⚾ MLB: 1901-2021
121 9
One of the eight original American League teams beginning with the 1901 season.
🏈 NFL: 1960-2021
62 6
Founded in 1959 as the Boston Patriots, the team was a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) before joining the NFL in 1970 through the AFL–NFL merger. The Patriots played their home ga...
🏀 NBA: 1947-2021
75 17
Founded in 1946 as one of the league's original eight teams, the Celtics play their home games at TD Garden, which they share with the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins. The Celtics are regarded ...
NHL: 1925-2021
97 6
One of the Original Six hockey teams, in existence since 1924, making them the third-oldest active team in the NHL, and the oldest to be based in the United States.
Defunct Teams
Teams that have folded or moved away from the Boston/New England area.F i l t e r & S o r t Filter & Sort
NHL: 1973-1997
25 1
The franchise was formed in 1971 as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers saw success immediately, winning the Eastern Division in the WHA's first three seasons, a...
⚾ MLB: 1871-1952
82 13
Left the National Association to become one of 8 founding clubs of the NL in 1876. Left Boston and relocated to Milwaukee in 1953. Left Milwaukee to become the Atlanta Braves in 1966.
🏀 BAA: 1947-1949
3
The Steamrollers were one of the original eleven NBA franchises (when the league was called the Basketball Association of America). The franchise posted an all-time record of 46–122 (.274) before fold...
🏈 NFL: 1944-1948
5
The Colts have competed as a member club of the NFL since their founding in Baltimore in 1953 after then-owner Carroll Rosenbloom purchased the assets of the NFL's last founding Ohio League member Day...
🏈 AFL2: 1936-1937
2 1
The Boston Shamrocks were a professional American football team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The team played in the second American Football League from 1936 to 1937, followed by at least one year ...
🏈 NFL: 1932-1936
5
Formerly known as the Washington Redskins, the team competes in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the NFC East division. The team plays its home games at FedExField in Landover, M...
🏀 ABL: 1926-1935
10
In it's only season, the team was stocked with some of the best-known pro players of the era. Most of his stars, however, were in their early thirties and years beyond their prime.
🏈 NFL: 1925-1931
7 1
The Providence Steam Rollers (also referred to as the Providence Steam Roller, the Providence Steamroller and the Providence Steamrollers) was a professional American football team based in Providence...
🏈 NFL: 1929-1929
1
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in the Northeastern part of the state. Founded in 1920, they played in the National Football League (NFL) from ...
🏈 NFL: 1926-1926
1
The Hartford Blues of the National Football League played only in the 1926 NFL season, with a record of 3–7. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut but played at the East Hartford Velodrome....
⚾ Negro: 1906-1917
12
Also known as the Boston Giants and Boston Colored Giants, they were often marketed as the Quaker Giants and Philadelphia Giants. The team mostly served as a farm team of sorts for the league.
🏀 NEL: 1901-1905
5
Lowell-Pawtuckettville Athletic Club played for 5 seasons from 1901 to 1905, several in the NEL, before folding....
🏀 NEL: 1904-1905
2
Haverhill (Mass.) played for 2 seasons from 1904 to 1905, several in the NEL, before folding....
🏀 NEL: 1902-1904
3 1
South Framingham (Mass.) played for 3 seasons from 1902 to 1904, several in the NEL, before folding....
🏀 MCBL: 1899-1903
5 1
Marlboro YMCA transfered to Webster on December 15, 1899
⚾ AA: 1890-1891
2 2
Joined the American Association after the Players League folded following the 1890 season.
The AA folded the following season and the Reds players were absorbed into existing NL clubs in 1892.
⚾ NL: 1878-1885
8 2
After 8 years in the National League, the franchise folded following the 1885 season.
⚾ UA: 1884-1884
1
Team disbanded after the Union Association folded following the 1884 season.
⚾ NL: 1880-1882
3
After 3 years in the National League, the franchise folded following the 1882 season.
⚾ NL: 1874-1876
3
Left the National Association to become one of 8 founding clubs of the National League in 1876. Left Hartford and relocated to Brooklyn in 1877 and folded after the season.
⚾ NABBP: 1867-1870
4
The Tri-Mountain Club of Boston in the NABBP were one of the earliest known baseball teams. Based in Boston, their earliest known game was played in 1857. Another club has recently organized in Bost...
⚾ NABBP: 1866-1868
3
The Lowell Club of Boston in the NABBP were one of the earliest known baseball teams. Based in Boston, their earliest known game was played on March 18, 1861...
The early history of sports contains hundreds of teams that appeared for only 1 or 2 seasons before folding. Most of these teams have no historical photographs or articles, so are omitted from this list to reduce clutter. To view a comprehensive list of all defunct teams, browse to the early leagues section for baseball, football, basketball, or hockey.