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Quiz about Sports Franchise Genealogy
Quiz about Sports Franchise Genealogy

Sports Franchise Genealogy Trivia Quiz


It's surprising how many sports franchises started in cities or with names quite different from how we know them today. Can you trace these family trees?

A multiple-choice quiz by NormanW5. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
NormanW5
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
218,641
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
411
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Question 1 of 10
1. The Los Angeles Lakers - how many lakes do you know in Los Angeles? However, the name makes more sense when one realizes that the team moved from a place with lakes. What was its name before the move? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which is the only one of these four familiar franchises that had the same name (both city and team) when the franchise started? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Many teams have moved more than once. Where did the Arizona Cardinals football team begin? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. On October 3, 1920, the Dayton Triangles defeated the Columbus Panhandles 14-0 in the very first National Football League game ever. Looking at those two charter teams, which of these statements is correct? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which of the following baseball franchise moves is incorrect? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The Colorado Rockies is not only the name of a baseball team, it was also one of the names of an NHL hockey team. Who were they before and after they were the Rockies? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. NFL - football's Oakland Raiders were one of the founding members of the American Football League in 1960. However, from 1982 to 1994, the franchise was known by a different name. What was that name? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Baseball - Five years after the Giants moved to San Francisco, they played in their previous city and stadium again, but this time as the visiting team. Who was now the home team? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Baseball - all four of these teams are comparatively new expansion teams. Three began their franchise history in the location indicated by their name, but one team's name changed as it moved between the 1971 and 1972 seasons. Which team moved? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. These four teams have all been quite stable, located in the same city and with the same name for a long time. In fact, only one had an earlier life as a major league franchise in any other city or with any other name than the one shown below. Which team is that? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The Los Angeles Lakers - how many lakes do you know in Los Angeles? However, the name makes more sense when one realizes that the team moved from a place with lakes. What was its name before the move?

Answer: Minneapolis Lakers

Founded in 1947, the Lakers spent 13 years in Minnesota before moving to dry Southern California.
2. Which is the only one of these four familiar franchises that had the same name (both city and team) when the franchise started?

Answer: Boston Celtics (basketball)

The 1901-02 Baltimore Orioles became the Manhattan Highlanders before they settled in the Bronx as the New York Yankees. And the Chicago Bears began as the Decatur Staleys (1920) and then the Chicago Staleys (1921). The Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958.
3. Many teams have moved more than once. Where did the Arizona Cardinals football team begin?

Answer: Chicago, Il

The Morgan Athletic Club started in Chicago in 1898. After a short stint as the Normals, they became the Racine Cardinals, one of the 10 charter members of the NFL. They then became the Chicago Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phoenix Cardinals and, in 1994, the Arizona Cardinals.
4. On October 3, 1920, the Dayton Triangles defeated the Columbus Panhandles 14-0 in the very first National Football League game ever. Looking at those two charter teams, which of these statements is correct?

Answer: The Dayton Triangles eventually became the Indianapolis Colts

By the late 1920s, seven of the original charter teams had folded, including Columbus. The Racine Cardinals moved to Comiskey Park and become known as the Chicago Cardinals, and the Decatur Staleys moved into Chicago and became the Chicago Bears. The Dayton Triangles played the longest as originally organized, but on July 12, 1930, John Dwyer purchased the Dayton franchise and moved them to Brooklyn, renaming them the Brooklyn Dodgers.

A few reorganizations later (Brooklyn Tigers, Boston Yanks, Dallas Texans), they became the Baltimore Colts and then the Indianapolis Colts.
5. Which of the following baseball franchise moves is incorrect?

Answer: Nationals from Toledo to Montreal to Washington, D. C.

The Montreal Expos were an expansion team and did not move from Toledo. The Athletics and the Braves kept the same team name at each stop. The Orioles were the Brewers for one year in Milwaukee before moving to become the St. Louis Browns.
6. The Colorado Rockies is not only the name of a baseball team, it was also one of the names of an NHL hockey team. Who were they before and after they were the Rockies?

Answer: Kansas City Scouts / New Jersey Devils

The Hamilton Tigers were the Brooklyn Americans when they went out of business. The Lowell Lock Monsters became the Lowell Devils in 2006 and then the Albany Devils in 2010.
7. NFL - football's Oakland Raiders were one of the founding members of the American Football League in 1960. However, from 1982 to 1994, the franchise was known by a different name. What was that name?

Answer: Los Angeles Raiders

The Raiders moved to Los Angeles because they were promised a better-equipped stadium and greater fan support. They moved back home to Oakland because they wanted a better-equipped stadium and greater fan support.
8. Baseball - Five years after the Giants moved to San Francisco, they played in their previous city and stadium again, but this time as the visiting team. Who was now the home team?

Answer: Mets

The Giants had played in the Polo Grounds in Manhattan while they were the New York Giants. The New York Mets played in the Polo Grounds for two years until Shea Stadium was ready to be occupied. The old New York Metropolitans were the inspiration for the team's name, but there is no other connection between the franchises.
9. Baseball - all four of these teams are comparatively new expansion teams. Three began their franchise history in the location indicated by their name, but one team's name changed as it moved between the 1971 and 1972 seasons. Which team moved?

Answer: Texas Rangers

The Rangers moved to Texas from Washington, D. C., where they had been the expansion Washington Senators (replacing the original Senators when they moved and became the Minnesota Twins). The Ranger's hands-on co-owner, George W. Bush, later moved from Texas to Washington, D. C.
10. These four teams have all been quite stable, located in the same city and with the same name for a long time. In fact, only one had an earlier life as a major league franchise in any other city or with any other name than the one shown below. Which team is that?

Answer: Boston Red Sox

Although the franchise we know as the Red Sox has been in Boston since 1901, the team was originally named the Boston Americans. It was later called the Boston Pilgrims from 1903-1906, after which it became the Red Sox.
Source: Author NormanW5

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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