200px, rightThe following is a list of sports teams that either are currently or were previously based in

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

, USA. Teams still active in Cleveland are listed in bold.

Baseball

Active

* Cleveland Guardians, Major League Baseball (1901–present)

Defunct

* Cleveland Forest Citys, National Association (1871–1872) *

Cleveland Spiders The Cleveland Spiders were an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The team competed at the major league level from 1887 to 1899, first for two seasons as a member of the now-defunct American Association (AA), followed ...

, National League (1879–1884, 1889–1899) * Cleveland Blues,

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

(1887–1888) *

Cleveland Infants The Cleveland Infants were a one-year baseball team in the Players' League, a short-lived Major League that existed only for the 1890 season. Owned by Al Johnson, the Infants finished , their lone season, with 55 wins and 75 losses. Their home g ...

Players' League The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League (PL), was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century. The PL was formed by the Brotherhood of Prof ...

(1890) *

Cleveland Green Sox The Cleveland Green Sox were a baseball club based in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1913, the Green Sox were charter members of the Federal League. The Cleveland Green Sox were managed by Baseball Hall of Fame member Cy Young and played just the 1913 season ...

Federal League (1913) *

Cleveland Bearcats The Cleveland Bearcats were an American professional Minor League Baseball team that played in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1914 and 1915 as members of the American Association. They shared League Park with the American League's Cleveland Naps. After the 1 ...

(1914) *Cleveland Spiders,

(1915) *

Cleveland Tate Stars The Cleveland Tate Stars were a Negro league baseball team from 1919 through 1923. They played as an independent (non-affiliated) team from 1919 through 1921, and joined the Negro National League in 1922. In their only season as a full-fledged le ...

, Negro National League (1922) * Cleveland Browns, Negro National League (1924) *

Cleveland Elites The Cleveland Elites were a Negro league baseball team in the Negro National League, based in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1926. In their only season, they failed to finish the second half of the season. References African-American history in Clevel ...

, Negro National League (1926) * Cleveland Hornets, Negro National League (1927) * Cleveland Tigers, Negro National League (1928) *

Cleveland Cubs Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. m ...

, Negro National League (1931) *Cleveland Stars,

East-West League East West (or East and West) may refer to: *East–West dichotomy, the contrast between Eastern and Western society or culture Arts and entertainment Books, journals and magazines *'' East, West'', an anthology of short stories written by Salm ...

(1932) *

Cleveland Giants The Cleveland Giants were a Negro league baseball team. The team played only one year, 1933. Their home games were contested at Cleveland's Luna Bowl in Luna Park. History In 1933, the struggling Columbus Blue Birds of the Negro National League ...

, Negro National League (1933) *

Cleveland Red Sox The Cleveland Red Sox was a Negro league baseball team in the Negro National League, based in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1934. In their only season, they finished with a 4-25 record. References African-American history in Cleveland Negro league ...

, Negro National League (1934) *

Cleveland Bears Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

Negro American League The Negro American League was one of the several Negro leagues created during the time organized American baseball was segregated. The league was established in 1937, and disbanded after its 1962 season. Negro American League franchises :''An ...

(1939–1940) *

Cleveland Buckeyes The Cleveland Buckeyes were a Negro league baseball team that played from 1942 to 1950 in the Negro American League. The Buckeyes played in two Negro World Series, defeating the Washington Homestead Grays in 1945, and losing to the New York Cuba ...

, Negro American League (1943–1948, 1950)

Basketball

Men's basketball

Active

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers (often referred to as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...

, National Basketball Association (1970–present) * Cleveland Charge, NBA G League (established 2001, moved to Cleveland 2021)

Defunct

* Cleveland Rosenblums, American Basketball League (1925–31) *

Cleveland Chase Brassmen Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

, National Basketball League (1943–44) *

Cleveland Allmen Transfers Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

, National Basketball League (1944–46) * Cleveland Rebels,

Basketball Association of America The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. Following its third season, 1948–49, the BAA absorbed most of National Basketball League (NBL) and rebranded as the National Ba ...

(1946–47) *

Cleveland Pipers The Cleveland Pipers were an American industrial basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1950s and early 1960s. The Pipers are mostly known for having played in the short-lived American Basketball League from 1961–62. They were also a po ...

, American Basketball League (1961–1962)

Women's basketball

Defunct

Cleveland Rockers The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Cleveland, that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which started in 1997. The owner was Gordon Gu ...

, Women's National Basketball Association (1997–2003)

College

Active

Cleveland State Vikings The Cleveland State Vikings, or Vikes, are the athletic teams of Cleveland State University. Before as Fenn College they were known as the Fenn College Foxes or Fenn Foxes. Cleveland State competes in NCAA Division I. The Vikings have competed in ...

-- 17 Varsity (7 men's, 9 women's, 1 coed) ** Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball **

Cleveland State Vikings women's basketball The Cleveland State Vikings women's basketball team represents Cleveland State University in women's basketball. Since 1994, they have been a member of the Horizon League. The Cleveland State women's basketball team was formerly in the North Star ...

Cleveland State Vikings men's soccer The Cleveland State Vikings men's soccer team represent Cleveland State University in the Horizon League of NCAA Division I soccer. The team plays its home matches at Krenzler Field Krenzler Field is a soccer stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on the c ...

* Case Western Reserve Spartans -- 19 Varsity (10 men's, 9 women's) ** Case Western Reserve Spartans football

Defunct

* Ohio Chiropody (1929–41)

American Football

Active

* Cleveland Browns,

All-America Football Conference The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the ...

(1946–1949) National Football League (1950–1995, 1999–present) * Cleveland Fusion, Women's Football Alliance (2002–present)

Defunct/relocated

Cleveland Tigers (NFL) The Cleveland Tigers were the first Cleveland team franchise in what became the National Football League (NFL). The Tigers played in the "Ohio League" before joining the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Foot ...

APFA (1920), originally named as the Tigers in 1916Roberts, Milt (1979). "Peggy Parratt MVP" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association. 1 (6): 1–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-22. in the Ohio League; renamed Indians in 1921 *

Cleveland Indians (NFL 1931) The Cleveland Indians were a professional football team in the National Football League for the 1931 season. The 1931 team was a league-sponsored club that played the majority of their games on the road. The NFL had acquired the franchise of ...

, league-sponsored team that only played on the road *

Cleveland Bulldogs The Cleveland Bulldogs were a team that played in Cleveland, Ohio in the National Football League. They were originally called the Indians in 1923, not to be confused with the Cleveland Indians NFL franchise in 1922. However, after team owner S ...

NFL (1924–1925) (1927), named as the Cleveland Indians in 1923 * Cleveland Panthers

AFL AFL may refer to: Sports * American Football League (AFL), a name shared by several separate and unrelated professional American football leagues: ** American Football League (1926) (a.k.a. "AFL I"), first rival of the National Football Leagu ...

(1926) * Cleveland Rams AFL (1936) NFL (1937–1942) (1944–1945) (now known as the

Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The Rams play ...

) *

Cleveland Thunderbolts The Cleveland Thunderbolts were an Arena football team based in Richfield, Ohio. The Thunderbolts were founded in 1991 and were a member of the Arena Football League (AFL). In 1994, the franchise relocated to Columbus The team played for four se ...

AFL (Arena) (1992–1994), relocated from Columbus, Ohio *

Cleveland Crush The Toledo Crush were a women's indoor football team in the Legends Football League, formerly known as the Lingerie Football League before 2013. The Crush began play for the 2011–12 season as the Cleveland Crush with home games at Quicken Loans ...

, Legends Football League (2011–13) * Cleveland Gladiators, Arena Football League (2008, 2010–2020)

Ice hockey

Active

* Cleveland Monsters, American Hockey League (2007–present)

Defunct/relocated

* Cleveland Indians, International Hockey League (1929–34) * Cleveland Falcons, IHL & AHL (1934–37) *

Cleveland Barons The name Cleveland Barons has been used by three professional hockey teams and one junior team. *Cleveland Barons (NHL), the National Hockey League team that played between 1976 and 1978 *Cleveland Barons (1937–1973), the original American Hockey ...

, American Hockey League relocated to Jacksonville, Florida (1937–73) *

Cleveland Crusaders The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976. Their home ice was the Cleveland Arena from 1972 to 1974, and the Richfield Coliseum from 1974 to 1976. T ...

, World Hockey Association (1972–76) *

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

(1976–78) * Cleveland Lumberjacks, IHL (1992–2001) *

, American Hockey League relocated to Worcester, Massachusetts(2001–06) *

Cleveland Jr. Barons The Cleveland Jr. Barons were a junior ice hockey team that played in the North American Hockey League and played out of Parma, Ohio. They were a branch of the Cleveland Barons Hockey Association. Their top accomplishment was winning the 2006 North ...

, NAHL (2005–06)

Roller Derby

Active

* Burning River Roller Derby, Women's Flat Track Derby Association (2006-Present) *Cleveland Men's Roller Derby Guardians, Men's Roller Derby Association (2013-Present)

Rugby league

Cleveland Rugby League The Cleveland Rugby League are an American amateur rugby league football club based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are a founding member of the new North American Rugby League that will begin in 2022. History The Cleveland Rugby League team were fir ...

, North American Rugby League (2021-Present)

Rugby union

Active

* Cleveland Rovers RFC, USA Rugby (1978–present) *Cleveland Women's RFC, Iron Maidens (2003 - present) *Cleveland Crusaders RFC, (2015-present)

Soccer

Active

* Cleveland Crunch,

Major League Indoor Soccer Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicator ...

(1989-present) * Cleveland SC, National Premier Soccer League (2018–present)

Defunct/relocated

Cleveland Stokers The Cleveland Stokers were a soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio that played in the United Soccer Association during 1967 and the North American Soccer League in 1968. Their home field was Cleveland Stadium. History United Soccer Association In ...

North American Soccer League The North American Soccer League may refer to: *North American Soccer League (1968–1984), a former Division I league *North American Soccer League (2011–2017) The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer league b ...

(1967–68) * Cleveland Stars, American Soccer League (1972–73) (name change from Cleveland Stars to Cleveland Cobras before 1974 season commenced) * Cleveland Cobras, American Soccer League (1974–81) * Cleveland Force,

MISL The Misls (derived from an Arabic word wikt:مثل#Etymology_3, مِثْل meaning 'equal') were the twelve sovereign states of the Sikh Confederacy, which rose during the 18th century in the Punjab region in the northern part of the Indian ...

(1978–88) * Cleveland Force,

(2002–2005) (name change from Cleveland Crunch back to Cleveland Force in 2002, when NPSL became the MISL) * Cleveland City Stars, USL First Division (2006–09) * Cleveland Internationals, USL PDL (2004–10) * Cleveland Freeze, Professional Arena Soccer League (2013–2014) *

AFC Cleveland AFC Cleveland was an American semi-professional soccer club based in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, Ohio. Founded in 2011 and playing its first season in 2012, the team spent six years in the fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League. A ...

, National Premier Soccer League (2012–2017)

Softball

Defunct

* Cleveland Jaybirds, American Professional Slow Pitch League (1977–78) *

Cleveland Stepien's Competitors The Cleveland Jaybirds (1977–78), later named the Cleveland Stepien's Competitors (1979–80) and finally the Cleveland Competitors (1982), were a professional softball team that played in three professional softball leagues between 1978 and 198 ...

, American Professional Slow Pitch League (1979) *

, North American Softball League (1980) *

Cleveland Competitors The Cleveland Jaybirds (1977–78), later named the Cleveland Stepien's Competitors (1979–80) and finally the Cleveland Competitors (1982), were a professional softball team that played in three professional softball leagues between 1978 and 198 ...

, United Professional Softball League (1982)

Indoor professional team tennis

Defunct

Cleveland Nets Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. m ...

(featured

Björn Borg Björn Rune Borg (; born 6 June 1956) is a Swedish former world No. 1 tennis player. Between 1974 and 1981, he became the first man in the Open Era to win 11 Grand Slam singles titles with six at the French Open and five consecutively at Wimb ...

Martina Navratilova Martina Navratilova ( cs, Martina Navrátilová ; ; born October 18, 1956) is a Czech–American, former professional tennis player. Widely considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, Navratilova won 18 major singles titles, 31 maj ...

), World Team Tennis (1974–77)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cleveland Sports Teams

Sports teams A sports team is a group of individuals who play sports ( sports player), usually team sports, on the same team. The number of players in the group depends on type of the sports requirements. Historically, sports teams and the people who play ...

Lists of sports clubs and teams in the United States Ohio sports-related lists

Baseball

Active

Defunct

Basketball

Men's basketball

Active

Defunct

Women's basketball

Defunct

College

Active

Defunct

American Football

Active

Defunct/relocated

Ice hockey

Active

Defunct/relocated

Roller Derby

Active

Rugby league

Rugby union

Active

Soccer

Active

Defunct/relocated

Softball

Defunct

Indoor professional team tennis

Defunct

See also

References