Gone But Not Forgotten: The Lost Teams of Baltimore
As sports fans, we are constantly on the clamor for victory, winning teams and championship play from our home–town heroes. This exhibit focuses on teams no longer competing under the “Baltimore” banner, about the under-side of sports: competitive failure, poor management, ill-advised ownership and pure bad luck. Some of the teams featured here were profound winners but ultimately forced to leave because of circumstances beyond their control. This webpage covers some of the teams not represented in our on-site exhibit.
Baltimore Bandits
American Hockey League (1995-1997)
Affiliated with the NHL Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the Bandits lost their first game, 3-1, before an October 6 crowd of 7,293. Rumors of the team being sold plagued the team the balance of that season and attendance suffered accordingly. They made the playoffs that year, defeating Hershey, 3-2, before losing in round two. The ‘96-97 campaign was shadowed by various groups maneuvering to build a new arena. Their last game, a 4-2 playoff loss, was played before a paltry 1,031 in Baltimore. The Bandits’ two years of minimal success and off-ice difficulties led them to be unceremoniously moved to Cincinnati to become the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.
Baltimore Burn
National Women’s Football Association (2001-2008), Women’s Football Alliance (2009-2010), Women’s Spring Football League (2011-2015)
The Burn played their games for 12 years at Art Modell Field at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical Senior High School in Baltimore. In 2013 they shifted to Utz Towardowicz Field in Patterson Park. During their tenure they won four division titles, including 2011, when they were declared WSFL champions based on their regular season record. There were no playoffs. The team’s 15-year W-L mark was 56-58 including the playoffs.
Baltimore Claws
American Basketball Association (1975)
The Claws joined the ABA to appear in the 1975-1976 season but only played three exhibition games, all losses, before being expelled due to financial difficulties. The Memphis Sounds had been purchased before the start of the campaign by seven area businessmen and moved to Baltimore. Initially named the “Hustlers,” public pressure forced a name change. Despite signing local star Skip Wise, the Claws had little to no fan base, attracting crowds of 1,150, 1,213 and 500 to the three exhibitions. Thus, their early departure.
Baltimore Excelsiors
(1859-1861)
The city’s first professional baseball club took its name from the Excelsior Baseball Club of Brooklyn, NY, baseball’s first professional team. The Baltimore Excelsiors were the first local team to get a baseball writeup in a Baltimore newspaper on July 12, 1859. Just under a year later, on June 6, 1860, they accepted a challenge from the Washington Potomacs to play a game on Washington’s “White Lot,” located on what today is the White House Elipse. Baltimore won the game, 40-24, in what proved to be the first intercity 9-inning game (outside of New York) in American history.
Baltimore Mariners
American Indoor Football Association (2007-2010), Southern Indoor Football League (2014)
Prior to the start in 2007, Mariners owner Dwayne Wells was arrested for wire fraud. He forfeited ownership and the team folded. Under new ownership they returned in 2008 and finished 4-10. They improved to 9-6 in ‘09 and a year later sported a perfect 16-0 mark. But financial and attendance issues forced the team to fold again. They returned to play in the Southern League in 2014 and won the league championship before folding yet again. They were succeeded by the Baltimore Brigade in the Arena Football League in 2017 until the league folded in 2019.
Baltimore Spirit
National Professional Soccer League (1992-1998)
Following a successful 13-year indoor soccer run in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), former Baltimore Blast coach Kenny Cooper convinced a North Carolina businessman to purchase a team for Baltimore in the new NPSL. JW Wild Bill Stegley did just that, hiring Cooper to coach the newly formed Baltimore Spirit. Former Blast GM Drew Forrester became the team’s VP, and several former Blast players filled out the Spirit roster. In the first year their 27-13 record was good enough for first place, but they lost in the first round of the playoffs. In the ‘93-’94 campaign they again finished first and again lost in round one of the playoffs. They lost in the first round the next year but then won the first rounds in 1996 and ‘97, before losing in round two. In 1998 they failed for the first time to make the playoffs. Local banker Ed Hale bought the team and changed their name back to the Baltimore Blast, which still competes in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
Baltimore Stars
United States Football League (1985)
Before arriving in Baltimore for the 1985 season, the Philadelphia Stars were one of the most successful USFL franchises. In Baltimore, that success continued, as the team went 10-2 and captured the league title. Despite being based in Baltimore, the Stars played their home games at the University of Maryland’s Byrd Stadium in College Park. The Stars nickname, though carried over from Philadelphia, was tied to local mythology, as the “Baltimore Star” was said to have appeared over Fort McHenry during times of great crisis or danger. Despite the Stars’ success, the USFL suffered sagging attendance and was forced to disband following the 1985 season. Baltimore’s strong support of the Stars had some level of influence on Cleveland owner Art Modell, who moved his Browns to Charm City in 1996.
Baltimore Terrapins
Federal League (1914-1915)
Baltimore joined the new Federal League in 1914. Considered to be of Major League caliber, the league pulled talent from both the American and National leagues. Playing in a new ballpark right across the street from Jack Dunn’s minor league squad, the Terrapins finished that first season 4.5 games out of first place with a 80-74 record. In 1915, despite signing star pitcher Chief Bender to bolster attendance, the team collapsed, finishing 47-107. After just two seasons, the team…and the league, folded.