Historically Worst Franchises in Pro Sports

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Pro Sports ▸ Historically Worst Franchises in Pro Sports
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:06 AM
What's the worst franchise in pro sports? Wins listed below don't include this year (MLB includes 2011) and are from http://mcubed.net/nfl/fwtot.shtml. Had to limit it to ten and tried to pick teams with lengthy histories that hadn't won titles/made the finals, but in some cases new teams are the absolute worst.

And I reluctantly put the Browns in even though they have a historically better winning percentage than several other franchises. No SB appearances, plus the bitching I'd hear if I didn't include them, made me include them :)

NBA
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies: 4 playoff appearances, 0 finals appearances, 450 wins over 17 seasons (.352 winning percentage)
Buffalo Braves/San Diego/LA Clippers: 7 playoff appearances, 0 finals appearances, 1207 wins over 41 seasons (.362)

NHL
Columbus Blue Jackets: 1 playoff appearance, 0 finals appearances, 313 wins over 10 seasons (.398)
Atlanta Thrashers: 1 playoff appearance, 0 finals appearances, 342 wins over 12 seasons (.399)

MLB
San Diego Padres: 5 playoff appearances, 2 WS appearances, no titles, 3,169 wins over 41 seasons (.463)
Seattle Mariners: 4 playoff appearances, 0 WS appearances, 2,589 wins over 33 seasons (.467)
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals: 1 playoff appearance, 0 WS appearances, 3,247 wins over 41 seasons (.475)

NFL (since 1966 season)
Detroit Lions: 9 playoff appearances, 0 Super Bowl appearances, 276 wins in 44 seasons (.407)
St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals: 6 playoff appearances, 1 Super Bowl appearance, 0 Super Bowl wins, 283 wins in 44 seasons (.417)
Cleveland Browns: 14 playoff appearances, 0 Super Bowl appearances, 296 wins in 44 seasons (.466)
Feb 6, 2012 11:06am
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:09 AM
No Pittsburgh Pirates?

Or is only in the last 15-20 years that they've been terrible?
Feb 6, 2012 11:09am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:11 AM
OSH;1077032 wrote:No Pittsburgh Pirates?

Or is only in the last 15-20 years that they've been terrible?
The Pirates have 5 WS titles to their name and 7 WS appearances, and historically have won at a good clip (.504). They've sucked royally lately but they've won a title in the past 40 years.
Feb 6, 2012 11:11am
Skyhook79's avatar

Skyhook79

Senior Member

5,739 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:16 AM
gorocks99;1077030 wrote:What's the worst franchise in pro sports? Wins listed below don't include this year (MLB includes 2011) and are from http://mcubed.net/nfl/fwtot.shtml. Had to limit it to ten and tried to pick teams with lengthy histories that hadn't won titles/made the finals, but in some cases new teams are the absolute worst.

And I reluctantly put the Browns in even though they have a historically better winning percentage than several other franchises. No SB appearances, plus the bitching I'd hear if I didn't include them, made me include them :)

NBA
Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies: 4 playoff appearances, 0 finals appearances, 450 wins over 17 seasons (.352 winning percentage)
Buffalo Braves/San Diego/LA Clippers: 7 playoff appearances, 0 finals appearances, 1207 wins over 41 seasons (.362)

NHL
Columbus Blue Jackets: 1 playoff appearance, 0 finals appearances, 313 wins over 10 seasons (.398)
Atlanta Thrashers: 1 playoff appearance, 0 finals appearances, 342 wins over 12 seasons (.399)

MLB
San Diego Padres: 5 playoff appearances, 2 WS appearances, no titles, 3,169 wins over 41 seasons (.463)
Seattle Mariners: 4 playoff appearances, 0 WS appearances, 2,589 wins over 33 seasons (.467)
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals: 1 playoff appearance, 0 WS appearances, 3,247 wins over 41 seasons (.475)

NFL (since 1970 merger)
Detroit Lions: 9 playoff appearances, 0 Super Bowl appearances, 276 wins in 40 seasons (.407)
St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals: 6 playoff appearances, 1 Super Bowl appearance, 0 Super Bowl wins, 283 wins in 40 seasons (.417)
Cleveland Browns: 14 playoff appearances, 0 Super Bowl appearances, 296 wins in 40 seasons (.466)
Isn't it 11?
Feb 6, 2012 11:16am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:18 AM
Skyhook79;1077038 wrote:Isn't it 11?
Good catch. The playoffs are in SB era, not since merger.
Feb 6, 2012 11:18am
B

BR1986FB

Senior Member

24,104 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:21 AM
gorocks99;1077034 wrote:The Pirates have 5 WS titles to their name and 7 WS appearances, and historically have won at a good clip (.504). They've sucked royally lately but they've won a title in the past 40 years.
The Browns also have 8 titles. Unless I counted wrong, the Browns were 423-270 for 61% winning percentage prior to the move to Baltimore. This dates back to their inception in 1946.
Feb 6, 2012 11:21am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:21 AM
BR1986FB;1077046 wrote:The Browns also have 8 titles. Unless I counted wrong, the Browns were 423-270 for 61% winning percentage prior to the move to Baltimore. This dates back to their inception in 1946.
Yeah, I'm dealing with SB era for the NFL.
Feb 6, 2012 11:21am
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:25 AM
Pitt Pirates
Feb 6, 2012 11:25am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:28 AM
I'd say Nats/Expos are worse than the Pirates. Sure, they've been AWFUL for 20 years but they've won two titles and been the playoffs nine times in the same time the Expos/Nats have been to the playoffs once.
Feb 6, 2012 11:28am
G

Gblock

Feb 6, 2012 11:30 AM
pirates and browns
Feb 6, 2012 11:30am
S

Sonofanump

Feb 6, 2012 11:43 AM
gorocks99;1077047 wrote:Yeah, I'm dealing with SB era for the NFL.
So historic means 1966 to present for all sports or just NFL? That works well for NHL since 12 teams where added from '66 to '72.
Feb 6, 2012 11:43am
Skyhook79's avatar

Skyhook79

Senior Member

5,739 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:43 AM
gorocks99;1077047 wrote:Yeah, I'm dealing with SB era for the NFL.
Technically the Super Bowl era really started in 1970.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_4968144_how-did-super-bowl-start.html

[h=2]The Merger[/h]
  • In 1966, the two leagues agreed to merge into one starting in 1970. As part of the agreement, their respective champions would meet every year to determine a "world champion of football."

[h=2]The First Game[/h]
  • The first Super Bowl--though it wasn't called that--was held on January 16th, 1967. The NFL's Green Bay Packers soundly defeated the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10.
Feb 6, 2012 11:43am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:44 AM
Damnitall, I'm using what the site gave me. Which is 1966 through 2010 seasons for the NFL and all history for the rest (I think, since it's not actually listed).
Feb 6, 2012 11:44am
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:49 AM
gorocks99;1077068 wrote:Damnitall, I'm using what the site gave me. Which is 1966 through 2010 seasons for the NFL and all history for the rest (I think, since it's not actually listed).
clearly you failed ha
Feb 6, 2012 11:49am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 11:51 AM
Raw Dawgin' it;1077074 wrote:clearly you failed ha
clearly.
Feb 6, 2012 11:51am
A

Al Bundy

Senior Member

4,180 posts
Feb 6, 2012 12:01 PM
gorocks99;1077068 wrote:Damnitall, I'm using what the site gave me. Which is 1966 through 2010 seasons for the NFL and all history for the rest (I think, since it's not actually listed).
So you are counting the Pirates championship from 1909 but not the Browns championship from 1964? :confused:
Feb 6, 2012 12:01pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 12:02 PM
Al Bundy;1077085 wrote:So you are counting the Pirates championship from 1909 but not the Browns championship from 1964? :confused:
Yes, because I didn't want to take the time to look up all the pre-1966 records for the NFL. Sue me. FWIW I think the Falcons have probably as poor a history, if not worse, than the Browns (1 SB appearance, 0 titles, .424 winning percentage since 1966). As mentioned above I included Cleveland because I knew there'd be bitching if they weren't there. Of course, there's bitching that they are there, so I don't know what I was thinking.
Feb 6, 2012 12:02pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Feb 6, 2012 12:26 PM
Blue Jackets are setting new standards for horrible play right now, which when combined by their utter lack of success previously, makes them #1 for me. The two basketball teams with worse franchise winning percentages at least are competent to good now.
Feb 6, 2012 12:26pm
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 6, 2012 12:28 PM
Gotta be Expos /Nationals franchise.
Feb 6, 2012 12:28pm
killer_ewok's avatar

killer_ewok

iRep

11,379 posts
Feb 6, 2012 12:45 PM
BR1986FB;1077046 wrote:The Browns also have 8 titles. Unless I counted wrong, the Browns were 423-270 for 61% winning percentage prior to the move to Baltimore. This dates back to their inception in 1946.

The NFL doesn't recognize those 4 AAFC titles in the mid-late 40's so I think 4 is accurate when listing the number of titles that the Cleveland Browns have won.
Feb 6, 2012 12:45pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 6, 2012 2:08 PM
gorocks99;1077034 wrote:The Pirates have 5 WS titles to their name and 7 WS appearances, and historically have won at a good clip (.504). They've sucked royally lately but they've won a title in the past 40 years.
Makes sense. I looked at the site briefly and had to take off. But yeah, the last 20ish years they've been awful.
gorocks99;1077052 wrote:I'd say Nats/Expos are worse than the Pirates. Sure, they've been AWFUL for 20 years but they've won two titles and been the playoffs nine times in the same time the Expos/Nats have been to the playoffs once.
Con_Alma;1077131 wrote:Gotta be Expos /Nationals franchise.
Yeah, that'd be the team that makes it too.
Feb 6, 2012 2:08pm
Little Danny's avatar

Little Danny

Senior Member

4,288 posts
Feb 6, 2012 2:42 PM
The Cincinnati Bengals have to be considered on the list. Three playoff appearances in the past 21 years, with no playoff wins during that time (the report said it did not take 2011 in consideration so it is actually 2 out of the past 20). The Bengals lead the league in 10 loss seasons during this time.
Feb 6, 2012 2:42pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 6, 2012 2:52 PM
Bengals have a pretty awful history as well, and their winning percentage is bottom 10 (since 1966) but making 2 super bowls, I left them off. That's more SBs than 14 franchises have made.
Feb 6, 2012 2:52pm
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

Senior Member

13,650 posts
Feb 6, 2012 3:30 PM
Expos/Nats. How do you only make the playoffs once in 41 years? Lions would be #2.

The NHL teams don't have the longevity to match up.
Feb 6, 2012 3:30pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 6, 2012 3:38 PM
I voted for the LA Clippers. They've got the worst winning percentage than anyone else in the longest amount of time. That's bad. Yeah, they've made 6 more playoff appearances than the Expos/Nats...but that's alright.
Feb 6, 2012 3:38pm