In contrast, Real Salt Lake was a small-market franchise with very little tradition and no star players.

There are 18 clubs that characterize themselves as small-market franchises.

Utah's championship pursuit for much of the last decade was about a small-market franchise that gave the others hope.

And it came from a small-market franchise that does not have limitless cash to cover its mistakes.

Kansas City Royals owner David Glass says small-market franchises must do .

Then again, at no other point in baseball history have there been as many small-market franchises whose resources are a small fraction of the big-market powers.

However after the AFL folded in 1927, the league began moving its small-market franchises to the larger cities.

"And yet small-market franchises must compete on the field and in the player-compensation arena with the larger market teams," he said.

You bear the hopes of all the small-market franchises that still dare to dream.

At this time of year, for this small-market franchise that has not been in a World Series since 1982, the right-field bleachers are usually empty.