Blue Grass League

Last updated
Blue Grass League
Classification Class D (1908–1912, 1922–1924)
Sport Minor League Baseball
Inaugural season1908
Ceased1924
PresidentGeorge L. Hammond (1908—1909)
Dr. W.C. Ussery (1910—1911)
William Neal (1911—1912)
Thomas M. Russell (1922—1924)
No. of teams12
Country United States of America
Most titles4
Paris Bourbons/Bourbonites (1910–1911, 1922, 1924)

The Blue Grass League was a minor league baseball circuit at the Class D level that existed in the early 1900s. There were two incarnations of the league, one that ran from 1908 to 1912 and one that existed from 1922 to 1924. It consisted entirely of teams based in Kentucky.

Contents

1908–1912

Six teams played in the league's inaugural season: the Frankfort Statesmen, Lexington Colts, Richmond Pioneers, Shelbyville Grays, Winchester Hustlers and Lawrenceburg Distillers. The Statesmen finished in first place. [1]

In 1909, the Hustlers, Pioneers, Statesmen and Colts returned to the league, while Shelbyville dropped its nickname and the Lawrenceburg team departed. In its stead were the Paris Bourbonites. The Hustlers finished in first place. [1]

All teams from 1909 returned for 1910, though partway through the year the Shelbyville squad moved to Maysville to become the Maysville Rivermen. The Bourbonites finished first in the league. [1] Baseball Hall of Fame member Casey Stengel played for Shelbyville/Maysville in 1910.

All teams from 1910 returned for 1911, with the Bourbonites finishing in first place again. There was also a playoff held that season, with the Bourbonites winning the series. [1]

In 1912, the Statesmen became the Frankfort Lawmakers. Winchester moved to Nicholas and then Mt. Sterling to finish the season as the Mt. Sterling Orphans. Outside of those changes, the league remained the same. Frankfort finished in first place. [1]

1922–1924

The inaugural season of the second incarnation of the league featured the Paris Mammoths, Maysville Cardinals, Cynthiana Merchants, Mt. Sterling Essex, Winchester Dodgers and Lexington Reos. The Mammoths finished in first, though the league playoff pitted Maysville against Cynthiana, with the former winning the series. [1]

1923 saw multiple teams change names. The Merchants became the Cynthiana Cobblers and the Mammoths became the Paris Bourbons. The other teams remained the same. Cynthiana finished in first place. [1]

The league consisted of only four teams in 1924 — Paris, Cynthiana, Lexington (now called the Lexington Studebakers) and Winchester. The Bourbons finished in first place. [1]

Cities represented

[1]

Yearly standings

1908 to 1912

1908 Blue Grass League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Frankfort Lawmakers 4723.671N. G. Kennedy
Lexington Thoroughbreds 3731.5449.0Thomas Sheets
Richmond Pioneers 3634.51411.0William Parrish
Lawrenceburg Distillers 3335.48513.0Guy Woodruff
Shelbyville Millers 3237.46414.5Anton Kuhn
Versailles Aristocrats /
Winchester Hustlers
2247.31924.5NA

No Playoffs scheduled. [1]

1909 Blue Grass League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Winchester Hustlers 7544.630Daddy Horn
Richmond Pioneers 7545.6250.5Al Grohe
Paris Bourbonites 6157.51613.5Jeff Elgin /
Henry Schmidt / James Barnett
Frankfort Lawmakers 5660.48217.5N. G. Kennedy /
Ben Marshall
Lexington Colts 4869.41026.0Thomas Sheets /
Cy Stout / Pat Downing
Shelbyville Millers 3979.32135.5Anton Kuhn

No Playoffs scheduled. [1]

1910 Blue Grass League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Paris Bourbonites 8047.630Edward McKernan
Lexington Colts 6956.55210.0Hogan Yancy
Winchester Hustlers 6359.51614.5Newton Horn / Ed Coleman
Richmond Pioneers 6360.51215.0 William Maloney
Frankfort Lawmakers 6061.49617.0Wallace Warren / Danny Harrell
Shelbyville Millers /
Maysville Rivermen
3789.29442.5Anton Kuhn /
Daniel Collins

No Playoffs scheduled. [1]

1911 Blue Grass League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Paris Bourbonites 7144.617Edward McKernan
Lexington Colts 6550.5656.0Thomas Sheets /
Hogan Yancy
Winchester Hustlers 5959.50013.5 Ed Coleman
Maysville Rivermen 5563.46617.5James Carmony
Frankfort Lawmakers 4865.42522.0NA
Richmond Pioneers 4764.42322.0Connie Lewis /
Sylvester Olson

Playoff: Paris 4 games, Winchester 0. [1]

1912 Blue Grass League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Frankfort Lawmakers 8542.670Ollie Gfroerer
Maysville Rivermen 8247.6344.0James Carmony /
Harry Kunkel
Richmond Pioneers 6664.50820.5William Fisher
Lexington Colts 6065.48024.0Hogan Yancy /
Ted McGrew
Paris Bourbonites 6069.46526.0 Joe Lewis /
Danning Harrell
Winchester Hustlers / Nicholasville /
Mount Sterling Orphans
3197.24254.5Harry Kunkel /
McBrayer / Bob Spade


No Playoffs scheduled. [1]

1922 to 1924

1922 Blue Grass League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Paris Bourbons 3628.563B. Goodman /
Harold Willis
Maysville Cardinals 3328.5411.5Norbert Bosken
Cynthiana Merchants 3430.5312.0Ernest McIlvan
Mt. Sterling Essex 3031.4924.5 Hod Eller
Winchester Dodgers 2836.4388.0 Howie Camnitz /
Walter Van Winkle
Lexington Reds 2836.4388.0Pat Devereaux /
Jim Park

Playoff: Maysville 3 games, Cynthiana 1. [1]

1923 Blue Grass League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Cynthiana Cobblers 5443.557Bill Schumaker
Winchester Dodgers 5344.5461.0Pat Devereaux
Maysville Cardinals 4845.5164.0Norbert Bosken
Paris Bourbons 4547.4806.5Nickholas Winger /
Felix Cicona
Lexington Reds 4449.4738.0Doug Harbison
Mt. Sterling Essex 3854.41313.5Charles Ellis /
Hod Eller

No Playoffs were held. [1]

1924 Blue Grass League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Paris Bourbons 5143.543Bob Corkhill /
Pat Devereaux / Fritz Mueller
Cynthiana Cobblers 5043.5380.5Bill Schumaker /
John Koval
Lexington Studebakers 4350.4627.5Jesse Young /
Jim Viox
Winchester Dodgers 4351.4578.0George Bell

No Playoffs were scheduled. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankfort, Kentucky</span> Capital city of Kentucky, United States

Frankfort is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kentucky and the seat of Franklin County. It is a home rule-class city. The population was 28,602 at the 2020 United States census. Located along the Kentucky River, Frankfort is the principal city of the Frankfort, Kentucky Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Franklin and Anderson counties. It is the 4th least populous state capital in the United States, and the 13th most populous city in Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynthiana, Kentucky</span> City in Kentucky, United States

Cynthiana is a home rule-class city in Harrison County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 6,402 at the 2010 census. It is the seat of its county.

The Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League was a Class D level minor league baseball circuit that went through six different periods of play between 1903 and 1955. The League hosted teams in 29 cities from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee.

The Nebraska State League (NSL) was an American professional minor league baseball league with five incarnations between 1892 and 1959. The Nebraska State League formed five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959. League teams were based in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. The 1892 league was a Class B level league, and the league was a Class D level league in all subsequent seasons.

The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically in 1900, from 1903–1917, 1920–1922, 1926, 1928–1930, 1934, and 1948–1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season. The Central League later reformed in 1928.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 62 in Kentucky</span> Highway in Kentucky

U.S. Route 62 (US 62) in Kentucky runs for a total of 391.207 miles (629.587 km) across 20 counties in western, north-central, and northeastern Kentucky. It enters the state by crossing the Ohio River near Wickliffe, then begins heading eastward at Bardwell, and traversing several cities and towns across the state up to Maysville, where it crosses the Ohio River a second time to enter the state of Ohio.

The 4th Ohio Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was also known as the Union Dragoons and Cincinnati Union Dragoons.

The Ohio State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in numerous seasons between 1887 and 1947, predominantly as a Class D level league. League franchises were based in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

George S. Kircher was a longtime baseball figure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky State Penitentiary in Frankfort</span>

The Kentucky State Penitentiary in Frankfort was the first prison built West of the Allegheny Mountains and completed June 22, 1800 when Kentucky was still virtually a wilderness. The Kentucky Legislature of 1798 had appointed Harry Innes, Alexander S. Bullitt, Caleb Wallace, Isaac Shelby and John Coburn as commissioners to choose a location for a “penitentiary house.” The house was described "to be built of brick, or stone, containing cells, workshops, with an outside wall high enough and strong enough to keep the prisoners from getting away." The site chosen was Frankfort, Kentucky. Henry Innis, one of the commission, gave one acre of land and the legislature appropriated $500 towards its building with more funds to be allocated later.

The Cynthiana Cobblers were a minor league baseball team based in Cynthiana, Kentucky. From 1922 to 1924, Cynthiana teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League, winning the 1923 league championship. Cynthiana played as the "Merchants" in 1922 and the franchise hosted minor league home games at River Road Park.

The Mt. Sterling Essex were a minor league baseball team based in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. In 1912 and from 1922 to 1923, Mt. Sterling teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League, hosting home games at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The team played as the "Orphans" in 1912.

The Shelbyville Grays were a minor league baseball team based in Shelbyville, Kentucky. From 1908 to 1910, the Grays played exclusively as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League, hosting home games at the Shelbyville Base Ball Park.

The Paris Bourbonites were a minor league baseball team based in Paris, Kentucky. The Bourbonites played as members of the Blue Grass League from 1909 to 1912, with Paris joining the Ohio State League in 1914 and the "Bourbons" returning to Blue Grass League play from 1922 to 1924. Paris teams won league championships in 1910, 1911 and 1924 and hosted home minor league games at Bourbon County Park.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Maysville, Kentucky in various seasons between 1894 and 1923. Maysville teams played as members of the Tri-State League in 1894, Blue Grass League from 1910 to 1912, Ohio State League from 1913 to 1916 and Blue Grass League from 1922 to 1923, winning one league championship. Maysville hosted home minor league games at the Maysville Base Ball Park/League Park. Baseball Hall of Fame member Casey Stengel played for the 1910 Maysville Rivermen in his first professional season.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Frankfort, Kentucky in various seasons between 1885 and 1916. Frankfort teams played as members of the Interstate League in 1885, the Blue Grass League from 1908 to 1912 and Ohio State League in 1915 and 1916. Frankfort won Blue Grass League championships in 1908 and 1912.

The Lawrenceburg Distillers were a minor league baseball team were based in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. In 1908, the Distillers played as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League. The Distillers finished in fourth place in the 1908 standings, hosting home games at St. Charles Park.

The Lexington Reds were a minor league baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Winchester Hustlers were a minor league baseball team based in Winchester, Kentucky. From 1908 to 1912, the Hustlers played exclusively as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League, winning the 1909 league championship. Winchester hosted home games at Garner's Park. In 1909, Winchester's Fred Toney pitched a 17-inning complete game no hitter, the longest no hitter thrown in organized baseball.

The Winchester Dodgers were a minor league baseball team based in Winchester, Kentucky. From 1922 to 1924, the Dodgers played exclusively as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League, having been preceded in the league by the 1908 to 1912 Winchester Hustlers. Winchester hosted home games at Garner's Park.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN   978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)