# What is the longest, continuous minor league or non-affiliated sports team franchise? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 5, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597 "2019-03-05T22:21:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/1 "2019-03-05T22:21:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/2 "2019-03-05T23:28:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/3 "2019-03-06T02:03:31Z")
Minor League Baseball says the [Chattanooga Lookouts](https://www.milb.com/milb/news/the-oldest-unique-team-names-in-minor-league-baseball/c-264833948) were formed in 1885. Another cite says the team has operated [continuously since 1906](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga_Lookouts#cite_note-5). The team played its 1943 season in Birmingham but its continuous operation means it beats out the other teams on the MiLB list. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/4 "2019-03-06T05:04:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/5 "2019-03-06T16:37:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/6 "2019-03-11T19:34:22Z")
I suspect some amateur cricket clubs must be pushing 300 years old ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/7 "2019-03-11T19:40:06Z")
Oooo! [Mitchem cricket club](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitcham_Cricket_Club)dates from 1685 apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/8 "2019-03-11T19:41:10Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I suspect some amateur cricket clubs must be pushing 300 years old Mitcham CC has been going since 1685 > **[Mitcham Cricket Club](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitcham_Cricket_Club)** > > Mitcham Cricket Club is reported by The Independent to be the oldest cricket club in existence, with the club having played cricket on Mitcham Cricket Green since 1685. The club was reportedly watched by Lord Nelson during his time in the area. > Four players from the club have played for the England cricket team, fast bowler Tom Richardson; batsman Andy Sandham; and wicketkeeper Herbert Strudwick, and opening batsman David Smith, who played for Mitcham CC at Colts level. The ladies team was th... ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/9 "2019-03-11T19:42:13Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Oooo! [Mitchem cricket club](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitcham_Cricket_Club)dates from 1685 apparently. Looks like we both googled “oldest cricket club” at the same time 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-continuous-minor-league-or-non-affiliated-sports-team-franchise/830597/10 "2019-03-11T21:58:05Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > 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.