RAMS GO FOR GOLD : On the Move

Several of today’s major professional sports franchises started in other places and had other names. Here are the teams in the four major sports that moved from one metropolitan market to another:

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

* Oakland Raiders (1960-1981), Los Angeles Raiders (1982-present)

* Los Angeles Chargers (1960), San Diego Chargers (1961-present)

* Dallas Texans (1960-62), Kansas City Chiefs (1963-present)

* Dallas Texans (1952), Baltimore Colts (1953-1983), Indianapolis Colts (1984-present)

* Cleveland Rams (1937-1945), Los Angeles Rams (1946-1994), St. Louis Rams (1995)

* Chicago Cardinals (1920-1959), St. Louis Cardinals (1960-1987), Arizona Cardinals (1988-present)

* Boston Braves (1932-36), Washington Redskins (1937-present)

* Portsmouth Spartans (1930-33), Detroit Lions (1934-present)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSN.

* San Diego Rockets (1967/68-1970/71), Houston Rockets (1971/72-present)

* Dallas Chaparrals (1967/68-1972/73), San Antonio Spurs (1973/74-present)

* Minneapolis Lakers (1948/49-1959/60), Los Angeles Lakers (1960/61-present)

* New Orleans Jazz (1974/75-1978/79), Utah Jazz (1979/80-present)

* Rochester Royals (1948/49-1956/57), Cincinnati Royals (1957/58-1971/72), Kansas City-Omaha Kings (1972/73-1984/85), Sacramento Kings (1985/86-present)

* Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949/50-1950/51), Milwaukee Hawks (1951/52-1954/55), St. Louis Hawks (1955/56-1967/68), Atlanta Hawks (1968/69-present)

* Philadelphia Warriors (1946/47-1961/62), San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1962/63-present)

* Syracuse Nationals (1949/50-1962/63), Philadelphia 76ers (1963/64-present)

* Fort Wayne Pistons (1948/59-1956/57), Detroit Pistons (1957/58-present)

* Buffalo Braves (1970/71-1977/78), San Diego Clippers (1978/79-1983/84), Los Angeles Clippers (1984/85-present)

* Chicago Packers (1961/62-1962/63), Baltimore Bullets (1963/64-1972/73), Capital/Washington Bullets (1973/74-present)

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

* Kansas City Scouts (1974/75-1975/76), Colorado Rockies (1976/77-1981/82), New Jersey Devils (1982/83-present)

* Atlanta Flames (1972/73-1979/80), Calgary Flames (1980/81-present)

* Minnesota North Stars (1967/68-1992/93), Dallas Stars (1993/94-present)

* New England Whalers (1972/73-1978/79), Hartford Whalers (1979/80-present)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

* Baltimore Orioles (1901-02), New York Yankees (1903-present)

* Milwaukee Brewers (1901), St. Louis Browns (1902-1953), Baltimore Orioles (1954-present)

* Washington Senators (1901-1960), Minnesota Twins (1961-present)

* Seattle Pilots (1969), Milwaukee Brewers (1970-present)

* Washington Senators (1961-1971), Texas Rangers (1972-present)

* Philadelphia A’s (1901-1954), Kansas City A’s (1955-1967), Oakland A’s (1968-present)

* Boston Braves (1876-1952), Milwaukee Braves (1953-1965), Atlanta Braves (1966-present)

* Brooklyn Dodgers (1890-1957), Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-present)

* New York Giants (1883-1957), San Francisco Giants (1958-present)

THEY CALLED ST. LOUIS HOME

The city has been a starting point, stopover or burial ground for franchises in several pro sports leagues. The Rams will join the home-grown baseball Cardinals and the hockey Blues. St. Louis franchises:

Football

* Chicago Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Cardinals (NFL)

* Cleveland Rams, Los Angeles Rams, St. Louis Rams (NFL)

Basketball

* Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Milwaukee Hawks, St. Louis Hawks, Atlanta Hawks (NBA)

* St. Louis Bombers (franchise folded after 1949-50 season) (NBA)

* Houston Mavericks, Carolina Cougars, St. Louis Spirits (franchise, American Basketball Assn. folded after 1975-76 season)

Hockey

* Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Eagles (franchise folded after 1934-35 season) (NHL)

* St. Louis Blues (NHL)

Baseball

* St. Louis Cardinals (NL)

* Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles (AL)

* St. Louis Terriers (franchise and Federal League folded after 1915 season)

Sources: Complete Encyclopedia of Hockey, Hockey Encyclopedia, NHL Official Guide and Record Book, Sporting News Complete Hockey Book, National Football League Record & Fact Book, Baseball Encyclopedia, National League Green Book, American League Red Book, Sporting News NBA Guide

Researched by MARK PARGAS / Los Angeles Times