The Best Sports Franchises

Choosing the best franchise in a given sport is a subjective task. You can make your choice based on winning percentage, number of championships won or financial factors like merchandise sold or the overall value of the franchise. An effective discussion takes all of these factors into account.

  1. Football

    • The best franchise in the NFL is the Dallas Cowboys. They meet the on-field criteria by appearing in eight Super Bowls and making the playoffs 29 times, as of 2011. The team meets the financial criteria by virtue of the fact that Bleacher Report refers to the team as the most popular and most iconic team in NFL history. A close second in this category are the Green Bay Packers. Financially, they have managed to thrive in the smallest market in the NFL. On the field, they won the first two Super Bowls, as well as appearing in two more -- they have won a total of three Super Bowls.

    Baseball

    • The New York Yankees are clearly the best franchise in the history of Major League Baseball. They have won the World Series 26 times, which is more than double any other team in the league, as of 2011. The team has fans all over the country who purchase merchandise and memorabilia. The next best baseball franchise is the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have won the World Series six times and are known for being the first team in modern history to allow a black man to play on the Major League squad.

    Basketball

    • The discussion of the best basketball franchises begins with the Los Angeles Lakers and ends with the Boston Celtics. While the Lakers are second in NBA championships to the Celtics, they have only missed the playoffs five times in their history, as of 2011. The glitz and glamour of playing in front of celebrities in Los Angeles only adds to the mystique. The Celtics have won 17 titles, including eight in a row from 1959 to 1966, but they have not been as consistently strong over the years as the Lakers.

    Hockey

    • The Detroit Red Wings are one of the six original franchises in the National Hockey League. The city is referred to as "Hockey Town" by its fans. They have won 11 titles, as of 2011, in its illustrious history -- the most of any U.S.-based team. The Montreal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cup titles and would be considered the greatest Canadian franchise.