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Saturday, May 29, 2010

Franchise Performance Pt. 1 (#121 - #147)

Recapping the groundrules of the study, we are ranking all sports city-team combinations for playoff performance since 1974 using a poker like system:
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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