The Dayton Triangles were founding members of the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1920. In 1922, the APFA became known as the National Football League (NFL). In 1929 the team was sold and moved to Brooklyn where they became the Dodgers. For ten seasons, though, they represented Dayton in the NFL.
The Alabama Magic were a One-Year Wonder that played a 10-game schedule in the minor league American Football Association during the spring and summer of 1982. In addition to playing three games at Legion Field, the Magic also played regular season games in Anniston and Selma. In the middle of the Magic’s only season, the much higher profile United States Football League announced its formation, placing a Birmingham franchise at Legion Field for the 1983 season. The Magic chose not to return in 1983 in the face of this competition.
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.
The Cincinnati Stingers hockey team began life in the upstart World Hockey Association in the winter of 1975-76. Owners Bill DeWitt Jr. and Brian Heekin originally sought to land an NHL expansion club for the Queen City, failed, and then accepted the first expansion franchise awarded by the fledgling WHA as a fallback option in May 1973.
The story of the Seattle Pilots is one of the most fascinating in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). It began years before the team’s 1969 debut, and is tale filled with hope, excitement, money (and lack thereof), franchise relocations, and political influence.
United Soccer League (2018) Born: November 15, 2017 – Re-branded from Harrisburg CIty Islanders Ceased Operations (professional club): Late 2018 First Match: March 24, 2018 (L 1-0 @ Charleston Battery) Last Match: October 13, 2018 (T 0-0 vs. Toronto FC II) USL Championships: None FNB Field Opened: 1987 Team Colors: Blue,
One of professional sport’s great forgotten dynasties!. Formed as an expansion franchise for the Arena Football League’s second season in 1988, the Drive went on to play six years. Incredibly, the Drive appeared in the Arena Bowl title game in all six seasons they competed, winning four times. The Drive compiled an overall regular season & playoff record of 58-12 in six seasons – an astounding 83% winning percentage. Their nemesis was the Tampa Bay Storm, who dealt Detroit both of their Arena Bowl defeats.
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed in 1967 as a competitor to the established National Basketball Association (NBA). It started with 11 teams, and within a few years was angling for a merger with the older league. In 1976, the NBA took in four ABA teams, while three other surviving teams disbanded.
The Birmingham Barracudas were the final American expansion team awarded during the Canadian Football League’s failed incursion into the United States during the mid-1990’s.
Fun While it Lasted presents the Jersey of the Week, brought to you by Royal Retros. Each week, we feature a historic uniform. Click to learn more about the team that wore this classic gear.
