Major League Lacrosse (2006-2010)
Tombstone
Born: 2001 – MLL founding franchise
Moved: November 6, 2006 (Washington Bayhawks)1Kubatko, Roch. “Bayhawks picking up sticks and moving to D.C.”. The Sun (Baltimore, MD). November 7, 2006
First Game: June 7, 2001 (W 16-13 vs. Long Island Lizards)
Last Game:
Steinfeld Trophy Championships: 2002 & 2005
Stadia
2001: Homewood Field
Opened: 1906
2002: M&T Bank Stadium
Opened: 1998
2003: Homewood Field
2004-2006: Johnny Unitas Stadium at Towson University (11,198 scaled to 6,000 for lacrosse)22004 Baltimore Bayhawks Media Guide
Opened: 1978
Branding
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owners:
- 2001-????: Gordon Boone, Dave Pivec, Chris Hutchins & Ray Schulmeyer
- 2006: Jeff Harvey & Scott Hiller
Background
The Baltimore Bayhawks were one of six founding franchises when Major League Lacrosse debuted during the summer of 2001.
The Bayhawks were MLL’s strongest performer on the field during the league’s early years. The ‘Hawks were the only club to post a winning record in each of MLL’s first five seasons. Baltimore advanced to the championship game in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005, winning the Steinfeld Trophy as Major League Lacrosse champions in 2002 and 2005. The Bayhawks great rivalry was with the Long Island Lizards, whom they face in all four of the aforementioned title games.
The Bayhawks were a tough team to pin down for local fans, changing stadiums each summer for their first four seasons. Eventually the club settled in for a three-year run at Towson State’s Johnny Unitas Stadium from 2004 to 2006.
The team changed hands prior to the 2006 season. New owners Jeff Harvey and Scott Hiller played one final season in Baltimore and then announced the Bayhawks would move to Washington, D.C. for the 2007 season.
After a subsequent sale and relocation to Annapolis, Maryland in 2010, the Bayhawks went on to win four more MLL titles in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2019. The Bayhawks remained a member of Major League Lacrosse until the league effectively folded in December 2020.
Trivia
Baltimore Bayhawks midfielder Chris Turner scored the first goal in Major League Lacrosse history on June 7th, 2001, scoring just over a minute into the league’s inaugural game. The Bayhawks went on to defeat the Long Island Lizards 16-13 before 5,953 at Homewood Field.
Baltimore Bayhawks Video
The Bayhawks visit the Boston Cannons at Nickerson Field in Boston. August 5th, 2006.
Links
###
