SPORTS HISTORY OF Missouri
Missouri has a rich sports history and is home to teams in several major professional sports leagues, including Major League Baseball (
MLB), the National Basketball Association (
NBA), the National Football League (
NFL), and Major League Soccer (
MLS). Here's a detailed summary of the sports history in
Missouri for each of these leagues:
1. Major League Baseball (
MLB):
Missouri is home to two
MLB teams: the St. Louis Cardinals and the
Kansas City Royals.
- St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals, based in St. Louis, have a storied history and are one of the most successful franchises in
MLB. They have won multiple World Series championships, including titles in
1926,
1931,
1934,
1942,
1944,
1946,
1964,
1967,
1982,
2006, and
2011. The Cardinals have had legendary players like Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Albert Pujols. They play their home games at Busch Stadium.
-
Kansas City Royals: The Royals, based in
Kansas City, have had periods of success in
MLB. They won their first World Series championship in
1985 and made consecutive World Series appearances in
2014 and
2015, winning the championship in
2015. The team has had notable players like George Brett and Salvador Perez. The Royals play their home games at Kauffman Stadium.
2. National Basketball Association (
NBA):
Missouri is home to the
Kansas City Chiefs, an
NBA team established in
1967. However, the team relocated to Sacramento,
California, in
1985 and is currently known as the Sacramento Kings. Therefore,
Missouri does not have representation in the
NBA at present.
3. National Football League (
NFL):
Missouri is represented in the
NFL by the
Kansas City Chiefs, a team established in
1960. The Chiefs have a successful history in the league and have become one of the premier teams. They have won multiple division championships and have secured several conference titles, including winning the Super Bowl in
1970 and
2020. The team has had notable players like Len Dawson and Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs play their home games at Arrowhead Stadium.
4. Major League Soccer (
MLS):
Missouri is represented in
MLS by Sporting
Kansas City, a team established in
1995 (originally as the
Kansas City Wiz). Sporting
Kansas City has had success in the league, winning multiple
MLS Cup championships, including titles in
2000 and
2013. The team has developed a strong fan base and plays their home matches at Children's Mercy Park.
In summary,
Missouri has a vibrant sports culture with representation in
MLB,
NFL, and
MLS. The St. Louis Cardinals and
Kansas City Royals have brought excitement and pride to the state in
MLB, with multiple World Series championships. The
Kansas City Chiefs have become a dominant force in the
NFL, winning Super Bowl titles. Sporting
Kansas City has achieved success in
MLS, while the state eagerly supports and celebrates sports across various levels.Major League Baseball:
Missouri has a long history with Major League Baseball, with the first professional team, the St. Louis Browns, joining the American Association in 1882. The Browns moved to the National League in 1892 and changed their name to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals have been in St. Louis ever since, and have won 11 World Series titles.
National Basketball Association: The
NBA has had a presence in
Missouri since the St. Louis Hawks joined the league in
1955. The Hawks moved to
Atlanta in
1968, but the state was represented again in
1988 when the
Kansas City Kings moved to become the Sacramento Kings. The state was again represented in the
NBA in
2005 when the
New Orleans Hornets relocated to become the
New Orleans/
Oklahoma City Hornets.
National Football League: The
NFL has had a presence in
Missouri since the St. Louis Gunners joined the league in
1934. The Gunners only lasted one season, but the state was represented again in
1960 when the
Dallas Texans moved to become the
Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have been in
Kansas City ever since, and have won two Super Bowl titles.
National Hockey League: The
NHL has had a presence in
Missouri since the St. Louis Blues joined the league in
1967. The Blues have been in St. Louis ever since, and have made the Stanley Cup Finals three times, but have yet to win a championship.
Major League Soccer: The
MLS has had a presence in
Missouri since the St. Louis City SC joined the league in
2021. The team is set to begin play in the
2022 season.