Top 10 U.S. sports cities of the last 50 years

The criteria for these rankings is simple: I've tallied up the number of championships won by each city's NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL teams since January 1, 1960.

Ties between cities are broken based on when each city's most recent championship was won, with the advantage going to the city with the more recent championship.

NOTE: The NFL criteria is based not only on Super Bowl championships, but also NFL and AFL championships won prior to the start of the Super Bowl era.

10. Oakland

Total Oakland championships: 7
Most recent: 1989

Oakland Raiders (NFL): 2
Most recent: 1981

Oakland A's (MLB): 4
Most recent: 1989

Golden State Warriors (NBA): 1
Most recent: 1975

Life was good for Oakland sports fans in the 1970's and 1980's. The A's won three World Series in a row in the early 1970's, plus a fourth in 1989.

The Raiders won two Super Bowls for Oakland before moving to Los Angeles in the early 1980's, and even the Warriors snagged themselves an NBA championship in 1975.

Unfortunately, Oakland's championship drought has lasted for 20 years, and it's not clear if the end is in sight. Until then, the Black Hole will remain restless.

9. Milwaukee/Green Bay

Total Milwaukee/Green Bay championships: 7
Most recent: 1997

Green Bay Packers (NFL): 6
Most recent: 1997

Milwaukee Bucks (NBA): 1
Most recent: 1971

Since the Green Bay Packers are essentially shared with Milwaukee, I have combined both cities' championships. This certainly helps Milwaukee, considering six of the seven sports championships they claim since 1960 have been won by the Packers.

The Brewers need to start contributing to the championship total, and the Bucks could probably add another one themselves.

8. Dallas

Total Dallas championships: 7
Most recent: 1999

Dallas Cowboys (NFL): 5
Most recent: 1996

Dallas Texans (AFL): 1
Most recent: 1962

Dallas Stars (NHL): 1
Most recent: 1999

The Cowboys put Dallas on the professional sports map, winning five Super Bowl championships---one for each point on their stars.

In the AFL, The Texans won a title for the city before relocating to Kansas City and becoming the Chiefs.

The Stars brought themselves to Dallas from Minnesota back in the 1990's, and brought the Stanley Cup with them just a few years later.

7. Philadelphia

Total Philadelphia championships: 7
Most recent: 2008

Philadelphia Eagles (NFL): 1
Most recent: 1960

Philadelphia Phillies (MLB): 2
Most recent: 2008

Philadelphia 76ers (NBA): 2
Most recent: 1983

Philadelphia Flyers (NHL): 2
Most recent: 1975

Philadelphia has enjoyed at least one championship in all four major sports leagues in the last 50 years, but is also the largest U.S. city to have never experienced a "dynasty" in that period of time.

The Phillies' World Series championship in 2008 was long overdue for a city that suffered a 25-year championship drought.

Philadelphia's three other teams---the Eagles in particular---ought to start adding to their trophy cases. In the meantime, however, it's good to be a Phillies fan.

6. Detroit

Total Detroit championships: 9
Most recent: 2008

Detroit Tigers (MLB): 2
Most recent: 1984

Detroit Pistons (NBA): 3
Most recent: 2004

Detroit Red Wings (NHL): 4
Most recent: 2008

In Detroit, it's a tale of two cities: the two arena-based teams have given the city plenty of reason to cheer recently, with the Red Wings and Pistons combining for three championships in the last eight years.

On the other hand, Detroit's two stadium-based teams have gone at least 25 years without a championship. The Tigers came close in 2006, but the Lions have been an embarrassment to a city that can otherwise be proud of its accomplishments in professional sports.

5. Chicago

Total Chicago championships: 10
Most recent: 2005

Chicago Bears (NFL): 2
Most recent: 1985

Chicago White Sox (MLB): 1
Most recent: 2005

Chicago Bulls (NBA): 6
Most recent: 1998

Chicago Blackhawks (NHL): 1
Most recent: 1961

The difference between Chicago and a city like Philadelphia is the dynasty of the Bulls in the 1990's. The Bulls have won more than half of Chicago's championships in the last 50 years.

The Bears team that won Super Bowl XX was one of the best in NFL history, and the team again came close in Super Bowl XLI. With a few shrewd moves, they could be back in the hunt soon.

Other Chicago sports teams have only experienced occasional success, however. The good news is, the Blackhawks might be turning into something special. The bad news is, it's 100 years and counting for the Cubs.

At least the White Sox ended their ridiculously-long championship drought recently.

4. Pittsburgh

Total Pittsburgh championships: 12
Most recent: 2009

Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL): 6
Most recent: 2009

Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB): 3
Most recent: 1979

Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL): 3
Most recent: 2009

Pittsburgh: the small market that could. Every one of the city's three professional sports teams has won at least three championships in the last 50 years.

The most impressive thing is, while other cities have won two championships in the same year before, only Pittsburgh has done it twice---in 1979 and 2009.

The Steelers are the premier NFL franchise of the Super Bowl era, winning half the city's championships since 1960. The Penguins have added three Stanley Cup championships since 1991.

Even though the Pirates contributed three World Series titles in the 1960's and 1970's, they've contributed none in the last 30 years, and likely none anytime soon.

True, Pittsburgh has no NBA team, but at the rate this city has won championships in the last 50 years, they probably don't need an NBA team.

3. Los Angeles

Total Los Angeles championships: 15
Most recent: 2009

Los Angeles Raiders (NFL): 1
Most recent: 1984

Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB): 4
Most recent: 1988

Los Angeles Lakers (NBA): 10
Most recent: 2009

In the world of professional sports, Los Angeles is synonymous with the Lakers. The Lakers have averaged a championship every five years since 1960, and have won two-thirds of the city's championships in that period of time.

The Dodgers have gone 20 years without a title, but have contributed four to the city's total nonetheless, and appear to be in contention for a fifth.

The Raiders won a Super Bowl for Los Angeles, but have since moved back to Oakland. Unfortunately, without an NFL team, Los Angeles cannot expect another Super Bowl championship anytime soon.

Long live the Lakers!

2. New York

Total New York championships: 21
Most recent: 2008

New York Giants (NFL): 3
Most recent: 2008

New York Jets (NFL): 1
Most recent: 1969

New York Yankees (MLB): 8
Most recent: 2000

New York Mets (MLB): 2
Most recent: 1986

New York Knicks (NBA): 2
Most recent: 1973

New York Islanders (NHL): 4
Most recent: 1983

New York Rangers (NHL): 1
Most recent: 1994

Of course New York had to be near the top of this list. They have seven teams with which to win championships!

The most prolific title machine for New York has been the Yankees, with eight World Series titles. The cross-town Mets have contributed another two.

In football, the Giants and Jets combine for four Super Bowl championships, including the two biggest upsets in Super Bowl history (III, XLII).

The Islanders were a juggernaut in the early 1980's, and the Rangers drank from Lord Stanley's mug in 1994, but neither team has had much success in recent years, and the Islanders have been rumored to be considering relocation.

Then there's the Knicks, the scourge of New York, and one of the most poorly-run franchises in the NBA. They were last relevant almost 40 years ago. God bless the Knicks fans.

With all these teams and all these championships, it's a surprise that New York only ranks #2 in professional sports championships won since 1960. (If only Bill Mazeroski never hit that home run...)

1. Boston

Total Boston championships: 22
Most recent: 2008

New England Patriots (NFL): 3
Most recent: 2005

Boston Red Sox (MLB): 2
Most recent: 2007

Boston Celtics (NBA): 15
Most recent: 2008

Boston Bruins (NHL): 2
Most recent: 1972

Boston fans, puff out your chests with Celtic pride! With 15 NBA championships, their success single-handedly separates Boston from cities like Philadelphia and Dallas.

Boston has enjoyed remarkable success in professional sports this decade, with six titles won in eight championship appearances. The Patriots have led the way, while the Red Sox have finally erased the Curse of the Bambino.

Even the Celtics added another title to their resume, padding their lead over all other NBA teams.

Unfortunately for Boston sports fans, but thankfully for everybody else, the Bruins have given them reason to be humble.

Savor this decade, Boston fans! It may never happen again!