Forgotten Philly Sports Teams Worth Remembering
Philadelphia loves its teams. It also loves the ones that left, folded, or got stolen. Every old-timer has a story about one.
Here's a quick tour of the Philly franchises that made the city more interesting, plus why we still wear them.
(Evergreen post. Verify dates and details against a source before publishing.)
Which Philadelphia sports teams no longer exist?
Several, including the Philadelphia Atoms (soccer), the Philadelphia Stars (USFL), the Philadelphia Blazers (hockey), and the Philadelphia Warriors (basketball). Some folded; others picked up and moved, which in Philly feels like a personal betrayal.
What was the Philadelphia Stars USFL team?
The Stars were a spring-football team in the USFL that won the league championship in 1984 before relocating to Baltimore. They were a winner in a league that disappeared fast. For a lot of Philly fans, the Stars are proof that this town backs a team even when nobody else notices.
What happened to the Philadelphia Warriors?
The Philadelphia Warriors were an early NBA franchise that moved to San Francisco in 1962. Yes, the Golden State Warriors started in Philadelphia. Wilt Chamberlain's famous 100-point game came in 1962 while the franchise was in the Philly orbit. (It was played in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is a fun bar-trivia detail.)
What was the Philadelphia Atoms?
The Atoms were a soccer team in the North American Soccer League who won the 1973 NASL championship. Pro soccer in Philly was a big deal before the Union, and the Atoms are a reminder that this city's soccer roots go deep. See our Union and soccer collection for the modern team.
What were the Philadelphia Blazers?
A short-lived team in the WHA, the rival league to the NHL, in the early 1970s. They left after one season and became the Vancouver Blazers. That's very Philly: show up, get ignored, leave. (Meanwhile, the Flyers never left. See our Flyers post.)
Why do Philly fans love lost teams?
Because loyalty here isn't about winning. It's about identity, and nostalgia is basically a Philly love language. Wearing a defunct team shirt is a way to say you were there, or at least that you know the story.
It's also a conversation starter, and Philly loves one of those. Wear a Philadelphia Stars tee and watch a guy at the Wawa tell you where he was in 1984.
Where can you find forgotten Philly team gear?
Our Forgotten Franchises collection is built for this. It's philly themed apparel with a history lesson stitched in. For something nostalgic that isn't a shirt, check out the Philly Nostalgia Candle Collection.
What other Philly nostalgia is worth knowing?
Plenty. Our Philly lifestyle collection leans into the Philly-isms that never go out of style: jawn, wooder, SEPTA delays, all of it.
Two lifelong Philadelphians run Philly Reign, so we love this stuff. Learn more about us.
FAQ
Which Philly teams moved away? The Warriors moved to San Francisco in 1962, the Stars relocated to Baltimore, and the Blazers moved to Vancouver.
Did the Philadelphia Stars win a championship? Yes, the USFL title in 1984.
Did the Philadelphia Atoms win a title? Yes, the 1973 NASL championship.
Where can I buy forgotten franchise shirts? In our Forgotten Franchises collection.