Kansas City Blues (American Association)
| Kansas City Blues | |
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| Major league affiliations | |
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| Class titles (3) |
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| League titles (10) |
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| Ballpark | Blues Stadium (1923–1954) |
The Kansas City Blues were a
The Blues did not field particularly competitive teams until 1918, when they won the AA pennant. The team won again in 1923, and again in 1929. They won the Junior World Series championship both years, defeating the Baltimore Orioles and the Rochester Red Wings of the International League, respectively, in best-of-nine series.[1]
In 1935, the Blues became a farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1936 they became an affiliate of the New York Yankees. They won the AA championships five times in the 1930s and 1940s. They defeated the Newark Bears, another Yankees farm club, in the 1938 Junior World Series.
When the
The 1923, 1929, and 1939 Blues were recognized as being among the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.[2]
History
Preceded in Kansas City by the
The Blues still struggled with attendance, though it did improve, even if Kansas City finished in last place. Another change was made as Peckinbaugh was released and
The Blues would never have a team as great as the 1939 squad again, but the team was a launching pad for future major league players like Johnny Lindell and in later years, Mickey Mantle. And by the 1950s it was over for the Blues altogether, as the franchise ceased once the A's moved from Philadelphia to Kansas City.
Notable alumni
Hall of Fame alumni
- Jake Beckley, First Basemen, Manager, 1908-1909
- Burleigh Grimes, Manager, 1946
- Mickey Mantle, outfielder and three-time AL MVP[5]
- Phil Rizzuto, Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year in 1940
- Tris Speaker, Manager, 1933
- Casey Stengel, Right Fielder, 1910-1911; Manager, 1945
Players and managers Well-known members of the 1929 Junior World Series-winning Kansas City Blues included:[1]
- Dutch Zwilling, manager
- Clyde "Pea Ridge" Day, pitcher
- Joe Kuhel, 23-year-old first baseman who later played for the Washington Senators
- Lynn (Line Drive) Nelson, pitcher
- Fred Nicholson, outfielder
- Bill Wambsganss, 35-year-old shortstop who was best known for making an unassisted triple play in the 1920 World Series
Other well-known players and managers include:
- Harry Craft, manager in the 1950s
- George Leslie Cochran, switch-hitting infielder
- Dick Kryhoski, first baseman in the late 1940s
- Al Rosen, 4x All Star, MVP
- Homer "Doc" Smoot, outfielder in 1910-11
- Charlie Silvera, Catcher 1946
See also
- List of past and present Kansas City sports teams
References
- ^ a b c 1929 Kansas City Blues from the Minor League Baseball website
- ^ "Top 100 Teams". MiLB.com. 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Baseball Reference. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Minor League History".
- ^ 1951 Kansas City Blues Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com