The following is a list of sports teams that either are currently or were previously based in Cleveland, Ohio. Teams still active in Cleveland are listed in bold.
Baseball
Active Cleveland Guardians, Major League Baseball (1901–present)
Defunct Cleveland Forest Citys, National Association (1871–1872) Cleveland Spiders, National League (1879–1884, 1889–1899) Cleveland Blues, American Association (1887–1888) Cleveland Infants, Players' League (1890) Cleveland Green Sox Federal League (1913) Cleveland Bearcats, American Association (1914) Cleveland Spiders, American Association (1915) Cleveland Tate Stars, Negro National League (1922) Cleveland Browns, Negro National League (1924) Cleveland Elites, Negro National League (1926) Cleveland Hornets, Negro National League (1927) Cleveland Tigers, Negro National League (1928) Cleveland Cubs, Negro National League (1931) Cleveland Stars, East-West League (1932) Cleveland Giants, Negro National League (1933) Cleveland Red Sox, Negro National League (1934) Cleveland Bears, Negro American League (1939–1940) Cleveland Buckeyes, Negro American League (1943–1948, 1950)
Basketball
Men's basketball
Active Cleveland Cavaliers, National Basketball Association (1970–present) Cleveland Charge, NBA G League (established 2001, moved to Cleveland 2021)
Defunct Cleveland Rosenblums, American Basketball League (1925–31) Cleveland Chase Brassmen, National Basketball League (1943–44) Cleveland Allmen Transfers, National Basketball League (1944–46) Cleveland Rebels, Basketball Association of America (1946–47) Cleveland Pipers, American Basketball League (1961–1962)
Women's basketball
Defunct
Cleveland Rockers, Women's National Basketball Association (1997–2003)
Collegiate sports
Active Cleveland State Vikings -- 17 Varsity (7 men's, 9 women's, 1 coed) Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball Cleveland State Vikings women's basketball Cleveland State Vikings men's soccer Case Western Reserve Spartans -- 19 Varsity (10 men's, 9 women's) Case Western Reserve Spartans football
Defunct Ohio Chiropody (1929–41)
Football
Active Cleveland Browns, All-America Football Conference (1946–1949) National Football League (1950–1995, 1999–present) Cleveland Fusion, Women's Football Alliance (2002–present)
Defunct/relocated Cleveland Tigers (NFL) APFA (1920), originally named as the Tigers in 1916Roberts, Milt (1979). "Peggy Parratt MVP" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association. 1 (6): 1–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-22. in the Ohio League; renamed Indians in 1921 Cleveland Indians (NFL 1931), league-sponsored team that only played on the road Cleveland Bulldogs NFL (1924–1925) (1927), named as the Cleveland Indians in 1923 Cleveland Panthers AFL (1926) Cleveland Rams AFL (1936) NFL (1937–1942) (1944–1945) (now known as the Los Angeles Rams) Cleveland Thunderbolts AFL (Arena) (1992–1994), relocated from Columbus, Ohio Cleveland Crush, Legends Football League (2011–13) Cleveland Gladiators, Arena Football League (2008, 2010–2020)
Other In 1996 the players, staff and ownership of the Cleveland Browns relocated to Baltimore as the expansion team Baltimore Ravens, which is considered a distinct franchise by the NFL. This relocation was seen as highly controversial.
Ice hockey
Active Cleveland Monsters, American Hockey League (2007–present)
Defunct/relocated Cleveland Indians, International Hockey League (1929–34) Cleveland Falcons, IHL & AHL (1934–37) Cleveland Barons, American Hockey League relocated to Jacksonville, Florida (1937–73) Cleveland Crusaders, World Hockey Association (1972–76) Cleveland Barons, NHL (1976–78) Cleveland Lumberjacks, IHL (1992–2001) Cleveland Barons, American Hockey League relocated to Worcester, Massachusetts(2001–06) Cleveland Jr. Barons, NAHL (2005–06)
Quadball
Active Cleveland Riff, Major League Quadball (2015–Present)
Roller Derby
Active Burning River Roller Derby, Women's Flat Track Derby Association (2006–Present) Cleveland Men's Roller Derby Guardians, Men's Roller Derby Association (2013–Present)
Rugby league
Cleveland Rugby League, North American Rugby League (2021–Present)
Rugby union Active
Cleveland Rovers RFC, USA Rugby (1978–present) Cleveland Women's RFC, Iron Maidens (2003–present) Cleveland Crusaders RFC, (2015–present)
Soccer
Active Cleveland Crunch, Major League Indoor Soccer (1989–present) Cleveland SC, National Premier Soccer League (2018–present)
Defunct/relocated Cleveland Stokers, North American Soccer League (1967–68) Cleveland Stars, American Soccer League (1972–73) (name change from Cleveland Stars to Cleveland Cobras before 1974 season commenced) Cleveland Cobras, American Soccer League (1974–81) Cleveland Force, MISL (1978–88) Cleveland Force, MISL (2002–2005) (name change from Cleveland Crunch back to Cleveland Force in 2002, when NPSL became the MISL) Cleveland City Stars, USL First Division (2006–09) Cleveland Internationals, USL PDL (2004–10) Cleveland Freeze, Professional Arena Soccer League (2013–2014) AFC Cleveland, National Premier Soccer League (2012–2017)
Softball
Defunct Cleveland Jaybirds, American Professional Slow Pitch League (1977–78) Cleveland Stepien's Competitors, American Professional Slow Pitch League (1979) Cleveland Stepien's Competitors, North American Softball League (1980) Cleveland Competitors, United Professional Softball League (1982)
Indoor professional team tennis
Defunct Cleveland Nets (featured Björn Borg & Martina Navratilova), World Team Tennis (1974–77)
See also Sports in Cleveland
References