Established
1967
City
New Orleans – Memphis – Baltimore
League History
1967 – 1975 / American Basketball Association
Team History
1975 / Baltimore Claws (Only Played three exhibition Game)
1974 – 1975 / Memphis Sounds
1972 – 1974 / Memphis Tams
1970 – 1972 / Memphis Pros
1967 – 1970 / New Orleans Buccaneers
Nickname
Claws – Baltimore may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of professional sports teams, but it has a long and storied history in athletics. One team that is particularly beloved by Baltimoreans is the Baltimore Claws. The nickname for this team dates back to its founding in 1975 and has become an integral part of its identity over time.
The origin story for this unique moniker begins with owner Jerry Hoffberger, who wanted his baseball franchise (then known as “The Orioles”) to have a name that was more appropriate given its location on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay coastline – hence “Claws”! The term was chosen partly because clawed creatures such as crabs are native to the area but also due to their connection with strength and resilience; after all, claws can help animals protect themselves from predators or cling onto rocks during storms at sea!
This powerful image soon became associated with Hoffberger's new organization - one he hoped would bring pride and success back into Baltimore sports culture - making it an ideal choice for a mascot name. Over time, fans began using "Claw" affectionately when referring directly or indirectly to their beloved home team, whether discussing game results or simply expressing support from afar via social media platforms like Twitter & Facebook!
Today, many generations later still proudly wear clothes featuring iconic images related to these famous Claws: everything from caps adorned with crab logos to t-shirts emblazoned 'Go Claws' slogans can be found throughout Charm City streets on any given day! It's clear why so many locals remain fiercely loyal to this particular nickname – even if they don't always understand where it originally came from...
Championship
ABA Championships 0
Arena
*Emmitsburg, Maryland (Baltimore)*
1975 / St. Mary’s College
*Memphis*
1970 – 1975 / Mid-South Coliseum
*New Orleans*
1969 – 1970 / Tulane Gym
1967 – 1969 / Loyola Field House
Owner
1975 / American Basketball Association Office
1972 – 1975 / Charles O. Finley
1970 – 1972 / P. W. Blake
1967 – 1970 / Morton Downey, Jr., Charles G. Smither and 5 other Owners
Coaches
1974 – 1975 / Joe Mullaney
1972 – 1973 / Bob Bass
1967 – 1972 / Babe McCarthy
*Blue is this team’s history
- 1975
-
Short Stay in Baltimore
The Memphis Sounds were eliminated by the Colonels and would be the last meaningful game that the franchise would play. Although the 1974 – 1975 season saw the highest attendance figures during the team’s stay in Memphis, both Wilson and Hayes were having financial troubles that required them to sell their shares. After the 1974 – 1975 season, the ABA ...
History of the Claws
The Baltimore Claws, previously known as the Memphis Sounds, were a professional basketball team that played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1970 to 1975. The team was based out of Memphis, Tennessee, and was one of the original 11 franchises that made up the ABA during its inaugural season. During their five-year tenure in the league, they had some success on the court but never entirely managed to reach the championship level.
In their first season with an all-rookie lineup, led by future NBA Hall-of-Famer Spencer Haywood and 6'9" center Mel Daniels who both went on to have successful careers in pro basketball, the Memphis Sounds finished second overall behind only the Kentucky Colonels for the best record within the Eastern Division at 48–32 (.600). They reached the playoffs as well but fell short against the eventual champions, the New York Nets, with a 4–2 series loss, despite leading 2–1 after three games. The following year ended much differently as they failed to make it into the post-season, finishing 40–40 (.500), which saw them placed fourth out of six teams within the divisional standings while also setting a franchise low point total average per game (108 points).
Overall, during those five years between 1971 and 1975, the Memphis Sounds, previously known as the Memphis Sounds, qualified for the playoffs twice, reaching the semi-finals once before eventually folding due to financial difficulties along with several other ABA teams before merging with the NBA in the summer of 1976 when four former ABA clubs joined the National Basketball Association, including the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and New York Nets, who later became the Brooklyn Nets today. Despite not having much success throughout their brief existence, many players found considerable fame playing alongside or against each other, such as Julius Erving, George Gervin, and Artis Gilmore, among others, making a lasting impact on the sport itself, even if just briefly so through the legacy left by this now defunct organization.
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