single season at the Alamodome in the autumn of 1995. The franchise had a twisty backstory, dating back to the formation of the NFL-backed World League of American Football (WLAF) in 1990.