Comments on: The Five Most Controversial Franchise Moves in U.S. Sports http://www.nerdsonsports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/ Where nerds are talking about sports! Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:37:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: David http://www.nerdsonsports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/#comment-293 David Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:54:11 +0000 http://www.NerdsOnSports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/#comment-293 The Dodgers were the most profitable MLB franchise from the combined period between 1952 to 1956. This is a documented fact. Though less people attended games at Ebbets Field, a major reason for this is all the Dodgers home games were televised in Brooklyn and hence the NY Metro area. Walter O' Malley's decision to hijack the Dodgers out of Brooklyn was the ultimate act of greed in the history of pro sports. Robert Irsay was a horrific owner, who destroyed the proud tradition of the Baltimore Colts. If I had to choose one though who I would classify who caused the most damage to a community and a sport, it would be O' Malley. The hijacking of the Dodgers out of Brooklyn was the beginning of baseball losing it's grip on being the most popular sport in the U.S. The Dodgers were the most profitable MLB franchise from the combined period between 1952 to 1956. This is a documented fact. Though less people attended games at Ebbets Field, a major reason for this is all the Dodgers home games were televised in Brooklyn and hence the NY Metro area.

Walter O’ Malley’s decision to hijack the Dodgers out of Brooklyn was the ultimate act of greed in the history of pro sports.

Robert Irsay was a horrific owner, who destroyed the proud tradition of the Baltimore Colts. If I had to choose one though who I would classify who caused the most damage to a community and a sport, it would be O’ Malley. The hijacking of the Dodgers out of Brooklyn was the beginning of baseball losing it’s grip on being the most popular sport in the U.S.

]]> By: Willis http://www.nerdsonsports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/#comment-53 Willis Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:20:24 +0000 http://www.NerdsOnSports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/#comment-53 According to our friend at <a href=http://seatownrags.blogspot.com/2007/04/renton-job-debilitating-blow.html rel="nofollow">Seatown Rags</a> it looks like Seattle might have another painful relocation. According to our friend at Seatown Rags it looks like Seattle might have another painful relocation.

]]> By: Perich http://www.nerdsonsports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/#comment-50 Perich Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:42:27 +0000 http://www.NerdsOnSports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/#comment-50 I'm a Maryland native myself, and my original draft of the list had the Dodgers and the Colts swapped. It was a tough call. I ultimately set Dem Bums at #1 simply because of the size of the controversy - the raw volume heard from both sides of the debate (pro-California vs. pro-nostalgia). I’m a Maryland native myself, and my original draft of the list had the Dodgers and the Colts swapped. It was a tough call. I ultimately set Dem Bums at #1 simply because of the size of the controversy - the raw volume heard from both sides of the debate (pro-California vs. pro-nostalgia).

]]> By: Andrew W http://www.nerdsonsports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/#comment-49 Andrew W Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:38:23 +0000 http://www.NerdsOnSports.com/2007/04/17/the-five-most-controversial-franchise-moves-in-us-sports/#comment-49 Maybe it's a bias of having grown up in Maryland, but I feel the Colts' move was far more controversial than the Dodgers', especially because the latter was so expected. In the mid 1950's, Brooklyn drew less than 14,000 fans to their home games--less than half the Ebbets Field capacity--and it was well known at the time that NYC would only allow O'Malley to build a new stadium in Flushing, Queens, where the Mets later took up residency. As Bugs Bunny shorts have taught me, the future of the country in the 40's and 50's was in California, so one could hardly blame O'Malley for moving the team to L.A.--the Dodgers franchise might have died otherwise, as may have the Giants, whose Polo Grounds were falling apart and whose fan base had also deteriorated. This was all open discussion during the '57 season; the moves of both teams became inevitable in the minds of New Yorkers. The Colts on the other hand...oof. You're talking about moving a team in the dead of night and not telling your staff or players until half an hour after the Mayflower trucks left. Maybe it’s a bias of having grown up in Maryland, but I feel the Colts’ move was far more controversial than the Dodgers’, especially because the latter was so expected.

In the mid 1950’s, Brooklyn drew less than 14,000 fans to their home games–less than half the Ebbets Field capacity–and it was well known at the time that NYC would only allow O’Malley to build a new stadium in Flushing, Queens, where the Mets later took up residency. As Bugs Bunny shorts have taught me, the future of the country in the 40’s and 50’s was in California, so one could hardly blame O’Malley for moving the team to L.A.–the Dodgers franchise might have died otherwise, as may have the Giants, whose Polo Grounds were falling apart and whose fan base had also deteriorated. This was all open discussion during the ‘57 season; the moves of both teams became inevitable in the minds of New Yorkers.

The Colts on the other hand…oof. You’re talking about moving a team in the dead of night and not telling your staff or players until half an hour after the Mayflower trucks left.

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