Detroit Wolverines (minor league baseball)

The Detroit Wolverines were a minor league baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan from 1889 to 1891. The Detroit Wolverines played as members of the Independent level International Association in 1889 and 1890, winning the league championship in both seasons. The team played as members of the 1891 Northwestern League.

The minor league Detroit "Wolverines" were immediately preceded by the major league Detroit Wolverines, who played from 1881 to 1888 as members of the National League.

History[]

The minor league "Detroit Wolverines" were immediately preceded by the Detroit Wolverines of 1881 to 1888, who played as a major league team in the National League. In 1888, the team was managed by Bill Watkins and Bob Leadley. Leadley would remain in Detroit and managed the 1889 and 1890 minor league teams. The Detroit franchise was replaced by the Cleveland Spiders franchise in the eight–team 1889 National League.^[1][2]

In 1889, the Detroit Wolverines became members of the International Association. Joining Detroit in the eight–team league were the Buffalo Bisons, Hamilton Hams, London Tecumsehs, Rochester Jingoes, Syracuse Stars, Toledo Black Pirates and Toronto Canucks.^[3][4]

In their first season of minor league play, the 1889 Detroit Wolverines won the International Association championship. With a regular season record of 72–39, Detroit placed 1st in the eight–team International Association league standings, playing under manager Bob Leadley. Detroit finished 6.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Syracuse Stars in the final league standings.^[5][6][7]

After the 1889 Detroit club compiled a their 72–39 record, outfielder Count Campau, called the team "one of the greatest minor league teams gathered" and stated the team "won the flag so easy that fans stopped going out to see the games."^[8]

Continuing International Association play in 1890, the Detroit Wolverines won their season opener at Toronto on May 1, 1890. After a parade and ceremonies before the opener, Toronto committed 7 errors in the game, as Detroit won 10–6.^[9]

The 1890 Detroit Wolverines played their final International Association season, as the league began play reduced to six teams and folded before the end of the season. When the International Association folded on July 10, 1890, the Detroit Wolverines were in 1st place. The Wolverines had continued play under manager Bob Leadley and had a record of 31–19 when the league folded. The Wolverines finished 1.0 game ahead of the 2nd place Saginaw-Bay City Hyphens (32–20) and 1.5 game ahead of the 3rd place Toronto Canucks (30–20) when the International Association folded. After the league folded, Bob Leadley immediately became the manager of the 1890 Cleveland Spiders.^{[10][11][12][13]}

In 1891, the Detroit Wolverines began the season as members of the eight–team Northwestern League, before folding. The Bay City, Dayton, Evansville Hoosiers, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids Shamrocks, Peoria Distillers and Terre Haute Hottentots teams joined Detroit in beginning 1891 league play. On June 6, 1891, the Wolverines had a 10–19 record playing under manager Rasty Wright when the franchise folded.^[14][15][16]

The minor league Detroit Wolverines were succeeded in Detroit by the Detroit Creams of the 1894 Western League, who evolved to become today's Detroit Tigers.^[17][18][19]

The ballpark[]

The minor league Detroit Wolverines of 1889 and 1890 were noted to have played home games at Recreation Park. Reportedly, the ballpark had hosted the major league Detroit Wolverines in previous seasons. The ballpark was noted to have had a capacity: 7,500 with field dimensions of (Left, Center, Right): 215–325–215 with a 9–foot fence. The ballpark was reportedly built in 1879 and torn down in 1894 and was reportedly located at Willis, John R, Brady, & Beaubien Streets, Detroit, Michigan. The site today is behind Harper University Hospital, with a historical marker in place identifying Recreation Park.^[20][21][22]

The 1891 Detroit Wolverines reportedly hosted minor league home games at Riverside Park. The ballpark was noted to have been located between Jefferson & the Detroit River, Detroit, Michigan. Today, Riverside Park is still in use as a public park.^[23][24][25]

Recreation Park. Detroit, Michigan

Timeline[]

Year-by-year records[]

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Detroit Wolverines (minor league) players

References[]

External link[]

Baseball Reference