Maryland has a number of major and minor professional sports franchises. Two National Football League teams play in Maryland, the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore and the Washington Commanders in Prince George's County. The Baltimore Orioles compete as Major League Baseball franchise in Baltimore.
Other professional sports franchises in the state include five affiliated minor league baseball teams, one independent league baseball team, the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, two indoor football teams, two low-level Basketball teams, and three low-level outdoor soccer teams.
The Congressional Country Club has hosted several professional golf tournaments, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open, Senior PGA Championship, Kemper Open and Quicken Loans National.
Maryland has had famous athletes including baseball's Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers, Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. and George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, who played for the old Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and especially won fame with the New York Yankees. Plus Olympic swimming medalists Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Chase Kalisz, and Katie Hoff.Since 1962, the official state sport of Maryland is jousting. Lacrosse was named the official team sport in 2004, and Sports Illustrated wrote the sport "has always been the showcase for the flower of Maryland manhood."Frank Deford, Navy's Star With A Stick; Even in Maryland, where lacrosse enjoys exalted status and local talent is idolized, Jimmy Lewis of New York is hailed as the game's best player, Sports Illustrated, May 30, 1966. In 2008, intending to promote physical fitness for all ages, Maryland declared walking the official state exercise and became the first state with an official state exercise.
Major professional teams Team nameLeague1st MD seasonStadium/FieldBaltimore OriolesMajor League Baseball1954 Oriole Park at Camden YardsBaltimore RavensNational Football League1996 M&T Bank StadiumWashington Commanders (de facto)National Football League1997 (played in D.C. 1937–1997) Northwest Stadium
Maryland has major professional sports teams in the city of Baltimore and in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. Two major league teams play in Baltimore — the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and MLB's Baltimore Orioles. Additionally, the NFL's Baltimore Colts played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983 before moving to Indianapolis.
The Washington Commanders (formerly the Washington Redskins) play in Landover, Maryland. The NHL's Washington Capitals and the NBA's Washington Wizards (formerly the Baltimore Bullets, then Washington Bullets) used to play in Maryland before moving in 1997 to a newly constructed Verizon Center arena in downtown Washington in the District of Columbia.
Other current professional and semi-pro teams
Baseball
TeamLeague1st MD seasonBallparkAberdeen IronBirdsMLB Draft League2002Ripken StadiumChesapeake BaysoxDouble-A – Eastern League1993Prince George's StadiumDelmarva ShorebirdsLow-A – Carolina League1997Arthur W. Perdue StadiumSouthern Maryland Blue CrabsIndependent – Atlantic League2008Regency Furniture StadiumFrederick KeysHigh-A – South Atlantic League1989Nymeo Field at Harry Grove StadiumHagerstown Flying BoxcarsIndependent – Atlantic League2024Meritus Park
Basketball Team nameLeague1st MD seasonStadium/FieldBaltimore HawksAmerican Basketball Association2015Saint Frances AcademyFrederick Flying CowsThe Basketball League2024BB&T Arena at Hood CollegePG ValorAmerican Basketball Association2016Antioch Baptist Church
Football Team nameLeague1st MD seasonStadium/FieldBaltimore BurnWomen's Tackle Football League2001Utz Towardowizc fieldBaltimore NighthawksWomen's Football Alliance2008Paul Laurence Dunbar High School StadiumMaryland Eagles American Arena League 22012Wheaton Sports PavilionMaryland Warriors American Arena League 22018
Hockey Team nameLeague1st MD seasonStadium/FieldMaryland Black BearsNorth American Hockey League2018–19Piney Orchard Ice Arena
Horse Racing Team nameLeague1st MD seasonStadium/FieldMaryland ColtsNational Thoroughbred League2025Pimlico Race Course
Lacrosse +Team nameLeague1st MD seasonStadium/FieldMaryland WhipsnakesPremier Lacrosse League2024Homewood FieldMaryland CharmWomen's Lacrosse League2025
Soccer Team nameLeague1st MD seasonStadium/FieldAnnapolis Blues FCNational Premier Soccer League2023Navy-Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis United FCUnited Women's Soccer2022Baltimore ArsenalMajor Arena Soccer League – Second Division2023SECU ArenaBaltimore BlastMajor Arena Soccer League – First Division1992SECU ArenaBaltimore KingsMajor Arena Soccer League – Third Division2022Annapolis Area Christian SchoolChristos FCUSL League 21997Moose Athletic ClubChristos FC WomenUSL W League2022Moose Athletic ClubFC FrederickNational Premier Soccer League2015Thomas Athletic Field, Hood CollegeMaryland Bobcats FCNational Independent Soccer Association2020Maryland SoccerPlexMaryland Elite FCUnited Women's Soccer2022Patuxent Football AthleticsUSL League 22022The Calverton SchoolPatuxent Football Athletics WomenUSL W League2022The Calverton SchoolSuper Green FC EaglesUnited Premier Soccer League2017Paint Branch High SchoolSkyline City FCMajor Arena Soccer League – Third Division2022Frederick Indoor Sports Center
Former professional and semi-pro teams
Baseball The following table details baseball teams which were located in Maryland. For minor league teams that changed affiliations, each affiliation is listed as a separate team.
Team nameYears presentLeagueCurrent StatusAberdeen Arsenal2000Atlantic League of Professional BaseballDefunctBaltimore Black Sox1916–1933Eastern Colored LeagueAmerican Negro LeagueNegro National LeagueEast-West LeagueDefunctBaltimore Canaries1872–1874National AssociationDefunctBaltimore Elite Giants1938–1950Negro National LeagueNegro American LeagueDefunctBaltimore Lord Baltimores1887National Colored Base Ball LeagueDefunctBaltimore Marylands1873National AssociationDefunctBaltimore Monumentals1884Union AssociationDefunctBaltimore Orioles1882–1899American Association (Baseball) National LeagueDefunctBaltimore Orioles1901–1902American League (Baseball)New York YankeesBaltimore Orioles1903–1914Eastern LeagueSyracuse ChiefsBaltimore Orioles1916–1953International LeagueDefunctBaltimore Terrapins1914–1915Federal LeagueDefunctBowie Nationals1998Maryland Fall BaseballDefunctCambridge Canners1922–19281940–1941Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctCambridge Cardinals1937–1939Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctCambridge Dodgers1946–1949Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctCentreville Colts1937–1939Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctCentreville Orioles1946Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctCentreville Red Sox1940–1941Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctCrisfield Crabbers1922–19281937Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctCumberland Colts1916–1918Potomac LeagueBlue Ridge LeagueDefunctCumberland Colts1925–19321941–1942Middle Atlantic LeagueDefunctCumberland Rooters1906–1907Pennsylvania–Ohio–Maryland LeagueWestern Pennsylvania LeagueDefunctDelmarva Rockfish1998Maryland Fall BaseballDefunctEaston Browns1937Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctEaston Cubs1938Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctEaston Farmers1924–1928Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctEaston Yankees1939–19411946–1949Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctFederalsburg A's1937–19411946–1948Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctFederalsburg Feds1949Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctFrederick Champs1916Blue Ridge LeagueDefunctFrederick Hustlers191519171920–1928Blue Ridge LeagueDefunctFrederick Regiment1998Maryland Fall BaseballDefunctFrederick Warriors1929–1930Blue Ridge LeagueDefunctFrostburg Demons1916Potomac LeagueDefunctHagerstown Blues1915Blue Ridge LeagueDefunctHagerstown Braves1950–1953Interstate LeaguePiedmont LeagueDefunctHagerstown Champs1920–1921Blue Ridge LeagueDefunctHagerstown Hubs1924–1931Blue Ridge LeagueMiddle Atlantic LeagueDefunctHagerstown Lions1896Cumberland Valley LeagueDefunctHagerstown Owls1941–1949Interstate LeagueDefunctHagerstown Packets1954–1955Piedmont LeagueDefunctHagerstown Suns1981–2019Carolina League Eastern League South Atlantic LeagueDefunct due to MiLB Reorganization of 2020Hagerstown Terriers1916–19181922–1923Blue Ridge LeagueDefunctLaurel Blue Hens1922–1923Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctLonaconing Drybugs1916Potomac LeagueDefunctPiedmont-Westernport Drybugs1918Blue Ridge LeagueDefunctPocomoke City Red Sox1937–1940Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctPocomoke City Salamanders1922–1923Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctSalisbury A's1951Interstate LeagueDefunctSalisbury Cardinals1940–19411946–1949Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctSalisbury Indians1922–19281937–1938Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctSalisbury Reds1952Interstate LeagueDefunctSalisbury Senators1939Eastern Shore Baseball LeagueDefunctSpire City Ghost Hounds2023Atlantic League of Professional BaseballOn hiatus
Basketball Team nameYears presentLeagueCurrent statusArundel Raves2020American Basketball AssociationDefunctBaltimore Bayrunners1999International Basketball LeagueDefunctBaltimore Blaze2000–2001National Rookie LeagueDefunctBaltimore Bullets1944–1954National Basketball AssociationBasketball Association of AmericaAmerican Basketball LeagueDefunctBaltimore Bullets1958–1961Eastern Professional Basketball LeagueDefunctBaltimore Bullets1963–1973National Basketball AssociationWashington WizardsBaltimore Claws1975–1976American Basketball AssociationDefunctBaltimore Clippers1939–1941American Basketball LeagueDefunctBaltimore Lightning1985–1986Continental Basketball AssociationDefunctBaltimore Metros1978–1979Continental Basketball AssociationDefunctBaltimore Orioles1926–1927American Basketball LeagueDefunctBaltimore Pearls/Bay Lions2005–2006American Basketball AssociationDefunctBaltimore Shuckers2011-2020Central Basketball AssociationDefunctBeltway Bombers2016American Professional Basketball LeagueDefunctCumberland Dukes1947–1948All-American Professional Basketball LeagueDefunctDMV Warriors2014–2020American Basketball AssociationDefunctHub City Hogs2019–2020American Basketball AssociationDefunctMaryland Bayriders2007–2008National Professional Basketball LeagueDefunctMaryland GreenHawks2004–2011Premier Basketball LeagueDefunctMaryland Mustangs2001United States Basketball LeagueDefunctMetropolitan All-Stars2009–2015American Professional Basketball LeagueDefunctRockville Victors2012American Professional Basketball LeagueDefunctTri-City Suns2009–2010American Professional Basketball LeagueDefunctWashington Madness2008–2012Eastern Basketball AllianceRelocated to DCColumbia All-Stars2014Eastern Basketball AllianceDMV Kings2014Eastern Basketball AllianceMaryland Bayraiders2007Eastern Basketball AllianceWestern Maryland EliteEastern Basketball Alliance
Football