4. Louisville, KY
Louisville Kentucky has already carved out a unique place in MLB history. As the home of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, as well as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals AAA team, the Louisville Bats, baseball is certainly well represented in the city.
Yet, baseball has been a part of the identity of Louisville for much longer. The Louisville Colonels were a major league franchise from 1882 through 1899, playing in American Association before joining the National League. The franchise folded following the 1899 season, as team owner Barney Dreyfuss purchased a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Pirates and brought fourteen players, including Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke and Rube Waddell with him.
Given the rich history of baseball in Louisville, it would seem as though the city would be a natural fit for another franchise. The biggest issue may be the market size, as the region surrounding Louisville holds only 1,269,702 residents, ranking 44th in the country, as of 2014. Louisville just may not be a large enough area to support a major league franchise.
Louisville has a great history and will be forever a part of baseball, and if they can show enough support for a major league franchise, the city could once again be a part of the future of the game.
Next: Another team in the Pacific Northwest