Big Z Man 1990
Registered User
In the early years of the 20th century, the major population centers of Anglo-America were all located in either the Northeast US, Midwestern US, or the Quebec City-Windsor corridor in Canada.
Because of that and the fact that travel methods weren't as advanced as they are now, the major sports leagues had all their teams in these sections of North America.
Major League Baseball's only team south of the Mason-Dixon line for decades was in Washington, which was close enough to the major Northeastern cities and now identifies as Northeastern itself. Nearby Baltimore finally joined them in 1954.
Until 1955, there were no MLB teams west of St. Louis. That year, the Athletics left Philadelphia for Kansas City.
But it was the moves of the NL's two NYC teams to California that was a real game changer. Still, it wouldn't be until 1962 that MLB had a team south of Washington, the Houston Astros. Since then, several more teams have relocated or been established south of Washington, west of Texas and even in Canada.
The NFL was similarly confined to the Northeast and Midwest until 1945. Though there was a team called Los Angeles Buccaneers in the 1920s, it was a traveling team and rather, it had many players from LA. The Rams' move to LA in 1946 truly established the NFL's first presence on the West Coast. They wouldn't have a successful team south of Washington however until the Dallas Cowboys were established in 1960. Today, the NFL has 32 teams across the US.
The NBA's direct predecessor the BAA was confined to the Northeast and Midwest along with one team in Toronto for one year in its early years. After merging with the NBL, the NBA did have one team in Denver, but they folded the next season. They would be confined to the Northeast and Midwest until 1960, when the Minneapolis Lakers moved to LA. Today, the 30 teams of the NBA include 29 across the US and 1 in Eastern Canada.
The NHL began with only teams in Eastern Canada. They first expanded into the US in 1924, but until the Original 6 era ended, the NHL's American teams were confined to the Midwest and the Northeast like the other major leagues were for many years. The 1967 expansion included 2 teams in California. Today, the 31 NHL teams include 24 across the US and 7 across Canada.
Because of that and the fact that travel methods weren't as advanced as they are now, the major sports leagues had all their teams in these sections of North America.
Major League Baseball's only team south of the Mason-Dixon line for decades was in Washington, which was close enough to the major Northeastern cities and now identifies as Northeastern itself. Nearby Baltimore finally joined them in 1954.
Until 1955, there were no MLB teams west of St. Louis. That year, the Athletics left Philadelphia for Kansas City.
But it was the moves of the NL's two NYC teams to California that was a real game changer. Still, it wouldn't be until 1962 that MLB had a team south of Washington, the Houston Astros. Since then, several more teams have relocated or been established south of Washington, west of Texas and even in Canada.
The NFL was similarly confined to the Northeast and Midwest until 1945. Though there was a team called Los Angeles Buccaneers in the 1920s, it was a traveling team and rather, it had many players from LA. The Rams' move to LA in 1946 truly established the NFL's first presence on the West Coast. They wouldn't have a successful team south of Washington however until the Dallas Cowboys were established in 1960. Today, the NFL has 32 teams across the US.
The NBA's direct predecessor the BAA was confined to the Northeast and Midwest along with one team in Toronto for one year in its early years. After merging with the NBL, the NBA did have one team in Denver, but they folded the next season. They would be confined to the Northeast and Midwest until 1960, when the Minneapolis Lakers moved to LA. Today, the 30 teams of the NBA include 29 across the US and 1 in Eastern Canada.
The NHL began with only teams in Eastern Canada. They first expanded into the US in 1924, but until the Original 6 era ended, the NHL's American teams were confined to the Midwest and the Northeast like the other major leagues were for many years. The 1967 expansion included 2 teams in California. Today, the 31 NHL teams include 24 across the US and 7 across Canada.