Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels | |
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Information | |
Affiliations |
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Ballpark |
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Former name(s) |
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Colors | Red Yellow |
Ownership |
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Manager |
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President | Harry Pulliam (1897–1899) |
The Louisville Colonels were a
"Colonels" was also the name of several minor league baseball teams that played in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 20th century.
American Association
After spending several years as a well-known semi-pro team, the Eclipse joined the newly founded American Association in 1882. The Eclipse's backer, local distiller J. H. Pank, was named vice-president of the AA, and the team was to be run by a consortium led by W. L. Lyons. Their star player, infielder Pete Browning, who had achieved some measure of local fame, remained with the team when they ascended to major league status. The team got off to a good start, finishing in second place, their best finish for several seasons.
Managing partner Lyons resigned in mid-1888, and was succeeded by team secretary Mordecai Davidson. The following season, the team sank to a 27–111 record and a last place finish. As a result, Davidson surrendered control of the team to the AA. The Colonels lost five straight games in two days, including a tripleheader on September 7 and a doubleheader the next day, all against the Baltimore Orioles. With the prohibition of tripleheaders in the early 1920s, this record still stands. The 1889 Colonels were the first team in major league history to lose 100 games in a single season.
In 1890 the team, which had been purchased by Barney Dreyfuss, bounced back with a vengeance. The Colonels won the 1890 pennant in the AA and became the first and only team to rise from the cellar to the pennant in one season. That year the AA was considered only the third-best behind the NL and the Players' League.
National League
In 1892 the American Association dissolved, and the Colonels moved to the
Notable achievements
In September 1882, Louisville pitchers threw two
Notable Colonels players
- Pete Browning (outfielder)
- Fred Clarke (outfielder–manager)
- Harry Davis (first baseman–manager)
- Jerry Denny (third baseman)
- Jack Glasscock (shortstop)
- Dummy Hoy (center fielder)
- Hughie Jennings (shortstop)
- Tony Mullane (pitcher)
- Deacon Phillippe (pitcher)
- Toad Ramsey (pitcher)
- Rube Waddell (pitcher)
- Honus Wagner (shortstop)
- Nick Altrock (pitcher)
- Jimmy Collins (third baseman)
Baseball Hall of Famers
Louisville Colonels Hall of Famers | |||
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Inductee | Position | Tenure | Inducted |
Fred Clarke | OF/Manager | 1894–1899 | 1945 |
Hughie Jennings | SS/1B | 1891–1893 | 1945 |
Rube Waddell | P | 1897, 1899 | 1946 |
Honus Wagner | SS | 1897–1899 | 1936 |
Jimmy Collins | 3B | 1895 | 1946 |