Last Updated: September 11th, 2026 by Matthew Brown
Baseball is a business. It always has been. Even when fans and players make up most of this sport, it is the almost heartless owners who make the final decisions. One of the decisions that hurts the fan base the most is a complete abandonment of the city they're in.
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We want to look into 10 of the most devastating MLB relocations in history. Let us know which one you think hurt the most.
10. The Dodgers Pack Up Brooklyn’s Soul for LA Sunshine
Brooklyn was bustling with the Dodgers in town. In fact, the name of the team came from the hustle and bustle of the city because there were fans who were known as "trolley dodgers" for the way they would weave in and out of the busy streets that had those streetcars transporting people back and forth.
Then Hollywood came calling, and Los Angeles became the new home of the Boys in Blue. They've kept that Dodger name but it really is just a reference to their first true home.
9. The Giants Leave Coogan’s Bluff for California Dreamin’
At the same time that the Dodgers left the city, the Giants were not too far behind. They headed west but opted for Northern California and the city of San Francisco. This old rivalry wasn't going to die down so soon. The owners even had conversations to coordinate this because they wanted to keep the rivalry alive.
Fast forward many years, and this has been one of the tried-and-true rivalries in all of sports today.
8. Montreal Expos: From Poutine to Potomac as the Nationals
Yeah, I'll say it. I thought baseball was fun in Montreal. The Expos were one of the most unique teams in baseball, as they had some entertaining offenses to complement some dynamic pitching.
Some iconic players who have since gone into the Hall of Fame started their stardom up north. Montreal saw the birth of some great stars in Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Pedro Martinez, and Vladimir Guerrero. There's a reason why there has always been a clamoring to revive the Expos.
7. The Athletics’ Triple Jump: Philly to KC to Oakland—and Soon, Vegas?
The most well-traveled franchise in all of baseball has not had the best history of staying loyal to the city that they're in. The Philadelphia A's saw that there were greener pastures than being a second team in a city. Then they moved out of their second home in Kansas City, as they thought California would be a better state to house multiple MLB franchises. They were basically correct about that assumption. When the A's were rocking, the Coliseum was shaking.
Eventually it just became about how much the owner, John Fisher, cared about the city and community that this baseball team built. Instead, we now find this franchise heading over to Las Vegas to basically start over, even if the NFL team that also moved there hasn't proven to be a winner.
6. Washington Senators (First Edition): Gone to Become the Minnesota Twins
The Washington Senators that started in 1901 were a pretty great franchise. They sported some Hall of Famers: Goose Goslin, Heine Manush, and the incomparable Walter Johnson. They were able to win the 1924 World Series championship, as they were one of the more entertaining franchises of their time.
What hurt most about their move wasn't exactly about the fact that baseball was leaving the DC area (we will get to the replacement team in just a second), but it was more about the history and the talent that this iteration of the Washington Senators brought that was being lost.
5. Senators Bolt D.C. (Twice!): The Last One Saddles Up as the Texas Rangers
The final attempt at the Washington Senators name was a sad one. It was nice to still have baseball in the capital of the United States. But calling it Major League Baseball may have been giving it too high of praise. This iteration spawned the infamous saying, "Washington: first in war, first in peace and still last in the American League."
They were not looked upon fondly, but when they left after 11 seasons to become the Texas Rangers, there wouldn't be another MLB team in DC for over 30 years.
4. Milwaukee Braves: Bratwurst Swapped for Atlanta Peaches
The Milwaukee Braves didn't have exactly a long history, but a bright one. They had teams that featured Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn, and the immeasurable Hank Aaron. A World Series title came to the city in 1957 as it seemed like the franchise was using the peak of their powers to establish deep roots in Milwaukee and write a long, cherished story.
However, it wasn't meant to be, as the peaches of Atlanta called to the franchise, and they moved. I know that there's a good team in the city now, but I guarantee there are fans who still want their Braves back.
3. The Browns Become Orioles: St. Louis Sobs into Its Toasted Ravioli
The city of St. Louis has seen some legendary baseball over the years. Many forget that the Cardinals aren't the only reason for that. The St. Louis Browns had an up-and-down history for over 50 years. Their biggest claim to fame was the great George Sisler, who held the single-season hit record until the turn of the century when another Hall of Famer, Ichiro Suzuki, broke it.
No, the Browns weren't the most iconic team in the city. But they still left a hole in the hearts of many when they left for Baltimore in 1954.
2. Seattle Pilots: One Wild Year Before Becoming the Brewers
One of the coolest things I have seen in baseball is the fact that you can see a franchise wear the jersey of another franchise because of the history that they share in the city. The Milwaukee Brewers graciously allowed the Mariners to wear Seattle Pilots jerseys one day, as that was a one-year team in the city before the decision was made to create the Brewers. The uproar was so loud that a lawsuit led to the MLB gifting the city of Seattle another team.
Unfortunately, the Mariners have not been able to find the ultimate prize in this sport, but they have come awfully close with some of the best regular seasons that baseball has ever seen. Now it's just up to Seattle to find enough momentum in the playoffs to make a truly magical run.
1. Boston Braves (aka Bees): From Braves Field to BU’s Nickerson—Then Off to Milwaukee
The Boston Braves were the original iteration of this franchise, and it was one of the pioneers of its time. They had so much early success in winning pennants and championships that they really showed how consistent a franchise can be at winning baseball games. They played from 1871 to 1952 and decided to move on from old Braves Field. That alone was like ripping history away from some of the fans who had been there from the start.
The day of the unfortunate announcement is known as "Black Friday". Even though another franchise was in Boston, ready for the support of the city as a whole, fans respectfully declined because the team they thought would carry them to a future championship had abandoned them. No one likes that feeling.
