Golden ages of sports cities

Washington is a weird one, since they've only had one or two teams most of the time. Would theirs be, say 1978-87? Bullets won one title and played for another, and then the Redskins won two Super Bowls, played in another, and were contending for them the rest of the time.

 

Cleveland's peak would have to be from '46 to '57. Browns won those four AAFC titles, plus NFL titles in '50, '54 and '55.

Indians won the World Series in '48, and had one of the all-time best teams in '54 despite losing the Series.

No NBA team, and with only six NHL franchises, the AHL was a bit of a bigger deal back then, and the Barons won the Calder Cup five times between '48-'57.

 

Caps also were good then. Stuck in the same division as the Islanders during their dynasty and the Flyers also were good through those years.

 

Hoyas and Terps hoops too.

 

Toronto: 1992-93, Jays win the World Series both years, Leafs go to the conference final in 93 against the Kings only to get fucked by Kerry Fraser.

 

The Bay Area set a high standard from 1987-1992: Four pennants and a World Series win for the A's, the third and fourth of the five Super Bowls the 49ers won during Eddie DeBartolo's ownership, two division titles and a pennant for the Giants (who didn't win anything from 1971-1987) and three playoff series victories for the Warriors. What a collection of personalities to watch while growing up: Run TMC, the Bash Brothers, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Bill Walsh, Rickey Henderson, Will Clark.

 

What about cities that have never had Golden Ages?

In Houston, the Oilers reached their peak in the mid-70s (but were never as good as the Steelers)

The Rockets basically have had two great seasons in 1994 ad '95.

The Astros didn't even make the playoffs until 1980 but were in the NL Championship and WS in 2004-05.

Never even had a decade with two teams winning or competing for championships.

 

Don't forget FernandoMania, USC Football's McKay/John Robinson years (two Heisman winners, three national titles). I'm sure you appreciate the flip side of this Golden Age: absolute domination of Bay Area teams:

- The 49ers went 3-23-1 against the Rams from 1967-1980.
- Cal lost 52 straight (!) to UCLA in basketball until 1986, and 18 straight (1972-89) in football.
- Between 1972-1985, the Giants finished beyond fourth place just twice while the Dodgers finished lower than second just twice.
- USC won at Stanford Stadium every year between 1970 and 1992.

 

Atlanta immediately comes to mind. Unless the '90s counts for one title and a bunch of good regular seasons, which it shouldn't.

Also, San Diego. No championships at all for the Padres and Chargers, IIRC. Plus, two NBA teams that each bolted within a few years.

 

Seattle comes to mind.

In the 80s, the Mariners sucked, the Seahawks had a good stretch, but never won a title and the Sonics were usually in the playoffs, but were stuck below the Celtics/Lakers/Sixers/Pistons group.

In the 90s,the Mariners were better, the Seahawks were meh and the Sonics again were mostly stuck below the elite.

 

The period from 1980-86 was pretty good for Houston. The Astros won the division twice and the Rockets made the NBA finals twice. I think the Oilers might have been in the playoffs once or twice, too, although they were between the Luv Ya Blue and Run and Shoot eras and we're never very memorable.
Still pretty bleak.

 

Yeah, but they get to live in San Diego. So their fans get no sympathy from me.