Since my eBay store specializes in CHICAGO SPORTS items, over the years I have comes across items which represent teams that are either no longer in existence or teams that were once based in Chicago but have moved on. What follows is a brief summary, by sport, of these teams:

BASEBALL

• Chicago Browns (1884 only) - short-lived Union Association League

• Chicago Pirates (1890 only) - short-lived Player's Association League

• Chicago Federals or Whales (1914-1915) - Federal League  - founded by Charles Weeghman, the Chi-Feds started their inaugural season in a brand new park ... Weeghman Park ... The Fegeral League lasted only 2 years, and the Whales won the Championship in 1915. In 1916, Weeghman was allowed to buy the Chicago Cubs & he moved them to his new park... It wasn't until the 1920's when the Wrigley Company purchased the Cubs that the park became better known as Wrigley Field. Former Cub HOF'er Joe Tinker managed the club & 3-Fingers Mordecai Brown pitched for them.

FOOTBALL

• Chicago Tigers (1920 only)- start of NFL

• Chicago Cardinals (1920 - 1959)- Charter member of the NFL, entered the league as the Racine Cardinals (NOT affiliated with Racine, Wisconsin). Moved to Comiskey Park in 1922 & officially became known as the Chicago Cardinals until they moved to St. Louis in 1960 (later moving to Arizona to become the current Arizona Cardinals).  During WWII they combined their team with Pittsburgh for financial reasons and was known as Card-Pitt for that one year only. Won two Championships:  1925 & 1947. Best known players: Ollie Matson & Charlie Trippi.

• Chicago Rockets/ Hornets (1946 to 1949) - The All American Football Conference challenged the NFL as a rival league from 1946 to 1949, of which the Rockets were its Chicago affiliate. It eventually merged with the NFL & produced three teams: Washington Redskins, Baltimore Colts & Cleveland Browns. The remaining Teams (including the Chicago Hornets, renamed for 1949) dissolved.   

• Chicago Fire (1974)- World Football League - lasted only 1 season, played at Soldier Field.

• Chicago Winds (1975) - World Football League - replaced the Fire (different team), but only lasted 5 games!

• Chicago Blitz (1983-84)- United States Football League lasted two seasons, played at Soldier Field. Coached by George Allen

• Chicago Enforcers (2001 only)- XFL - games played after the NFL season - only lasted 1 season

• Chicago Rush (2001 - 2008) - Arena Football League - qualified for playoffs all 8 years of existence & won the Campionship in 2006 - Former Chicago Bear Superbowl XX head coach Mike Ditka was co-owner.

BASKETBALL

• Chicago Stags (1946-1950)- Charter member of the BAA, which became the NBA as we know it in 1949. Dissolved in 1950. 

• Chicago Packers(1st yr) / Zephyrs (1961-63) - NBA - Chicago's 2nd attempt to have an NBA team. Played 1st year in the International Amphitheatre, 2nd year at the Chicago Coliseum. The Zephyrs had two consecutive Rookies-Of-The-Year: 1962 - Wal Bellamy, 1963 Terry Dischinger. In 1963, moved to Baltimore & stayed until 1973. From their they became the Capital Bullets for 1 year, renamed to the Washington (DC) Bullets & then renamed the Washington Wizards in 1997 .... so technically, Michael Jordan did play for only Chicago Teams .. sort of!

HOCKEY

• Chicago Cougars (1972 - 1975) - rival league to the NHL (World Hockey Association), home games played at the International Amphitheatre

note: This is the league that stold Bobby Hull away from the Blackhawks (Winnipeg). When the league disbanded, 4 of the strongest teams joined the NHL: the Edmonton Oilers, New England Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, & Winnipeg Jets. Of these, only the Oilers remain in their original city today, the other teams having relocated (the Whalers as the Carolina Hurricaines, the Jets as the Phoenix Coyotes, and the Nordiques as the Colorado Avalanche)

SOCCER

• Chicago Sting (1975-1994) - Played outdoors in the NASL from 1975 to 1984, Played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1984 to 1988). Won two outdoor Championships in 1981 & 1984.