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Maryland has a number of major and minor professional sports franchises. Two National Football League teams play in Maryland, the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore and the Washington Redskins in Prince George's County. The Baltimore Orioles compete as Major League Baseball franchise in Baltimore.
Contents
- Major professional teams
- Baseball
- Coppin State University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Loyola University Maryland
- Morgan State University
- Mount St Marys University
- Towson University
- United States Naval Academy
- University of Maryland Baltimore County
- University of Maryland College Park
- Bowie State University
- Frostburg State University
- Goucher College
- Hood College
- McDaniel College
- Notre Dame of Maryland University
- Salisbury University
- Stevenson University
- St Marys College of Maryland
- Washington College
- Collegiate Summer Baseball
- Baltimore Catholic League
- Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland
- Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association
- Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association
- Member High schools
- Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
- Horse racing
- References
Other professional sports franchises in the state include five affiliated minor league baseball teams, one independent league baseball team, the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, two indoor football teams, two low-level Basketball teams, three low-level outdoor soccer teams and the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse.
The Congressional Country Club and Aronimink Golf Club have hosted several professional golf tournaments, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open, Senior PGA Championship, Kemper Open and Quicken Loans National.
Maryland has had famous athletes including baseball's Cal Ripken Jr. and Babe Ruth, and Olympic swimming medalists Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff.
Since 1962, the official state sport of Maryland is jousting. Lacrosse was named the official team sport in 2004, and Sports Illustrated wrote the sport "has always been the showcase for the flower of Maryland manhood." In 2008, intending to promote physical fitness for all ages, Maryland declared walking the official state exercise and became the first state with an official state exercise.
Major professional teams
Maryland has major professional sports teams in the city of Baltimore and in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.. Two major league teams play in Baltimore — the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and MLB's Baltimore Orioles. Additionally, the NFL's Baltimore Colts played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983 before moving to Indianapolis.
The Washington Redskins play in Landover, Maryland. The NHL's Washington Capitals and the NBA's Washington Wizards used to play in Maryland before moving in 1997 to a newly constructed arena in downtown D.C.
Baseball
The following table details baseball teams which were located in Maryland. For minor league teams that changed affiliations, each affiliation is listed as a separate team.
Coppin State University
The Coppin State University athletic teams are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Eagles and compete in the following sports:
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays lacrosse team, founded in 1883, is the school's most prominent sports team, which has won 44 national titles and is the only school sport to compete at the NCAA Division I level. The Blue Jays play at Homewood Field (pictured left). Hopkins women's lacrosse also competes at the Division I level.
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola fields 17 varsity teams and 22 club teams. The varsity teams participate in the NCAA's Division I. Sixteen of Loyola's 18 athletic teams compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Men's lacrosse competes in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and women's lacrosse is an associate member of the Big East Conference. The colleges teams are called the Greyhounds (logo right) and compete in the following sports:
Morgan State University
The Morgan State University athletic teams are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Bears and compete in the following sports:
Mount St. Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University was one of the founding members of the Northeast Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Mountaineers and compete in the following sports:
Towson University
The athletics teams of Towson University participate in the NCAA's Division I and are members of the Colonial Athletic Association as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Tigers, and the mascot of the University is named Doc.
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy participates in NCAA Division I in 30 varsity sports. It also fields teams in 12 club sports. The Academy is a non-football member of the Patriot League, a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) independent school, and a member of the Collegiate Sprint Football League (men), Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (men), Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges, Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League (men), and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. Navy is also one of approximately 300 members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Although the teams have no official name, they are usually referred to as "Navy", "Midshipmen", or "Mids". The Academy competes in the following sports:
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County sports teams participate in the NCAA's Division I, and is member of the America East Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Retrievers, and the mascot of the University is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever which has been referred to as both True Grit and Fever.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park sports teams participate in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Prior to 2014, the school participated in Division I as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member. Its teams are called the Terrapins, and its mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo.
Bowie State University
The Bowie State University athletic teams are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Their teams are called the Bulldogs and compete in the following sports:
Frostburg State University
Frostburg State athletic teams are members of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Their teams are called the Bobcats and compete in the following sports:
Goucher College
Goucher College athletic teams are members of the Landmark Conference. Their teams are called the Gophers and compete in the following sports:
Hood College
Hood College's athletic teams are members of the Capital Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Blazers and compete in the following sports:
McDaniel College
McDaniel College athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference. Their teams are called the Green Terror and compete in the following sports:
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Notre Dame athletic teams are members of the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Gators and compete in the following sports:
Johns Hopkins University
Except for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays lacrosse team, Johns Hopkins athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference and compete in the following sports:
Salisbury University
Salisbury University athletic teams are members of the Capital Athletic Conference except for the football team which plays in the Empire 8. Their teams are called the Seagulls and compete in the following sports:
Stevenson University
Stevenson University athletic teams are members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference as well as the Capital Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Mustangs and compete in the following sports:
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College athletic teams are members of the Capital Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Seahawks and compete in the following sports:
Washington College
Washington College athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference, except for the sailing team which competes in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association. Their teams are called the Shoremen/Shorewomen and compete in the following sports:
Collegiate Summer Baseball
The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league located in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan areas. Of the ten teams in the league, six play home games in Maryland.
Baltimore Catholic League
The Baltimore Catholic League (BCL), is a competitive basketball association composed of private Catholic high schools in the Baltimore, Maryland geographic area.
Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland
The Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (or IAAM) is a girls’ sports conference for private high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore.
Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (or MIAA) is a boys' sports conference for private high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore.
Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association
The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) oversees public high school sporting contests in the state of Maryland.
Member High schools
Allegany County
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Calvert County
Caroline County
Carroll County
Cecil County
Charles County
Dorchester County
Frederick County
Garrett County
Harford County
Howard County
Kent County
Montgomery County
Prince George's County
Queen Anne's County
St. Mary's County
Somerset County
Talbot County
Washington County
Wicomico County
Worcester County
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference or WCAC is a high school athletic league for boys, girls, and co-ed Catholic high schools located around and in Washington, D.C., United States.
Horse racing
Horse racing has a very long history in Maryland going back to colonial days. The Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel in the Triple Crown, is run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Presently, Maryland has four Thoroughbred tracks and two Harness Tracks.