The Washington Generals

Historical Context

Gary Arndt explores the history of notoriously bad sports teams, highlighting the Washington Generals as the worst. He compares them to teams like the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost 26 consecutive games, and the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who won only 20 out of 154 games. Despite these records, the Generals stand out for their consistent losses against the Harlem Globetrotters, a team they were specifically formed to play against 1.

Sports history is littered with really bad teams. The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't win a single game and wound up losing 26 in a row.

--- Gary Arndt

This comparison sets the stage for understanding the unique role the Generals played in sports history.

   

Generals' Legacy

The Washington Generals were created by Abe Saperstein and Red Klotz to be regular opponents for the Harlem Globetrotters. Despite their efforts to win, they lost almost every game, with only three victories in over 16,000 matches 2. Their most famous win occurred in 1971, when they unexpectedly defeated the Globetrotters, leaving the audience in shock.

The crowd looked at us like we killed Santa Claus.

--- Red Klotz

This rare victory was bittersweet, as it was achieved under a different team name, the New Jersey Reds, further cementing their legacy as the ultimate underdogs.