Defunct Teams
Teams that have folded or moved away from the Washington DC area.F i l t e r & S o r t Search & Sort
🏀 ABA: 1970-1976
7
⚾ MLB: 1961-1971
11
Joined the American League as an expansion team to begin the 1961 season.
Left Washington DC and relocated to Arlington in 1972.
⚾ MLB: 1901-1960
60 1
One of the eight original American League teams beginning with the 1901 season.
Left Washington DC to relocate to Minnesota to begin the 1961 season.
🏀 NBA: 1947-1951
5
⚾ NNL: 1936-1937
2
The team's origins lie in two local negro amateur baseball teams: the Nashville Maroons and the Elites. The Giants welcomed any competition, including white-only teams, but played independently of any leagues until the mid-1920s.
⚾ ECL: 1923-1925
3
Based in Washington, D.C. in the ECL, they also operated as an independent team briefly. The Potomacs moved to Wilmington, Delaware where they played as the Wilmington Potomacs. In 1925 the team folded, unable to complete the season.
⚾ NL: 1891-1899
9
Joined the National League after the American Association folded following the 1891 season. Franchise folded at the end of the 1899 season when the NL contracted back to 8 teams.
⚾ NL: 1886-1889
4
After 4 years in the National League, the franchise folded following the 1889 season.
⚾ UA: 1884-1884
1
Team disbanded after the Union Association folded following the 1884 season.
⚾ NA: 1872-1873
2
Franchise played on 11 games in the National Assocation during 1872 and folded after playing 39 games during 1873.
⚾ NA: 1867-1872
6
In their second season in the National Association, the franchise folded after playing 9 games in 1874.
⚾ NABBP: 1861-1870
10
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.