Franchise Performance Pt. 3 (#61 - #90)

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.

Totals through the 2010 NBA/NHL Finals are included.

Number 121-147 were revealed in part 1
Number 91-120 were revealed in part 2

The third batch (the most average teams in terms of success). In this batch, we tend to see franchises who have been around for 5-10 years with no titles, or teams that were around for all the years with one title or a handful of strong runs. Not team in this group has turned a profit, so >60% of teams in this format are in the red. Not surprising since it seems like a handful of teams get more than their share of titles.

Rank 90 89 88 87 86 85 84 83 82 81 80 79 77 77 76 75 74 73 72 70 70 69 68 66 66 65 64 63 62 61

Winnings -$86.29 -$85.29 -$81.25 -$80.00 -$77.75 -$75.08 -$74.31 -$69.00 -$68.15 -$66.52 -$62.69 -$62.50 -$60.00 -$60.00 -$58.88 -$58.75 -$57.50 -$53.04 -$52.50 -$50.00 -$50.00 -$47.02 -$45.71 -$45.00 -$45.00 -$44.88 -$44.19 -$40.38 -$37.06 -$31.88

Team Grizzlies Rangers Jaguars Texans Rockies Hornets Bears Orioles Eagles Packers Flames Pirates Grizzlies Clippers Rockies Bobcats Wild Senators Mets Nationals Jazz Suns NorthStars Rays Twins Braves Bills Flames Raiders II Jazz

City MEM NYC JAX HOU DEN NO CHI BAL PHI MIL ATL PIT VAN SD DEN CHA MSP OTT NYC WAS NO PHO MSP TAM MSP BUF BUF CGY OAK SLC

League NBA NHL NFL NFL MLB NBA NFL MLB NFL NFL NHL MLB NBA NBA NHL NBA NHL NHL MLB MLB NBA NBA NHL MLB MLB NBA NFL NHL NFL NBA

Titles 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0

Finals 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 2 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 1 2 0 4 3 1 2

Semis 0 6 2 0 1 0 4 5 6 4 0 6 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 0 0 9 4 1 3 0 5 3 2 6

Playoffs 3 24 6 0 3 4 13 5 18 13 6 6 0 0 1 1 3 12 5 0 0 28 12 1 7 3 13 20 3 24

Seasons 9 36 15 8 16 8 37 35 37 37 7 35 6 6 6 6 9 17 35 5 5 37 20 12 35 5 37 29 15 31

Discussion: Blackhawks nudged their way out of this group with the Stanley Cup this year. An odd assortment of teams in this group. Both Grizzlies, both Jazz, both Flames, Buffalo Braves and Buffalo Bills side by side. Two different Colorado Rockies. Lots of teams from Minneapolis-St. Paul. Then some stalwart franchises like the Eagles, Bears, Packers, Twins, and Mets. Twins are the worst team with two titles (again, since 1974).

The break down of this set by league as:
NBA: 9
NFL: 7
MLB: 7
NHL: 7

City with at least two teams and still with no appearances (all teams in the top 40%) are Boston.

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: 90
Team: Grizzlies
City: Memphis
League: NBA
Years: 2002 – 2010 (9)
Playoffs: 3
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2004 (50-32, lost in first round of playoffs)
Worst years: 2007,2008 (22-60)
Winnings: -$86.29

Number: 89
Team: Rangers
City: New York City
League: NHL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (36)
Playoffs: 24
Semifinals: 6
Finals: 2
Championships: 1
Best year: 1994 (52-24-8-0, won Stanley Cup)
Worst year: 1985 (26-44-10-0)
Winnings: -$85.29

Number: 88
Team: Jaguars
City: Jacksonville
League: NFL
Years: 1996 – 2010 (15)
Playoffs: 6
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2000 (14-2, lost in AFC Championship game)
Worst year: 1996 (4-12)
Winnings: -$81.25

Number: 87
Team: Texans
City: Houston
League: NFL
Years: 2003 – 2010 (8)
Playoffs: 0
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2010 (9-7, no playoffs)
Worst year: 2006 (2-14)
Winnings: -$80.00

Number: 86
Team: Rockies
City: Denver
League: MLB
Years: 1993 – 2009 (16)
Playoffs: 3
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 2007 (90-73, lost in World Series)
Worst years: 1993, 2005 (67-95)
Winnings: -$77.75

Number: 85
Team: Hornets
City: New Orleans
League: NBA
Years: 2003 – 2010 (8)
Playoffs: 4
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2008 (56-26, lost in 2nd round of playoffs)
Worst year: 2005 (18-64)
Winnings: -$75.08

Number: 84
Team: Bears
City: Chicago
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 13
Semifinals: 4
Finals: 2
Championships: 1
Best year: 1986 (15-1, won Super Bowl)
Worst year: 1974 (3-11)
Winnings: -$74.31

Number: 83
Team: Orioles
City: Baltimore
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2009 (35)
Playoffs: 5
Semifinals: 5
Finals: 2
Championships: 1
Best year: 1983 (98-64, won World Series)
Worst year: 1988 (54-107)
Winnings: -$69.00

Number: 82
Team: Eagles
City: Philadelphia
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 18
Semifinals: 6
Finals: 2
Championships: 0
Best year: 2005 (13-3, lost in Super Bowl)
Worst year: 1999 (3-13)
Winnings: -$68.15

Number: 81
Team: Packers
City: Milwaukee
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 13
Semifinals: 4
Finals: 2
Championships: 1
Best year: 1997 (13-3, won Super Bowl)
Worst years: 1987, 1989, 1992 (4-12)
Winnings: -$66.52

Number: 80
Team: Flames
City: Atlanta
League: NHL
Years: 1974 – 1980 (7)
Playoffs: 6
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1979 (41-31-8-0, lost in first round of playoffs)
Worst year: 1974 (30-34-14-0)
Winnings: -$62.69

Number: 79
Team: Pirates
City: Pittsburgh
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2009 (35)
Playoffs: 6
Semifinals: 6
Finals: 1
Championships: 1
Best year: 1979 (98-64-1, won World Series)
Worst year: 1985 (57-104)
Winnings: -$62.50

Number: 77 (tied)
Team: Grizzlies
City: Vancouver
League: NBA
Years: 1996 – 2001 (6)
Playoffs: 0
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2001 (23-59, no playoffs)
Worst year: 1999 (8-42)
Winnings: -$60.00

Number: 77 (tied)
Team: Clippers
City: San Diego
League: NBA
Years: 1979 – 1984 (6)
Playoffs: 0
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1979 (43-39, no playoffs)
Worst year: 1982 (17-65)
Winnings: -$60.00

Number: 76
Team: Rockies
City: Denver
League: NHL
Years: 1977 – 1982 (6)
Playoffs: 1
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1978 (19-40-21-0, lost in first round of playoffs)
Worst year: 1979 (15-53-12-0)
Winnings: -$58.88

Number: 75
Team: Bobcats
City: Charlotte
League: NBA
Years: 2005 – 2010 (6)
Playoffs: 1
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2010 (44-38, lost in first round of playoffs)
Worst year: 2005 (18-64)
Winnings: -$58.75

Number: 74
Team: Wild
City: Minneapolis-St. Paul
League: NHL
Years: 2001 – 2010 (9)
Playoffs: 3
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2003 (42-29-10-1, lost in Conference finals)
Worst year: 2001 (25-39-13-5)
Winnings: -$57.50

Number: 73
Team: Senators
City: Ottawa
League: NHL
Years: 1993 – 2010 (17)
Playoffs: 12
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 2007 (48-25-0-9, lost in Stanley Cup Finals)
Worst year: 1993 (10-70-4-0)
Winnings: -$53.04

Number: 72
Team: Mets
City: New York City
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2009 (35)
Playoffs: 5
Semifinals: 5
Finals: 2
Championships: 1
Best year: 1986 (108-54, won World Series)
Worst year: 1993 (59-103)
Winnings: -$52.50

Number: 70 (tied)
Team: Nationals
City: Washington
League: MLB
Years: 2005 – 2009 (5)
Playoffs: 0
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 2005 (81-81, no playoffs)
Worst year: 2009 (59-103)
Winnings: -$50.00

Number: 70 (tied)
Team: Jazz
City: New Orleans
League: NBA
Years: 1975 – 1979 (5)
Playoffs: 0
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1978 (39-43, no playoffs)
Worst year: 1975 (23-59)
Winnings: -$8.48

Number: 69
Team: Suns
City: Phoenix
League: NBA
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 28
Semifinals: 9
Finals: 2
Championships: 0
Best year: 1993 (62-20, lost in NBA Finals)
Worst year: 1988 (28-54)
Winnings: -$47.02

Number: 68
Team: North Stars
City: Minneapolis-St. Paul
League: NHL
Years: 1974 – 1993 (20)
Playoffs: 12
Semifinals: 4
Finals: 2
Championships: 0
Best year: 1981(35-28-17-0, lost in Stanley Cup Finals)
Worst year: 1978 (18-53-9-0)
Winnings: -$45.71

Number: 66 (tie)
Team: Rays
City: Tampa Bay
League: MLB
Years: 1998 – 2009 (12)
Playoffs: 1
Semifinals: 1
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 2008 (97-65, lost in World Series)
Worst year: 2002 (55-106)
Winnings: -$45.00

Number: 66 (tie)
Team: Twins
City: Minneapolis-St. Paul
League: MLB
Years: 1974 – 2009 (35)
Playoffs: 7
Semifinals: 3
Finals: 2
Championships: 2
Best year: 1991 (95-67, won World Series)
Worst year: 1982 (60-102)
Winnings: -$45.00

Number: 65
Team: Braves
City: Buffalo
League: NBA
Years: 1974 – 1978 (5)
Playoffs: 3
Semifinals: 0
Finals: 0
Championships: 0
Best year: 1975 (45-33, lost in first round of playoffs)
Worst year: 1978 (27-55)
Winnings: -$44.88

Number: 64
Team: Bills
City: Buffalo
League: NFL
Years: 1974 – 2010 (37)
Playoffs: 13
Semifinals: 5
Finals: 4
Championships: 0
Best years: 1991, 1992 (13-3, lost in Super Bowl)
Worst years: 1985, 1986 (2-14)
Winnings: -$44.19

Number: 63
Team: Flames
City: Calgary
League: NHL
Years: 1981 – 2010 (29)
Playoffs: 20
Semifinals: 3
Finals: 3
Championships: 1
Best year: 1989 (54-17-9-0, won Stanley Cup)
Worst year: 1998 (26-41-15-0)
Winnings: -$40.38

Number: 62
Team: Raiders II
City: Oakland
League: NFL
Years: 1996 – 2010 (15)
Playoffs: 3
Semifinals: 2
Finals: 1
Championships: 0
Best year: 2003 (11-5, lost in Super Bowl)
Worst year: 2007 (2-14)
Winnings: -$37.06

Number: 61
Team: Jazz
City: Salt Lake City
League: NBA
Years: 1980 – 2010 (31)
Playoffs: 24
Semifinals: 6
Finals: 2
Championships: 0
Best year: 1997 (64-18, lost in NBA Finals)
Worst year: 1980 (24-58)
Winnings: -$31.88