⚾ MLB: 1962-2020
59 2
Joined the National League as an expansion team to begin the 1962 season.
⚾ MLB: 1901-2020
120 27
One of the eight original American League teams beginning with the 1901 season.
Left Baltimore and relocated to New York to begin the 1903 season.
🏈 NFL: 1925-2020
96 8
One of five teams that joined the NFL in 1925, and the only one of that group still existing. Acquired several nicknames, including "Big Blue", the "G-Men", and the "Jints"
🏈 NFL: 1960-2020
61 1
The New York Jets team was founded in 1959 as the Titans of New York, an original member of the American Football League (AFL); later, the franchise joined the NFL in the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The t...
🏀 NBA: 1947-2020
74 2
Alongside the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are one of two original NBA teams still located in its original city.
The team, established by Ned Irish in 1946, was one of the founding members of the Baske...
🏀 NBA: 1968-2020
53 2
The club was established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the NBA's rival league, the American Basketball Association (ABA). They played in New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans during their first s...
NHL: 1975-2020
46 3
The club was founded as the Kansas City Scouts in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1974. The Scouts moved to Denver, Colorado in 1976 and became the Colorado Rockies. In 1982, they moved to East Rutherford, ...
NHL: 1973-2020
48 4
The team was founded in 1972 as part of the NHL's maneuvers to keep a team from rival league World Hockey Association (WHA) out of the newly built Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in suburban Unionda...
NHL: 1927-2020
94 4
One of the Original Six teams that competed in the NHL before its 1967 expansion, and the first NHL franchise in the United States to win the Stanley Cup.
Defunct Teams
Teams that have folded or moved away from the New York area.F i l t e r & S o r t Filter & Sort
WHA: 1973-1974
2
Previous to being in San Diego, the team was known as the New York Raiders, New York Golden Blades, and Jersey Knights. After folding in 1977, San Diego Mariners' name was adopted by an unrelated fran...
🏀 ABL3: 1962-1962
1
The American Basketball League played one full season, 1961–1962, and part of the next season until the league folded on December 31, 1962. The ABL was the first basketball league to have a three poin...
⚾ MLB: 1884-1957
74 5
Left the American Association to join the National League to begin the 1890 season. Left Brooklyn and relocated to become the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1957.
⚾ MLB: 1883-1957
75 8
Entered the National League in 1883.
Left New York and relocated to San Francisco to begin the 1958 season.
🏈 NFL: 1949-1951
3
The Colts have competed as a member club of the NFL since their founding in Baltimore in 1953 after then-owner Carroll Rosenbloom purchased the assets of the NFL's last founding Ohio League member Day...
🏈 AAFC: 1946-1949
4
The New York Yankees were a professional American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946 to 1949. The team played in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and often pl...
⚾ NNL: 1935-1948
14 1
First all-Hispanic team to travel to the United States and stage exhibition games, against established Negro league powerhouse teams. In 1907, they were replaced by the Cuban Stars, which became accepted as an independent Negro baseball team.
⚾ NNL: 1935-1948
14 1
Formed when the Newark Dodgers merged with the Brooklyn Eagles. The owners Eagles purchased the Dodgers and combined the teams' assets and player rosters. The owner of the Dodgers signed the team over in exchange for cancellation of an approximately $500 debt
⚾ NNL: 1931-1948
18
The team was founded as the Harlem Black Bombers in 1931 by financier James "Soldier Boy" Semler and dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. By 1932 the team was named the Harlem Stars and by 1933 became the New York Black Yankees.
🏈 AAFC: 1946-1948
3
The Brooklyn Dodgers was an American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946 to 1948. The team is unrelated to the Brooklyn Dodgers that played in the Nationa...
🏀 WPBT: 1939-1948
10 1
Formerly the New York Renaissance, or Rens, moved to Dayton, Ohio in the middle of the NBL season to replace the Detroit Vagabond Kings, who went out of existence on December 17, 1948.
🏀 ABL: 1932-1947
16 1
The team dropped out during the 1st half of the 1941/42 season, but returned for the next season, before folding.
🏀 ABL: 1945-1947
3
The team was previously known as the Washington Capitols.
⚾ USNL: 1945-1946
2
Members of the short-lived and mysterious USNL developed by Branch Rickey prior to integration of blacks in baseball.
🏀 WPBT: 1939-1945
7 1
The Globetrotters originated on the South Side of Chicago in 1926, where all the original players were raised. The Globetrotters began as the Savoy Big Five, one of the premier attractions of the Savo...
🏈 NFL: 1930-1944
15
The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American football team that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943, and in 1944 as the Brooklyn Tigers. The team played its home games at Ebbets Field of...
🏀 ABL: 1943-1944
2
Moved to Brooklyn during on January 18, 1943 and dropped out of league during the 1st half of the 1943/44 season.
NHL: 1926-1942
17
The New York Americans, colloquially known as the Amerks, were a professional ice hockey team based in New York City from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the Nationa...
🏈 AFL3: 1940-1941
2
The New York Yankees of the third American Football League was the third professional American football team competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees of the first AFL (and the Nationa...
🏀 ABL: 1937-1941
5
After changing locations the first few seasons, in 1940 they became known as the Troy Celtics. The team is not connected to New York's "Original" Celtics.
🏀 ABL: 1932-1940
9 1
The team was previously known as the Union City Reds. During the 1939-40 season, the team was merged into the New York Jewels
🏀 ABL: 1910-1940
31 3
Had great success throughout the 1910s and 1920s, winning championships in several leagues. Eventuall faded and were absorbed into the Troy Celtics on December 19, 1939.
🏀 ABL: 1922-1939
18 7
Also known as the "Triangles", franchise played in for nearly 20 years in both the ABL and MBL with tremendous success, including six championships.
🏈 AFL2: 1936-1937
2
The New York Yankees of the second American Football League was the second professional American football team competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees of the first AFL (and the Natio...
🏀 ABL: 1923-1937
15
An independent team for most of its existence, competed in the ABL and EBL with little success.
⚾ Negro: 1905-1936
32 2
One of the prominent independent teams prior to World War I before organized league play began. Fell into decline after joining the Eastern Colored League, then returning to independent status as a mostly semi-pro squad.
⚾ Negro: 1916-1936
21
An independent team that played in the New York and northeast region of the United States. Because of their ties to the region they were also referred to as the New York Cuban Stars.
🏈 AFL2: 1936-1936
1
The Rochester Tigers were a professional American football team that competed in the second American Football League in 1936 and 1937. Owned by Mike Palm (who doubled as coach) and Harry Newman, the T...
🏀 ABL: 1936-1936
1
Known as the Trenton Potters in early 1900s, the Trenton Bengals (aka Royal Bengals) in the 1920s and 30s, and eventually as the Trenton Tigers in the 1940s before fading along with the ABL.
⚾ NNL: 1934-1935
2
Newark Dodgers merged with the Brooklyn Eagles to form the Newark Eagles in 1936. Owners Eagles purchased the Dodgers and combined the teams' assets and player rosters.The previous owner of the Dodgers, signed the team over in exchange for cancellation of an approximately $500 debt.
🏈 NFL: 1929-1932
4
The Staten Island Stapletons were founded in 1915 as a neighborhood team. The team was organized by Dan Blaine, who also served as the team's halfback. Blaine later became rich by building up a chain ...
🏀 ABL1: 1910-1931
22 2
Originally known as the the Paterson Whirlwinds, after their first season, the team became known as the Paterson Crescents.
⚾ Negro: 1911-1930
20
Founded as the first colored pro team in the west. and were the dominant team in 1911, 1912 and 1913, winning the eastern championship each year. In 1914, the owner lost control of the Lincoln Giants name, and formed a rival team, the Lincoln Stars.
🏈 NFL: 1890-1930
41
In 1929, the owner of Duluth Eskimos, sold his NFL franchise rights to a wholesale meat salesman and sports promoter from Orange, NJ who named his franchise the Orange Tornadoes
🏀 ABL1: 1922-1930
9 4
The Original Celtics were a barnstorming professional American basketball team. At various times in their existence, the team played in the American Basketball League, the Eastern Basketball League an...
⚾ ANL: 1916-1929
14 2
Founded when two African-American politicians moved the Duval Giants of Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlantic City in 1916 and renamed them after Harry Bacharach, the city's mayor.
🏈 NFL: 1926-1928
3
C. C. Pyle
🏀 EBL: 1911-1923
13 1
Figuring prominently in Camden’s success were set shooting stars Eddie Ferat and Snake Deal, and high-scoring Bill Keenan, who had displaced veteran John Wendelken as the league’s best center. Equally...
🏀 IBL: 1917-1920
4
National Turners played for 4 seasons from 1917 to 1920, several in the IBL, before folding....
⚾ Negro: 1914-1917
4
Although they lasted less than four years, they were a good team that featured three players who would later be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame—Oscar Charleston, John Henry Lloyd, and Louis Santop.
⚾ Negro: 1915-1916
2
Sunday baseball was not yet legal under blue laws in New York City, so major league teams often traveled to the seaside resort community of Long Branch to play Sunday games against the Cubans.
⚾ Negro: 1886-1915
30
The all-black team achieved victory over so many of the nearby amateur "white" teams that they attracted the attention of a promoter who clandestinely named them the "Cuban Giants". The team remained one of the premier Negro league teams for nearly 20 years.
⚾ FL: 1914-1915
2
Team disbanded after the Federal League folded following the 1915 season.
⚾ FL: 1915-1915
1
Relocated from Indiana to New Jersey for marketing purposes by league executives after winning the 1914 championship.
Disbanded when the Federal League folded after the 1915 season.
⚾ IL: 1896-1906
11
Originally most of the players were former Cuban Giants, hence "ex-Giants". Similarly, the original players were not actually Cuban, but used that moniker to distract from the all-black roster which had negative connotations at the time.
⚾ Negro: 1899-1905
7
The team was the first Latin American professional baseball team to tour the United States, playing against white semiprofessional and Negro league teams.
🏈 WPPFC: 1894-1905
12
Warslow Athletic Club (also formally known as the Whitestone Warslows and the Warslow Indians) were an early amateur, and later professional, American football team. The club, based on Long Island, is...
🏈 WPPFC: 1897-1903
7
The Knickerbocker Athletic Club was an early amateur and later professional football team based in Manhattan, New York City from around 1897 until 1902. The team is best known for participating in the...
🏀 NBL1: 1900-1903
4 1
New York Wanderers played for 4 seasons from 1900 to 1903, several in the NBL1, before folding....
⚾ PL: 1890-1890
1
Team was purchased by the Brooklyn Bridegrooms of the National League after the Players League folded following the 1890 season.
⚾ PL: 1890-1890
1
Team was purchased by the New York Giants of the National League after the Players League folded following the 1890 season.
⚾ AA: 1858-1887
30 1
The franchise folded and player contracts were purchased by the American Association Brooklyn franchise at the end of the 1887.
⚾ NL: 1877-1877
1
Left the National Association to become one of 8 founding clubs of the National League in 1876. Left Hartford and relocated to Brooklyn in 1877 and folded after the season.
⚾ NL: 1858-1876
19 2
Left the National Association to become one of 8 founding clubs of the National League in 1876.
Folded after being expelled for failing to complete its final road trip of the 1876 season.
⚾ NA: 1855-1875
21 8
Team disbanded after the National Association folded following the 1875 season.
⚾ NA: 1856-1872
17 2
After its only year in the National Association, the franchise folded following the 1872 season.
⚾ NABBP: 1855-1870
16 1
An average amateur team in the 1850s, after professionalism entered the sport by the 1870 season, Union refused to enter the new National Association of Professional Base Ball Players.
⚾ NABBP: 1854-1868
15
The origins of the Eagle Club are rife with contradictions. Although 1854 is the generally accepted date, there are some suggestions that the club may actually have been formed earlier and even hints ...
⚾ NABBP: 1865-1868
4
National Club of Albany in the NABBP were one of the earliest known baseball teams. Based in Albany, New York, their earliest known game was played on May 6, 1864...
⚾ NABBP: 1859-1868
10
The Star Club of Brooklyn in the NABBP were one of the earliest known baseball teams. Based in Brooklyn, New York, their earliest known game was played in 1856...
⚾ NABBP: 1856-1867
12
Known for originating the "Brooklyn-style" baseball cap, precursor to the modern cap. Were one of the first baseball clubs to undertake a long-distance tour to compete outside their home region.
⚾ NABBP: 1860-1867
8
Was part of the NABBP in the 1850s and 1860s and began playing other members of the NABBP in 1860. They played at a field at Ferry Street and Adams Street in the Ironbound.
⚾ NABBP: 1855-1866
12
The "Empire", one of the earliest known baseball teams, were a charter member of the NABBP. Based in Manhattan, New York, their earliest known game was played on October 23, 1854...
⚾ NABBP: 1852-1866
15
Perhaps the most convoluted of all tales surrounding the beginning of organized baseball may best be exemplified by the Gotham Club of New York, whose own genesis can be linked directly to William Ruf...
⚾ NABBP: 1864-1866
3
The "Active" of the NABBP were one of the earliest known baseball teams. Based in Newark, New Jersey, their earliest known game was played on October 3, 1863...
⚾ NABBP: 1860-1866
7
The Enterprise Club of Brooklyn in the NABBP were one of the earliest known baseball teams. Based in Brooklyn, New York, their earliest known game was played on June 28, 1856...
⚾ NABBP: 1846-1865
20
The first organized baseball team, founded by Alexander Cartwright in 1845. Played under a set of rules known as "The Knickerbocker Rules", historically similar to the game today.
The early history of sports contains hundreds of teams that appeared for only 1 or 2 seasons before folding. Most of these teams have no historical photographs or articles, so are omitted from this list to reduce clutter. To view a comprehensive list of all defunct teams, browse to the early leagues section for baseball, football, basketball, or hockey.