Logo of an old professional basketball team, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, who started in pro ball in 1946 as the Buffalo Bisons of the old National Basketball League. After 13 games in Buffalo, the team moved to Moline, Illinois, part of the “Tri-Cities” area. They were an original member of the NBA starting in 1949. The franchise moved to Milwaukee in 1951 and became the Hawks, then moved on to St. Louis and eventually to their current home in Atlanta.
Logo of a minor league baseball franchise, the Calgary Cannons, who played in the Pacific Coast league for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were affiliated with 4 different major league teams, most notably for 10 years with the Seattle Mariners. Some of their team alumni who had success in the majors are Alex Rodriguez, Jim Abbott, A.J. Burnett, Mike Lowell, Edgar and Tino Martinez, Kevin Millar and Omar Vizquel.
Logo of the minor league Milwaukee Admirals, a hockey team that has played in the American Hockey League since 2001. The Admirals started as an amateur team in 1970 and played in the United States Hockey League and the International Hockey League before joining the AHL. They are the minor league affiliate of the Nashville Predators, and baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers are the sole uniform sponsors of the team – they wear a Brewers’ logo patch on their team sweaters.
Logo of the Barcelona Dragons football team, an entry in the World League of American Football (later known as NFL Europe) from 1991 to 2003. The Dragons played in the “World Bowl” championship game 4 times and won once. Former Boston College coach Jack Bicknell was the team’s head coach for its’ entire duration, and some notable Dragon players who went on to NFL careers are Kelly Holcomb, Jon Kitna, Brian Finneran, La’Roi Glover and Keith Traylor.
This is the logo of the Columbus Riverdragons, a former minor league basketball team that played in the NBA Developmental League from 2001 through 2005. Based in Columbus, Georgia, the franchise played there until 2005, when it was sold and moved to Austin, Texas.
Logo of the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league baseball team that is a member of the Class A New York-Penn League. They were founded in 1986 and play in a ballpark located just off the Coney Island boardwalk, where the legendary Cyclone roller coaster was once located. The Cyclones have won 8 division titles in their existence, and 2 league titles. In 2001, the Cyclones were named co-champions, along with the Williamsport Crosscutters, when their playoff series was forced to be cancelled due to the attacks on September 11th.
Logo of a long-standing minor league hockey team, the Rochester Americans. The Amerks came into existence in 1956 , joining the American Hockey League when one of its’ franchises, the Pittsburgh Hornets, was forced to suspend operations. They have been a highly successful AHL franchise over the years, winning 6 Calder Cup titles and making it to the Cup finals 10 other times. The team has produced a lot of head coaches who’ve gone on to coach in the NHL, including Billy Reay, Joe Crozier, Don Cherry, Mike Keenan, Jim Shoenfeld and John Tortorella. The greatest Amerk player is unquestionably Jody Gage, who had a long career with the team and holds all of the team scoring records. Known as “Mr. Amerk”, Gage is currently the team’s general manager.
Logo of the National Football League’s Chicago Bears, used from 1954 until 1973. Under owner, coach and founder George “Papa Bear” Halas, the Bears enhanced their rough and tumble “Monsters of The Midway” image in this era, playing tough defense and a physical style. The Bears won the NFL title in 1963, riding the league’s most dominant defense that was coached by George Allen to a title game win over the New York Giants. The Bears have more members (26) in the Pro Football Hall of Fame than any other franchise, and from this era Mike Ditka, Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus are all considered by many to be the best at their positions in league history.
Logo of the Virginia Squires basketball team, a member of the old American Basketball Association. Like a lot of the old ABA teams, the Squires were nomadic, starting out as the Oakland Oaks in 1967 before moving to Washington, DC and becoming the Caps in 1969. At that time, the owner of the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets decided to move his team to Washington, so the Caps owner decided to make his team a regional franchise in the DC area, moving to Virginia and becoming the Squires. Former NBA star Rick Barry came with the team from Oakland, but was traded in 1970 when the team was strapped for cash. For a short period of time in the 1972-73 season, the Squires had the distinction of having 2 players on their roster who would go on to become superstars in the NBA – Julius “Dr. J” Erving and George “The Ice Man” Gervin.
Logo of a minor league baseball team, the old Louisville Redbirds, who were a Triple A franchise that existed from 1982 until 1998. The team name came from their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals, and they were an immediate hit with Kentucky baseball fans, becoming the first minor league franchise to draw over a million fans in their second season. They played in the old American Association, but moved to the International League when the AA folded in 1998. Four of the Redbirds players went on to play key roles with the Cardinals – Willie McGee, Andy Van Slyke, Vince Coleman and Terry Pendleton.