Most Successful Cities Top Ten Part 2

9. Toronto, ON, Canada

Pro Teams: Toronto HC 1912-17? (NHA), Maple Leafs 1917-present (NHL), Huskies 1946-47 (BAA),Toros 1973-76 (WHA), Blue Jays 1977-present (MLB), Raptors 1995-present (NBA)

Championships: 16 (1) Toronto HC (1914), (13) Maple Leafs (1918,1922,1932,1942,1945,1947-49,1951,1962-64,1967), (2)Blue Jays (1992,1993)

History: Toronto's original hockey team won in 1914 becoming the first pro team to do so for the NHA. The closest amateur teams that have won in Ontario would be the original Senators (listed in part 4) and the Kenora Thistles in 1907. And then came the Maple Leafs. They were also known as the Torontos, Arenas and the St. Patricks before becoming the current team they are today. I'm not really sure if the Toronto HC is the same as the current Leafs, but it doesn't affect Toronto's championship total. Along with the official total for the NHL (13), they also own 5 division titles.

It made sense that Toronto would have an original NBA (then BAA) team. Yes, the game was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts by Dr. James Naismith. But Naismith was Canadian. Unfortunately, the Huskies were gone after on full year.

The Toros came to the WHA via the Ottawa Nationals. Though they made the playoffs in their first 2 seasons, they missed out in their final season before moving to Birmingham to become the Bulls. The Alabama team would last until the WHA's end.

MLB's second Canadian team happened to be the Blue Jays. But they would be the first team in the MLB to have a World Series title in Canada. Despite producing some very good players, the Jays have not made it back to the postseason.

The Raptors, like the Jays, are the only Canadian franchise in a US dominated league. While they have never won a championship, they have made the postseason on 5 occasions only making past the first round once (2001 playoffs).

Interesting facts: Toronto is the fifth largest city in North America. Sun Life Financial and Rogers Communications call Toronto home. Movies like "Billy Madison and "Brokeback Mountain" have been shot there.