5. Detroit, MI
Pro Teams: Tigers 1894-present (MLB), Red Wings 1926-present (NHL), Lions 1934-present (NFL), Eagles/Gems/Vagabond Kings 1939-41/1946-47/1948-49 (NBL), Falcons 1946-47 (BAA), Pistons 1957-present (NBA), Michigan Stags 1974-75 (WHA)
Championships: 22 (4) Lions(1935,1952,1953,1957), (4)Tigers(1935,1945,1968,1984), (11)Red Wings (1936,1937,1943,1950,1952,1954,1955,1997,1998,2002,2008), (3)Pistons (1989,1990,2004)
History: While certain teams who are over a century old have had many nicknames, the Tigers name has always stuck. Even with through the best and worst of times, there has always been one pro team in baseball representing the Motor City. Despite having to compete with teams like the Yankees and Red Sox, the Tigers have brought home 10 AL Pennants (last in 2006), 3 Division Titles (last in 1987) and a Wild Card berth just to name a few accomplishments.
The Red Wings may not have been the first in Detroit to win a title, but they are first in titles won. They may not have won the first Presidents' trophy (Oilers did in 1985-86), and yet they've won the most with 6. So it's to nobody's surprise that the Red Wings are back in the postseason this season looking for their 12th Stanley Cup.
Before the Detroit Lions came into existence, they started off in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Spartans in 1929 as an independent team. One year later, they were in the NFL and made only one appearance (lost to Bears in 1932) before moving to the Motor City. After their move, the team would have some sporadic success. Even though most young fans will remember the 2008 where they couldn't win a game, there's still hope. Just remember the Buccaneers won a Super Bowl and they were the first winless team of the post merger era.
Detroit had three stints with the NBL. The Eagles were considered a surprise team in the World Professional Basketball Tourney by going all the way and beating the New York Rens and the Osh Kosh All-Stars to be the champs in their final season. But that was not a tournament of the NBL, so it never counted as such. The Detroit Gems would be next in line, but would be sold off to Minneapolis, and let's just say that they are the team that wears purple and gold in Southern California. The Vagabond Kings, they merged with the Rens of New York and moved to Dayton.
The Motor City's first NBA team was the Falcons (BAA). The won only 20 games out of 60 missing the playoffs and eventually miss out on the rest of NBA history.
After the failed first attempt, the Pistons would come along. Before making it to Michigan, the team started in the NBL for the city of Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1941. During their time in the NBL they won the title in 1944 and 1945. Even though they made two prior NBA finals appearances in 1955 (lost to the Nationals) and 1956 (lost to the Warriors), Detroit would be their permanent home in 1957.
The Stags would try to compete with the Red Wings. The good news, the Red Wings were awful. But the bad news, the WHA alternative didn't do any better. In the second half of the 1974-75 season, the team formerly known as the LA Sharks were folded and were repackaged in Baltimore to be the Blades.
Interesting facts: Super Bowl XVI was the first Super Bowl played in a northern city (Pontiac Silverdome). Quicken Loans is based in Detroit. The Motor City is the largest city to have legalized casino gambling.
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