Major league sports in Memphis has a long tradition. While the town is home to only one team in the four major sports leagues, it has got a number of smaller teams. The city of Memphis had one of the earliest pro baseball teams formed back in 1902 and has continued to host professional organizations many times over the past century. Soccer in Memphis is a popular sport, but there are at the current time no major league or semi-pro soccer organizations in the Memphis. As soccer gains acceptance in the US, soccer in Memphis may soon get its chance.

Memphis Grizzlies

The only top line pro team left in Memphis, this NBA team was created in 1995 when the NBA expanded it roster to Canada. It was in Vancouver till 1991, when it moved locations to Memphis. The team currently plays in the new FedEx Center in central Memphis and while the team have never a conference title, it remains well-liked by fans. In 2011, the Grizzlies made it to the seventh game of the meeting playoffs before capitulating to Oklahoma City.

Memphis Redbirds

Baseball in Memphis has a long tradition. Memphis had one of the country's earliest pro baseball teams. Historically, the Memphis Chicks were formed in 1902 and played until 1960. The current team, the Memphis Redbirds, are part of the Pacific Coast League and have played in Memphis since 1998. They are a Treble A farm team for the St. Louis Cardinals that plays ball at the new baseball-only AutoZone Field in downtown Memphis. Baseball in Memphis continues to be a long and well-liked custom.

Memphis Soccer

Memphis doesn't currently have a pro soccer team, though is has hosted a bunch of groups in past years. The pro soccer team the Memphis Tigers played in the 1920s and 1930s. The Memphis Showmen were a short-lived team in the world Soccer League, which played in the 1974-1975 season. The Memphis Mad Dogs were an expansion team of the Canadian Football league and played in Memphis in 1995. The city of Memphis also hosted the NFL team the Tennessee Titans in 1997, before the team relocated to Nashville.

Mississippi River Kings

The Memphis River Kings are a hockey team that played in Memphis for their first 15 seasons. The team played at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. The River Kings were a minor league team with an organisation with the Southern Pro Hockey League. In 2007, the River Kings moved to Mississippi and became the Mississippi River Kings. As the Memphis River Kings, they won 2 Ray Miron President’s Cup trophies while they were affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Wilbur Mercer has been interested in soccer and baseball in Memphis for years. He has written op-eds and editorial pieces for many online publications. For more info about major league sports, baseball and soccer in Memphis, please visit his site.