1) All teams chip in $10 at the beginning of the year
2) Winner takes 50%, Runner up 25%, Semifinalists 10%, remaining playoff teams split the last 5%
3) City/Team combinations are separate, the Charlotte Hornets are not associated with the New Orleans Hornets, etc.
We start here with the worst 20%. The threshold here was about -$170, meaning franchises that had played less than 17 season *cough* Houston Texans *cough* cannot lose enough to qualify. For the most part, you'll see franchises around most of the 37 seasons with little to show for it but a semifinal appearance or two. The ranking system is biased against teams that have been bad for a long time (is that really a bias)?
Keep in mind, playoff appearances in the NBA/NHL don't get you much. For a while, everyone in the NHL made the playoffs except 5 teams. Splitting 5% among 12 teams these days gets you less than a half of a percent. Postseasons wiped out by strike (1994 MLB, 2005 NHL) are obviously not included. Strike shortened seasons (1981 MLB, 1983 NFL) are.
Without further ado, the rankings...
Rank 147 146 145 144 143 142 141 140 139 138 137 136 135 134 133 132 131 130 129 128 127 126 125 124 123 122 121 | Winnings -$345.04 -$339.00 -$329.31 -$324.92 -$281.38 -$278.00 -$277.65 -$274.00 -$263.31 -$255.29 -$254.00 -$249.54 -$244.42 -$243.75 -$243.67 -$228.50 -$220.23 -$216.58 -$215.35 -$215.06 -$209.33 -$208.88 -$203.63 -$199.00 -$196.88 -$172.96 -$172.54 | Team Hawks Rangers Lions Chiefs Blues Brewers Kings Expos Jets Clippers Warriors Falcons Capitals Cubs Nuggets Mariners Canucks Bengals Maple Leafs Seahawks Kings Bucks Cavaliers Padres Chargers Whalers Timberwolves | City ATL DAL DET KC STL MIL LA MON NYC LA OAK ATL WAS CHI DEN SEA VAN CIN TOR SEA SAC MIL CLE SD SD HAR MSP | League NBA MLB NFL NFL NHL MLB NHL MLB NFL NBA NBA NFL NHL MLB NBA MLB NHL NFL NHL NFL NBA NBA NBA MLB NFL NHL NBA | Titles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | Finals 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 | Semis 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 0 2 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 5 2 1 5 4 2 4 0 1 | Playoffs 21 3 8 10 29 3 22 1 11 4 9 9 21 6 21 4 23 8 23 10 11 22 18 5 12 8 8 | Seasons 37 35 37 37 36 35 36 30 37 26 37 37 35 35 34 32 36 37 36 34 25 37 37 35 37 18 21 |
Discussion: The Atlanta Hawks win the worst franchise since 1974, with nary a semifinals (a.k.a conference finals) appearance throughout the 37 years. The Texas Rangers will supplant them if they do not make the playoffs this year (-$10) and may need to make the ALCS. The Hartford Whalers elbow their way into this group with 18 years of complete ineptitude before they moved to Charlotte.
One team actually won a title (1975 Golden State Warriors) registering as the worst team that has a title.
The two Cleveland Browns franchises (and Oakland Raiders) franchises are treated uniquely. The combined Browns would have been in this worst group .
The worst 27 break down by league as:
NBA: 8
NFL: 7
NHL: 6
MLB: 6
Cities that avoid this list include Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Miami, Houston, Buffalo, and Phoenix.
Cites that double up include Seattle, San Diego, and Atlanta.
Each team is summarized below. A reminder, the years below are the year of the playoffs, so for NFL, 2010 is associated with the 2009 regular season. For best season, playoff performance is given precedence over regular season record.
Number: 147
Team: Hawks
City: Atlanta
League: NBA
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 21
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1987 (57-25, lost in 2nd round of playoffs)
Worst year: 2005 (13-69)
Winnings: -$345.04
Number: 146
Team: Rangers
City: Dallas
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2009 (35)
Playoffs: 3
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1999 (95-67, lost in AL Division Series)
Worst year: 1985 (62-99)
Winnings: -$339.00
Number: 145
Team: Lions
City: Detroit
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 8
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1992 (12-4, lost in NFC Championship game)
Worst year: 2009 (0-16)
Winnings: -$329.81
Number: 144
Team: Chiefs
City: Kansas City
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 10
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1994 (11-5, lost in AFC Championship game)
Worst year: 2009 (2-14)
Winnings: -$324.92
Number: 143
Team: Blues
City: St. Louis
League: NHL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (36)
Playoffs: 29
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2001 (43-22-12-5, lost in Conference finals)
Worst year: 2006 (21-46-0-16)
Winnings: -$281.38
Number: 142
Team: Brewers
City: Milwaukee
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2009 (35)
Playoffs: 3
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 1982 (95-67-1, lost in World Series)
Worst year: 2002 (56-106)
Winnings: -$278.00
Number: 141
Team: Kings
City: Los Angeles
League: NHL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (36)
Playoffs: 22
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 1993 (39-35-10, lost in Stanley Cup Finals)
Worst year: 1985 (23-49-8-0)
Winnings: -$277.65
Number: 140
Team: Expos
City: Montreal
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2004 (30)
Playoffs: 1
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1994 (74-40, playoffs wiped out by strike)
Worst year: 1976 (55-107)
Winnings: -$274.00
Number: 139
Team: Jets
City: New York City
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 11
Semifinals: 3
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1999 (12-4, lost in AFC Championship game)
Worst year: 1997 (1-15)
Winnings: -$263.31
Number: 138
Team: Clippers
City: Los Angeles
League: NBA
Years: 1985 – 2010 (26)
Playoffs: 4
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2006 (47-35, lost in 2nd round of playoffs)
Worst year: 1987 (12-70)
Winnings: -$255.29
Number: 137
Team: Warriors
City: Oakland
League: NBA
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 9
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 1
Championships: 1
Best year: 1975 (48-34, won NBA Championship)
Worst year: 2001 (17-65)
Winnings: -$254.00
Number: 136
Team: Falcons
City: Atlanta
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 9
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 1999 (14-2, lost in Super Bowl)
Worst year(s): 1990,1997 (3-13)
Winnings: -$249.54
Number: 135
Team: Capitals
City: Washington
League: NHL
Years: 1975 – 2010 (35)
Playoffs: 21
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 1998 (40-30-12-0, lost in Stanley Cup Finals)
Worst year: 1975 (8-67-5)
Winnings: -$244.42
Number: 134
Team: Cubs
City: Chicago
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2009 (35)
Playoffs: 6
Semifinals: 3
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1984 (96-65, lost in NL Championship Series)
Worst year: 1980 (64-98)
Winnings: -$243.75
Number: 133
Team: Nuggets
City: Denver
League: NBA
Years: 1977 – 2010 (34)
Playoffs: 21
Semifinals: 3
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2009 (54-28, lost in Western Conference finals)
Worst year: 1998 (11-71)
Winnings: -$243.67
Number: 132
Team: Mariners
City: Seattle
League: MLB
Years: 1977 – 2009 (32)
Playoffs: 4
Semifinals: 3
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2001 (116-46, lost in AL Championship Series)
Worst year: 1978 (56-104)
Winnings: -$228.50
Number: 131
Team: Canucks
City: Vancouver
League: NHL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (36)
Playoffs: 23
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 2
Championships: 0
Best year: 1994 (41-40-3-0, lost in Stanley Cup Finals)
Worst year: 1999 (23-47-12-0)
Winnings: -$220.23
Number: 130
Team: Bengals
City: Cincinnati
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 8
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 2
Championships: 0
Best year(s): 1982, 1989 (12-4, lost in Super Bowl)
Worst year: 2003 (2-14)
Winnings: -$216.58
Number: 129
Team: Maple Leafs
City: Toronto
League: NHL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (36)
Playoffs: 23
Semifinals: 5
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2002 (43-25-10-4, lost in Conference finals)
Worst year: 1985 (20-52-8-0)
Winnings: -$215.35
Number: 128
Team: Seahawks
City: Seattle
League: NFL
Years: 1977 – 2010 (34)
Playoffs: 10
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 2006 (13-3, lost in Super Bowl)
Worst year: 1993 (2-14)
Winnings: -$215.06
Number: 127
Team: Kings
City: Sacramento
League: NBA
Years: 1986 – 2010 (25)
Playoffs: 11
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2002 (61-21, lost in Western Conference Finals)
Worst year: 2009 (17-65)
Winnings: -$209.33
Number: 126
Team: Bucks
City: Milwaukee
League: NBA
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 22
Semifinals: 5
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 1974 (59-33, lost in NBA Finals)
Worst year: 1994 (20-62)
Winnings: -$208.88
Number: 125
Team: Cavaliers
City: Cleveland
League: NBA
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 18
Semifinals: 4
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 2007 (50-32, lost in NBA Finals)
Worst year(s): 1982 (15-67)
Winnings: -$203.63
Number: 124
Team: Padres
City: San Diego
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2009 (35)
Playoffs: 5
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 2
Championships: 0
Best year: 1998 (98-64, lost in World Series)
Worst year: 1974 (60-102)
Winnings: -$199.00
Number: 123
Team: Chargers
City: San Diego
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 12
Semifinals: 4
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 1995 (11-5, lost in Super Bowl)
Worst year: 2001 (1-15)
Winnings: -$196.88
Number: 122
Team: Whalers
City: Hartford
League: NHL
Years: 1974 – 1991 (18)
Playoffs: 8
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1986 (40-36-4-0, lost in 2nd round of playoffs)
Worst year: 1983 (19-54-7-0)
Winnings: -$172.96
Number: 121
Team: Timberwolves
City: Minneapolis-St. Paul
League: NBA
Years: 1990 – 2010 (21)
Playoffs: 8
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2004 (58-24, lost in Western Conference finals)
Worst year(s): 1992, 2010 (15-67)
Winnings: -$172.54
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