1. New York City, NY and vicinity: Includes East Rutherford and Newark, NJ
Pro Teams: New York Giants 1883-1957 (MLB)& 1925-present (NFL), Brooklyn Dodgers 1883-1957 (MLB), New York Yankees 1903-present (MLB, New York Knicks 1946-present (NBA), New York Rangers 1926-present (NHL), New York Jets 1960-present (NFL), New York Mets 1962-present (MLB), New Jersey Nets 1967-present (NBA), New York Islanders 1972-present (NHL), New York Golden Blades 1972-74 (WHA), New Jersey Devils 1982-present (NHL)
Championships: 58 (5)Giants-MLB (1905,1921,1922,1933,1954),(27)Yankees (1923,1927,1928,1932,1936-39,1941,1943,1947,1949-53,1956,1958,1961,1962,1977,1978,1996,1998-00,2009), (7)Giants-NFL (1927,1934,1938,1956,1986,1990,2007), (4)Rangers (1928,1933,1940,1994), (1)Dodgers (1955), (1)Jets (1968), (2)Mets (1969,1986), (2)Knicks (1970,1973), (2)Nets (1974,1976), (4)Islanders (1980-83), (3)Devils (1995,2000,2003)
History: Formerly known as the Gothams, the baseball Giants were the rulers of New York. They were the first NL team to win the World Series. Players such as Christy Mathewson, Mel Ott and Willie Mays helped the Manhattan club win 15 pennants for the NL in the modern era (won 17 total). After their last World Series victory, the Giants could not capitalize and by 1958, they were in San Francisco.
The Dodgers would be a ground breaking team for its time. In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black man integrated into baseball. It was then that the they would finally capture a World Series title. Originally called the Trolley Dodgers, due to people having to cross the street car lines to get to wherever they were going. Because ownership wanted a new stadium, the Dodger name stuck, but the franchise did not as they went to LA in 1958.
Before the Yankees became the most successful team in MLB history, they were the Baltimore Orioles from 1901-02. Not too long after that, they moved to NYC to become the Highlanders from 1903-12. At any rate the Yankees were not any good. That was until Babe Ruth was sold from the Red Sox and the rest is history. Since the Sultan of Swat is considered one of the best players in history and he played for the Bronx bombers, it's not too hard to imagine everyone else wanting to follow in his footsteps.
There was another New York Giants who happened to leave NYC as well. However, they just moved to nearby East Rutherford, NJ, so no need to worry. The NFL Giants have been one of the better NFL teams out there winning 4 championships before the merger and taking home the Vince Lombardi Trophy 3 times after.
Despite not being in the NBA Finals since 1999, the Knickerbockers are a team that is a proven success. If you can look past the early Celtics teams, the Jordan led Bulls, or the clutch shooting of Reggie Miller and the Pacers, then the Knicks might be hanging a few more banners in the rafters. But whatever the case, the fans still show up to the games. And for their perseverance, the Knicks made the playoffs for the first time in 6 seasons.
The Rangers would be the first NHL team in the US to win the Stanley Cup. They would get their name from team president Tex Rickard and the New York media. Originally, they were going to be called the Giants, but the media dubbed the hockey team "Tex's Rangers" and that's the way it's been since. To date, the Rangers have made the postseason 5 out of 6 seasons since the lockout of 2004-05.
Originally called the Titans, the team's personality would be as big as their name. Even when they became the Jets later on, they would live up to their big talk. First, Joe Namath would make a guarantee to beat the Colts in Super Bowl III(Jets won 16-7) . Then came Bill Parcells and a three coaches later Rex Ryan have made the Jets a franchise worth watching and listening to.
After the Giants and Dodgers left NYC in 1957, there was no NL representative for the New Yorkers. William Shea would be the man to do such a task. The Mets along with the Colt .45s (Astros)came into existence in 1962. In seven years, the Miracle Mets won the World Series becoming the fastest expansion franchise to do that. Since then, that record has been broken twice. But as far as the folks of Flushing Meadows are concerned, that doesn't matter.
The Nets relocation history has been local. The team formerly known as the Americans, moved to Long Island to become the New York Nets and then moving to Rutgers University before heading to East Rutherford to become the New Jersey Nets. Despite all that, the team has moved to Newark while they are waiting to move to Brooklyn sometime next year. After all the Nets have been through, the team made back to back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.
Long Island had a new arena that needed a tenant. The WHA had plans to be there, the people of Long Island had different ideas. William Shea would enter the picture. The NHL granted their requests and the Islanders were born. Despite not making the postseason for their 4th straight season, the Islanders have quite a history.
The WHA never had much of a chance to succeed in the largest media market. The franchise was originally known as the New York Raiders never could take off. They tried Madison Square Garden but was quickly rooted out. They became the Golden Blades before locating to Cherry Hill, NJ (suburb of Philadelphia)to become the New Jersey Knights. They never made a postseason and would head to San Diego before folding.
After failures in Kansas City and Denver, the Devils would be the first NHL team in the Garden State. Since being in East Rutherford and Newark, the franchise has missed the playoffs only 8 times. Their last loss in the Stanley Cup finals was to the Colorado Avalanche in 7 games.
Interesting facts: The home of the US Open for Tennis is located in Flushing Meadows. The United Nations is located in Manhattan. The hot dog eating contest held every summer is held every 4th of July on Coney Island in Brooklyn.
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