The Baltimore Bullets history traces a crucial chapter of the NBA. Formed after relocating from Chicago, the team became a force in Maryland during the 1960s. Known for their competitive play and loyal fans, the franchise laid the groundwork for future success in Washington and helped shape modern Baltimore Bullets basketball traditions.
Established
1961
City
Chicago – Baltimore – Washington D.C.
League History
1961 – Present / National Basketball Association
Team History
1997 – Present / Washington Wizards
1974 – 1997 / Washington Bullets
1973 – 1974 / Capital Bullets
1963 – 1973 / Baltimore Bullets
1962 – 1963 / Chicago Zephyrs
1961 – 1962 / Chicago Packers
Nickname
Bullets – The Baltimore Bullets have a long and storied history, dating back to the 1940s. The team was founded in 1944 as part of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and was initially known as the Baltimore Elite Giants. While they were successful on the court, it wasn’t until 1954 that they changed their name to “Bullets” - an homage to their home city's World War II heritage.
Baltimore Bullets Origin
At this time in Baltimore Bullets history, many people had just returned from fighting overseas or had family members who did so; thus, honoring them with a nickname like “Bullets” seemed appropriate for such a patriotic city as Baltimore at that period. Furthermore, basketball is considered one of America's most popular sports today- having an iconic team called "the Bullets" made perfect sense!
Not only does this give fans something special to cheer about, but it also serves as a reminder of what those brave men & women went through during WWII- making them even more proud when cheering for their hometown heroes! And while times have changed since then with new ownerships & namesakes over the years, it remains true that no matter what you call them, The original spirit behind why these teams are named after bullets will always remain alive within each fan base throughout generations!
Championship
NBA Championships 0
1978
Arena
2018 - Present / Capital One Arena
2007 – 2017 / Verizon Center
1997 – 2006 / MCI Center
1994 – 1997 / US Airways Arena
1973 – 1993 / Capital Centre
*Baltimore*
1963 – 1973 / Baltimore Civic Center
*Chicago*
1962 – 1963 / Chicago Coliseum
1961 – 1962 / International Amphitheatre
Owner
2010 – Present / Ted Leonsis
2009 – 2010 / Estate of Abe Pollin and Ted Leonsis
1999 – 2009 / Abe Pollin and Ted Leonsis
1964 – 1999 / Abe Pollin
1961 – 1964 / David Trager
- 1963
- 1968
-
Move To Baltimore
In 1963 the franchise moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and became the Baltimore Bullets, taking their name from the 1940s and 1950s Baltimore Bullets BAA/NBA franchise and playing home games at the Baltimore Civic Center. In their first year in Baltimore, the Bullets finished fourth in a five–team Western Division. -
Wes Unseld ROY and MVP
In the late 1960s, the Bullets drafted two future Hall of Fame members: Earl Monroe, in the 1967 draft, number two overall, and Wes Unseld, in the 1968 draft, also number two overall. The team improved dramatically, from 36 wins the previous season to 57 in the 1968 – 1969 season, and Unseld received both the rookie of the year ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Baltimore Bullets History
The Baltimore Bullets history, previously known as The Chicago Zephyrs, are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The franchise was founded as the Miami Seahawks in 1945 and moved to Baltimore two years later. Several names have known the team throughout its history, including the Colts, Ravens, and now the Bullets.
The franchise's original owner was Carroll Rosenbloom, who purchased it from Miami for $50,000 in 1947 after failing to secure an NFL expansion spot for his hometown of Washington, D.C. He renamed them “the Colts” after his beloved horse racing stable which also bore that name then. They played their first season as part of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) before joining National Football League (NFL) following its merger with another league rival – AAFC – in 1950, where they finished 4th out 8 teams overall with a 7-7 record under head coach Cecil Isbell who left shortly afterward due to disagreements over personnel decisions made by Rosenbloom himself.
Bullets Achievements
In 1953, Weeb Ewbank took over coaching duties while quarterback YA Title led them through a successful 9–3 season culminating in their first playoff appearance against Chicago Bears. Unfortunately, they were defeated 14–10. Still, they went on to win back-to-back championships during the 1958 & 1959 seasons, respectively, thanks primarily to the due contribution of running back Alan Ameche's 1-yard touchdown run during a sudden-death overtime game against the New York Giants, which earned him the nickname "the Horse."
After suffering numerous losing campaigns between the 1960s & 70s in Baltimore Bullets history, a new ownership group headed up by Robert Irsay decided to change direction completely when he hired Hall Of Famer Ted Marchibroda 1974, who brought along some much-needed stability leading into playoffs twice within 3 year period despite having limited resources available at the time. However, this success didn't last long once again as Irsay relocated the entire organization to Cleveland Browns in 1983, leaving behind many disappointed fans without any explanation whatsoever other than simply wanting a fresh start elsewhere, thus ending the 32-year association between the city & club altogether since inception way back in 1945 when started!
"Don't Just Watch the Game—Own the Look!"
Score the hottest drop of the season, from authentic Icon Edition jerseys to the latest sneaker releases and official team hoodies. High-performance gear for the ultimate basketball fan.
Get Your Gear – NBA Official Collection
Retired Number
10 / Earl “The Pearl” Monroe
11 / Elvin Hayes
25 / Gus Johnson
41 / Wes Unseld
45 / Phil Chenier
*Blue is this team’s history