11 Professional Baseball Teams That No Longer Exist

Baseball brims with unexpected delights at every twist and turn. Within this realm of surprises, extraordinary plays and players captivate our attention. As records shatter, our affection for the game grows.

A fascinating, lesser-known aspect of professional baseball is that, esp. during the start of the 20th century but also as recently as 2004, a number of teams once graced the scene, only to disband. Even seasoned baseball enthusiasts might find the revelation of these teams to be a delightful surprise.

Take a nostalgic stroll through time as we rewind to an era when these 11 defunct baseball teams made their mark on ballparks, leaving lasting memories for baseball enthusiasts. We’ll explore the triumphs, struggles, and enduring legacies that characterize these iconic franchises. From the challenges faced by these teams to their unique history, get ready to be surprised and delighted by the cherished stories of the teams on our list.

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What Do We Mean by Professional Baseball Teams?

Major League Baseball (MLB) primarily encompasses the American League and the National League, which have been the bedrock of professional baseball for over a century. These leagues, each with its own set of teams and franchises, have produced legendary moments and iconic players, contributing significantly to baseball’s cultural significance.

Amidst the well-established American and National Leagues, the Federal League emerged as a third baseball league in the early 20th century. Operating from 1914 to 1915, the Federal League sought to establish itself as a major competitor, introducing new teams and adding a unique dynamic to professional baseball. However, financial challenges and legal complexities led to the Federal League’s dissolution, and its teams were not integrated into the structure of Major League Baseball. Despite its relatively brief existence, the Federal League represents a fascinating chapter in baseball history, illustrating the competitive landscape that once included more than the familiar American and National Leagues.

It is these two leagues from which we have called culled the list of these defunct baseball teams.

Now that we covered the differences between Major League Baseball and the third, competitive league, let’s now continue with our list of 10 old professional baseball teams that no longer exist:

1. Cleveland Spiders

The Cleveland Spiders replaced the disbanded Detroit Wolverines in the National League in 1889. They assumed the Wolverines’ spot after owner Frederick Kimball Stearns was forced to sell his star players due to financial struggles. The Spiders’ existence in the league extended until 1899, and they faced challenging times, including a particularly dismal season in 1899 with a record of 20 wins and 134 losses, the worst in MLB history. The team eventually folded, and Cleveland was without a National League team until the Indians (now Guardians) joined in 1901.

2. Philadelphia Athletics

The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954. They moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1954, becoming the Kansas City Athletics, and later relocated to Oakland in 1968, where they are now known as the Oakland Athletics. The team achieved significant success, winning multiple American League pennants and World Series championships during their early years. Notably, they featured a formidable lineup known as the “$100,000 Infield.” The franchise faced challenges in the 1910s and went through a rebuilding phase in the 1930s. By the 1950s, financial difficulties led to the sale of the team and its move to Kansas City. Despite a brief resurgence in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the team’s later years in Philadelphia were marked by financial struggles and declining performance. The Athletics’ legacy lives on, and there is still nostalgia for the team in the Philadelphia region. The franchise continues to play in Oakland as of 2024.

3. Montreal Expos

Established in 1969, the Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team based in Canada, playing their early seasons at Jarry Park and later moving to the Olympic Stadium. Throughout their existence, the Expos showcased notable talent, including Hall of Famers Gary Carter and Andre Dawson. Despite periods of competitive success, financial instability and shifting ownership plagued the team. The 1994 strike halted what could have been a championship season for the Expos, and by 2004, facing a lack of local support and economic challenges, MLB relocated the franchise to Washington, D.C., where it became the Washington Nationals. The departure of the Expos left a void in Canadian baseball history, but their legacy endures through the impact they made during their tenure in Montreal.

4. Detroit Wolverines

The Detroit Wolverines, a 19th-century Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, played in the National League from 1881 to 1888, winning 426 games and their lone pennant in 1887. Founded at the suggestion of Detroit mayor William G. Thompson, they played their first game on May 2, 1881. The Wolverines’ home field, Recreation Park, was demolished in 1894. Notable for an infamous game conceding 18 runs in a single inning in 1883, they folded after eight seasons. Owner Frederick Kimball Stearns’ attempt to create a ‘super-team’ in 1885 led to financial strain, forcing the sale of stars and disbandment after 1888. Their most successful season was in 1887, winning the National League with a 79-45 record. The team’s place in the National League was succeeded by the Cleveland Spiders in 1889. Notable players included Dan Brouthers, Ned Hanlon, Deacon White, and Sam Thompson, who were later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

5. Buffalo Blues

The Buffalo Blues, a professional baseball club, competed in the short-lived Federal League during 1913-1915, serving as the last major league team based in Buffalo. Initially known as the Buffalo Buffeds, they posted a solid 80–71 record in the 1914 season but finished sixth in 1915. William E. Robertson led the team as president, and they played at the International Fair Association Grounds. Facing delays in ballpark construction, they sold shares to the public. Notable players included Hugh Bedient, Hal Chase, and Ed Porray, born “on a ship somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.” Buffalo’s baseball history involved earlier attempts with the Buffalo Bisons and another team in 1890. The city has seen subsequent interest, including a proposed Continental League team in 1961, and Toronto hosting the closest MLB games since then, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. St. Louis Browns

The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee as the Milwaukee Brewers, later moving to St. Louis after the 1901 season. They played at Sportsman’s Park and won one American League pennant in 1944 [they would meet the St. Louis Cardinals in a Fall Classic known as the “Trolley Series,” “Streetcar Series,” or the “St. Louis Showdown”]. After the 1953 season, the team relocated to Baltimore, becoming the Baltimore Orioles. The franchise faced challenges, including financial struggles and a move proposal to Los Angeles. The Browns had periods of popularity and success, but their legacy is often associated with being renamed the Baltimore Orioles upon relocation in 1954.

7. Boston Braves

The Boston Braves, originating in Boston, Massachusetts, existed from 1871 to 1952 before moving to Milwaukee and later relocating to Atlanta in 1966, where they became the Atlanta Braves. The team, known by various names like Red Stockings, Red Caps, Rustlers, Bees, and Braves, played at different ballparks, including South End Grounds and Braves Field. The team won 10 National League pennants and a World Series championship in 1914, earning them the nickname “Miracle Braves.” In 1948, Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain led the Braves to the World Series, though they lost to the Cleveland Indians. The team struggled in the following years, undergoing a brief name change to the Boston Bees in 1936. In 1948, they clinched the National League pennant but faced financial difficulties. Babe Ruth briefly joined the team in 1935, but the Braves’ performance declined, leading to their move to Milwaukee in 1953 due to dwindling attendance.

8. Seattle Pilots

The Seattle Pilots, an American professional baseball team based in Seattle during the 1969 MLB season, played at Sick’s Stadium and were part of the American League West. The franchise moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers on April 1, 1970. Owned by Pacific Northwest Sports, Inc. (PNSI), led by Dewey Soriano, the Pilots struggled in their inaugural season, finishing with a 64-98 record. Soriano’s financial challenges and stadium issues at Sick’s Stadium contributed to their difficulties. In January 1970, Bud Selig purchased the Pilots, and relocated the team to Milwaukee. The move marked the end of the Seattle Pilots and the beginning of the Milwaukee Brewers.

9. Kansas City Packers

The Kansas City Packers, a Federal League baseball club, operated in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1914 to 1915. In 1914, they finished sixth with a 67–84 record, and in 1915, they secured fourth place with an 81–72 record. The team was founded in 1914 and disbanded in 1915, having no league championships. The Packers played at Gordon and Koppel Field and were owned by S. S. Gordon, Conrad H. Mann, and Charles A. Baird, with George Stovall as the manager. The team originated in Covington, Kentucky, moving to Kansas City in July 1913 when the Federal League transitioned from an independent minor league to a major league. The Packers played as the visiting team in the first game at what is now Wrigley Field. The team faced challenges such as a flash flood that damaged their ballpark, but continued to compete, experiencing a close pennant race in 1915.

10. Chicago Whales

The Chicago Whales were a professional baseball team in the Federal League from 1914 to 1915, originally known as the Chicago Federals. Under the ownership of Charles Weeghman and managed by Joe Tinker, they won the league championship in 1915. They played at the stadium now known as Wrigley Field. In 1914, the team finished second in the Federal League and adopted the nickname “Whales” in their final season, clinching the championship with an 86-66 record. After the Federal League’s dissolution, Weeghman merged the Whales with the Cubs, and Wrigley Field remains their home today. Notable players included Mordecai Brown and Joe Tinker.

11. Washington Senators

The Washington Senators, founded in 1901 as one of the American League’s charter franchises, later became the Minnesota Twins in 1960. Initially, they struggled but had successful periods from 1911 to 1933, featuring legendary players like Walter Johnson. The team claimed the American League pennant in 1924 and secured a World Series victory. The team had few prosperous years, yet faced mediocrity and eventually moved to Minnesota in 1961. The relocation marked the end of the Senators’ 60-year tenure in Washington, with the team adopting the name Minnesota Twins.

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