I'm limiting it to American sports leagues and I'm looking from post 1970 (around the time of of the NFL-AFL merger)
1. Lakers. Some might say the Yankees belong here, they'd be wrong. 10 championships and eight more appearances in the Finals since 1970. So, over the period of about 40 seasons, the Lakers have been in almost half the Finals. Over that same period, they've only missed the playoffs THREE times. No professional sports franchise comes close to the success of the Lakers.
2. Yankees. It was tougher to put the Yankees in No. 2 above Nos. 3 through 5 than you might think. They have the same amount of championships as two of them (six), but they have made 11 World Series appearances since 1970 and they mean more to baseball than any other team on this list means to its respective sport.
3. Steelers. The Steelers have won more Super Bowls than any other team in the NFL. They were not especially great during the 80s, but they weren't as awful as the Cowboys were in the late 80s and during parts of this decade. Since the first season of the first Nixon administration, the Steelers have had only three head coaches. Remarkably stable and successful franchise.
4. Cowboys. Three through 5 are very equal. The Cowboys have fewer championships than the next two entries, but they have been to eight super bowls which is the most of any team in the NFL. They've had periods of mediocrity that exceeds any other team in the top 4, but they're the team with the biggest following in the most beloved league in this country.
5. Celtics. Six championships and eight finals appearances. They've won titles with three different teams (Cowens, Bird, Garnett). Since the Big Three retired, the Celtics were spotty at best until Garnett arrived.
6. Bulls. Six championships, but mediocrity before the Jordan era and very limited success after. In the 90s, they were the single most dominant team on this list during their relative stints of success. But the 70s, first half of the 80s and 00s did happen.
7. 49ers. From (very roughly) 1980 to 2000, the 49ers were an absolute dynasty. They were the first team to win five super bowls and they did so in a period where the NFC was utterly dominant with several all-time great teams- the 80s Bears, Giants and Redskins and the 90s Cowboys. They've fallen on hard times this decade, but no one else belongs higher on this list.
8. Spurs. Four championships this decade, relevance in the 90s and they weren't bad in the 70s and early 80s.
9. Oakland As. Well, this is a surprise obviously, but since we're also looking at the 70s and 80s here, Oakland has to be on the list. They've won four World Series and six AL pennants in all. The thing is, for much of this decade, Oakland was far from abysmal. Since 1970, the As have made it to the postseason 15 times which is quite the feat in baseball.
10. Red Sox. The most vexing space to fill on the list. The Giants, Pats Redskins, Raiders and Pistons have all won more championships. But the Red Sox are easily the second most beloved team in baseball and that can't be said for any of these other teams. And it's not like the Red Sox haven't had success, they've still won two titles and made two other world series appearances and 13 postseason appearances in all.
1. Lakers. Some might say the Yankees belong here, they'd be wrong. 10 championships and eight more appearances in the Finals since 1970. So, over the period of about 40 seasons, the Lakers have been in almost half the Finals. Over that same period, they've only missed the playoffs THREE times. No professional sports franchise comes close to the success of the Lakers.
2. Yankees. It was tougher to put the Yankees in No. 2 above Nos. 3 through 5 than you might think. They have the same amount of championships as two of them (six), but they have made 11 World Series appearances since 1970 and they mean more to baseball than any other team on this list means to its respective sport.
3. Steelers. The Steelers have won more Super Bowls than any other team in the NFL. They were not especially great during the 80s, but they weren't as awful as the Cowboys were in the late 80s and during parts of this decade. Since the first season of the first Nixon administration, the Steelers have had only three head coaches. Remarkably stable and successful franchise.
4. Cowboys. Three through 5 are very equal. The Cowboys have fewer championships than the next two entries, but they have been to eight super bowls which is the most of any team in the NFL. They've had periods of mediocrity that exceeds any other team in the top 4, but they're the team with the biggest following in the most beloved league in this country.
5. Celtics. Six championships and eight finals appearances. They've won titles with three different teams (Cowens, Bird, Garnett). Since the Big Three retired, the Celtics were spotty at best until Garnett arrived.
6. Bulls. Six championships, but mediocrity before the Jordan era and very limited success after. In the 90s, they were the single most dominant team on this list during their relative stints of success. But the 70s, first half of the 80s and 00s did happen.
7. 49ers. From (very roughly) 1980 to 2000, the 49ers were an absolute dynasty. They were the first team to win five super bowls and they did so in a period where the NFC was utterly dominant with several all-time great teams- the 80s Bears, Giants and Redskins and the 90s Cowboys. They've fallen on hard times this decade, but no one else belongs higher on this list.
8. Spurs. Four championships this decade, relevance in the 90s and they weren't bad in the 70s and early 80s.
9. Oakland As. Well, this is a surprise obviously, but since we're also looking at the 70s and 80s here, Oakland has to be on the list. They've won four World Series and six AL pennants in all. The thing is, for much of this decade, Oakland was far from abysmal. Since 1970, the As have made it to the postseason 15 times which is quite the feat in baseball.
10. Red Sox. The most vexing space to fill on the list. The Giants, Pats Redskins, Raiders and Pistons have all won more championships. But the Red Sox are easily the second most beloved team in baseball and that can't be said for any of these other teams. And it's not like the Red Sox haven't had success, they've still won two titles and made two other world series appearances and 13 postseason appearances in all.
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