MLS Stats People Having Fun
June 27
In an interesting piece of research, MLS folk have discovered that Sounders FC have already become legends in history. In the entire history of expansion sides in North American sport, Sounders are the seventh best ever.
There have been more than 80 expansion teams over the last half-century of U.S. pro sports, including six in Major League Soccer: Chicago and Miami in 1998, Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake in 2005, Toronto FC in 2007, and Seattle this year. Only seven have had a winning record after 15 games. Sounders FC are the seventh.
So for a bit of fun, Prost Amerika has compiled a league table of the top expansion sides ever in US sport. We awarded three points for a win, just like in soccer, and one for a draw. Now obviously not all sports allow for a draw, in fact soccer hasn’t always in this country. But we thought it would be interesting reading anyway to fill in a Saturday without football.
So here is the table, as sponsored by Sounders FC, 7th Best Sports Franchise Ever!
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | Sport | Year |
| Chicago Fire | 10 | 0 | 5 | 30 | Soccer | 1998 |
| Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 9 | 0 | 6 | 27 | Baseball | 1998 |
| Minnesota Lynx | 9 | 0 | 6 | 27 | Women’s Basketball | 1999 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 7 | 3 | 5 | 24 | Ice Hockey | 1967 |
| Kansas City Royals | 8 | 0 | 7 | 24 | Baseball | 1969 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 6 | 4 | 5 | 22 | Ice Hockey | 1967 |
| Sounders FC | 5 | 7 | 3 | 22 | Soccer | 2009 |
Facts based on research by Peter Hirdt,Vice President of the Elias Sports Bureau, the Official Statistician of Major League Soccer.
June 28, 2009 at 11:35 am
shouldn’t you wait to finish a season first? I mean honestly you guys have a decent team, but you have won one match in the last two months.
You may want to think about it just a little bit, good luck against Colorado
June 29, 2009 at 10:08 am
Denz,
the story – and their research – was specifically about the best record after 15 games.
But I’m sure they’ll do the same thing after season 1 and we’ll get back to you to see what that landscape looks like.