List of defunct Pennsylvania sports teams explained

This is a list of former sports teams from the US state of Pennsylvania:

Australian rules football

American leagues

United States Australian Football League

• Lehigh Valley Crocs
• Pittsburgh Wallabies

Baseball

Major baseball leagues

American Association (1882–1891)

• Philadelphia Athletics (1882–1891)
• Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1882–1886) (Now the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League)

Federal League (1913–1915)

• Pittsburgh Rebels (1913–1915)

National Association of Base Ball Players (1861–1870)

• Athletic of Philadelphia

National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (1871–1875)

• Philadelphia Athletics (1871–1875)
• Philadelphia White Stockings (1873–1875) (also sometimes called "Pearls" or "Phillies")
• Philadelphia Centennials (1875)

Negro leagues (1885–1951)

• Harrisburg Giants (1924–1929)
• Hilldale Daisies (1910–1932)
• Philadelphia Giants
• Philadelphia Pythians
• Philadelphia Stars (1934–1948)
• Philadelphia Tigers (1928)
• Homestead Grays (1929–1948)
• Pittsburgh Crawfords (1931–1938)
• Pittsburgh Keystones

Players' League (1890)

• Philadelphia Quakers/Athletics (PL/AA) (1890)
• Pittsburgh Burghers (1890)

Union Association (1884)

• Altoona Mountain Citys (1884)
• Philadelphia Keystones (1884)
• Pittsburgh Stogies (1884)

Minor League Baseball

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball

• Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds (2000–2001)
• Pennsylvania Road Warriors (2002–2004)

Eastern League (1923–current)

• Allentown Brooks (1935–1936)
• Allentown Cardinals (1935–1936)
• Allentown Chiefs (1957)
• Allentown Red Sox (1935–1936)
• Johnstown Johnnies (1955–1956)
• Johnstown Red Sox (1961)
• Lancaster Red Roses (1896–1961)
• Philadelphia Phillies (minor league) (1892)
• Reading Brooks (1935–1936)
• Reading Indians (1952–1957) (Now Reading Phillies)
• Reading Red Sox (1933–1965) (Now Pittsfield Red Sox)
• Scranton Red Sox
• Wilkes-Barre Barons (1933–1972)
• Wilkes-Barre Indians
• Williamsport A's
• Williamsport Bills (1987–1991)
• Williamsport Grays (1924–1962)
• Williamsport Mets (1964–1967)
• Williamsport Tigers
• Williamsport Tomahawks
• York Pirates (1884–1969)
• York White Roses (1884–1969)

Frontier League (1993–current)

• Erie Sailors (1994) (became Johnstown Steal)
• Johnstown Johnnies (1995–1997) (renamed Johnstown Johnnies)
• Johnstown Johnnies (1998–2002) (now Florence Y'alls)

International League (1885–)

• Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (1998–2006) (renamed Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees from 2007-2012)(Now Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, renamed in 2013)

New York–Penn League (1939–)

• Erie Cardinals
• Erie Orioles (ended 1990) (changed name to "Sailors")
• Erie Sailors (1990–1992)
• Erie Tigers
• Williamsport Astros (1971–1972)
• Williamsport Red Sox (1971–1972)

Heartland League

• Altoona Rail Kings (1997)

North Atlantic League

• Altoona Rail Kings (1996)

Northern League

• Allentown Ambassadors (1997–2003)

Basketball

Major basketball leagues

National Basketball Association (NBA)

• Philadelphia Warriors (1946–1962) now the Golden State Warriors
• Pittsburgh Ironmen (1946–1947)

Minor basketball leagues

American Basketball Association (1967–1976)

• Pennsylvania Pit Bulls (2004–2005)
• Pittsburgh Condors (1970–1972)
• Pittsburgh Hardhats (2004)
• Pittsburgh Pipers (1967–1968)

American Basketball League

• Scranton Miners (1950?–1996)

Continental Basketball Association

• Pittsburgh Piranhas (1994–1995)
• Pittsburgh Xplosion (2005–2008)
• Wilkes-Barre Barons (1914–1978)

National Alliance of Basketball Leagues(1938–)

• Philadelphia Tapers (1962–1963)

United States Basketball League

• Philadelphia Aces
• Philadelphia Spirit
• Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs (1999–2007)

Women's Basketball League

• Philadelphia Fox 1979 (folded mid-season)

Football

Major football leagues

Early athletic clubs

• Allegheny Athletic Association
• Duquesne Country and Athletic Club
• Franklin Athletic Club
• Greensburg Athletic Association
• Homestead Library & Athletic Club
• Jeanette Athletic Association
• Latrobe Athletic Association
• McKeesport Olympics
• Oil City Athletic Club
• Pittsburgh Athletic Club (football)

American Association (football)

• Bethlehem Bulldogs
• Wilkes-Barre Bullets
• Erie Vets

American Football League (1926)

• Philadelphia Quakers (1926)

American Football League (1936)

• Pittsburgh Americans

Anthracite League

• Coaldale Big Green
• Gilberton Cadamounts
• Shenandoah Yellow Jackets
• Wilkes-Barre Barons (football)

Eastern League of Professional Football

• All-Lancaster Red Roses
• Bethlehem Bears
• Mount Carmel Wolverines
• Shenandoah Red Jackets

National Football League

• Dallas Texans (NFL) (1951–1952) (Traveling team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania)
• Frankford Yellow Jackets (1924–1928)
• Pottsville Maroons (1925–1928)

World War II merger teams

• Chicago-Pittsburgh "Card-Pitt" (1944)
• Pitt-Phil "Steagles" (1943)

Mid Continental Football League

• Erie Hawks

National Football League (1902)

• Philadelphia Athletics (NFL)
• Philadelphia Phillies (NFL)
• Pittsburgh Stars

United States Football League

• Philadelphia Stars (1983–1985)
• Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)

World Football League

• Philadelphia Bell (1974–1975)

Pennsylvania Professional Football League (1946–1949)^{[1] [2]}

• Eastern Division
  • Shamokin Indians^[3]
  • Pottsville Maroons
  • Shenandoah Presidents
  • Allentown Buccaneers
  • York Roses
  • Harrisburg Senators
  • Philadelphia Yellow Jackets
• Western Division
  • McKeesport-Duquesne Ironmen^[4]
  • New Kensington Alumineers
  • Johnstown Clippers
  • McKees Rocks Rockets
  • Altoona Mountanineers
  • Jeannette Boosters

Anthracite Professional Football League (1949)^[5]

• Shamokin Maroons^[6]
• Tamaqua
• Mahanoy City
• Hazleton

Arena/indoor football

Arena Football League

• Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987–1990) (now the Tampa Bay Storm)

American Indoor Football Association

• Johnstown Riverhawks (2005–2007)
• Erie Freeze (2005–2007)

Continental Football League

• Philadelphia Bulldogs 1965–1966

Indoor Football League

• Erie Invaders (2000)

National Indoor Football League

• Johnstown J Dogs (2000–2001)

Hockey

Major hockey associations

National Hockey League

• Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL) (1925–1930)
• Philadelphia Quakers (NHL) (1930–1931)

World Hockey Association

• Philadelphia Blazers (1972–1973)

Western Pennsylvania Hockey League

• Duquesne Athletic Club (1908–1909)
• Duquesne Country and Athletic Club (1895–1901)
• Pittsburgh Athletic Club (1895–1904, 1907–1909)
• Pittsburgh Bankers (1899–1904, 1907–1909)
• Pittsburgh Keystones (1900–1904)
• Pittsburgh Lyceum (1907–1908)
• Pittsburgh Pirates (1907–1908)
• Pittsburgh Victorias (1902–1904)

Minor leagues

American Hockey League

• Erie Blades (1975–1982)
• Philadelphia Firebirds (1974–1979)
• Philadelphia Arrows (1927–1935) (Became Philadelphia Ramblers)
• Philadelphia Ramblers (1935–1941)
• Philadelphia Rockets (1941–1942)
• Philadelphia Phantoms (1996–2009)
• Pittsburgh Hornets (1936–1956, 1961–1967)

East Coast Hockey League/ECHL

• Erie Panthers (1988–1996)
• Johnstown Chiefs (1988–2010)

Eastern Hockey League

• Erie Blades (1979–1981)
• Hershey B'ars/Hershey Bears (1933–1938)
• Hershey Cubs (1938–1939)
• Johnstown Bluebirds (1941–1942)
• Johnstown Jets (1950–1977)
• Johnstown Red Wings (1979–1980)
• Philadelphia Falcons (1942–1946; 1951–1952)
• Philadelphia Ramblers (1955–1964)

International Hockey League (1929–1936)

• Pittsburgh Shamrocks (1935–1936)
• Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets (1915–1925, 1930–1932)

Mid-Atlantic Hockey League

• Mon Valley Thunder (2007–2008)
• Valley Forge Freedom (2007–2008)

North American Hockey League

• Keystone Ice Miners (2014–2015)
• Pittsburgh Forge (2001–2004)

Roller Hockey International

• Philadelphia Bulldogs (1994–1996)
• Pittsburgh Phantoms (1994)

Lacrosse

Major American leagues

National Lacrosse League

• Pittsburgh Bulls (1990–1993)
• Pittsburgh CrosseFire (2000)
• Philadelphia Wings (1974–1975)
• Philadelphia Wings (1987–2014)

Soccer

Major leagues

North American Soccer League

• Philadelphia Atoms (1973–1976)
• Philadelphia Fury (1978–1980)

Minor leagues

Continental Soccer League

• Pittsburgh Stingers

American Soccer League

• Pennsylvania Stoners 1979–1983

Major Indoor Soccer League

• Pittsburgh Spirit (1978–1980)
• Philadelphia Fever (1978–1980)

National Professional Soccer League

• Pittsburgh Phantoms (1967)
• Philadelphia Spartans 1967

United Soccer Leagues Second Division

• Philadelphia Freedom (1994–1997)

USL Championship

• Penn FC (2003–2018; known as Harrisburg City Islanders before the 2018 season)

Women's United Soccer Association

• Philadelphia Charge 2002–2003

Women's Professional Soccer

• Philadelphia Independence 2010–2011

Softball

Men's Professional Softball

APSPL, NASL, UPSL

• Pittsburgh Champions (1980, NASL)
• Pittsburgh Hardhats (1977-1982, APSPL, USPL)
• Philadelphia Athletics (1977-1980, APSPL)

Notes and References

1. News: Clipping from The Evening Sun - Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. 2018-07-22. en.
2. News: Pennsylvania Professional Football Leauge [sic] - Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. 2018-07-22. en.
3. News: Clipping from Harrisburg Telegraph - Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. 2018-07-22. en.
4. News: Clipping from Shamokin News-Dispatch - Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. 2018-07-22. en.
5. News: Clipping from Shamokin News-Dispatch - Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. 2018-07-22. en.
6. News: Clipping from Shamokin News-Dispatch - Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. 2018-07-22. en.