As an offshoot of another thread, what is the longest, continuous minor league or non-affiliated sports team franchise?
I’m guessing, without having done a lick of research, that it would be the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) but I have no idea if that’s correct or just a wild guess.
In hockey, it would buy the Hershey Bears, one of the original AHL teams from 1938. Hershety actually predates the AHL, as they were formed in 1932 and played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League until recruited for the A. The Amerks didn’t start until 1955.
Minor League Baseball says the Chattanooga Lookouts were formed in 1885. Another cite says the team has operated continuously since 1906. The team played its 1943 season in Birmingham but its continuous operation means it beats out the other teams on the MiLB list.
The Harlem Globetrotters aren’t as old as the Lookouts, but they’ve apparently played continuously since starting as the Chicago Globe Trotters in 1926, and have played under their current name since 1928.
If this count as minor league, the Sheffield Football Club was founded in 1857 and plays in the Northern Premier League Division One East, which is at the 8th tier of the English league system. It’s officially recognized as the oldest soccer club in the world.
I suspect some amateur cricket clubs must be pushing 300 years old
Oooo! Mitchem cricket clubdates from 1685 apparently.
Mitcham CC has been going since 1685
Looks like we both googled “oldest cricket club” at the same time 
I’m surprised by that. I though maybe the mid 18th century but that’s quite impressive.
I just google the wiki for 1685 so I could say “wow, that’s the same year as X happened! or Y died!”
Bloody pointless, turns out 1685 was a very boring year. Which may explain why the club was established. They needed something to pass the time.