Richmond Bluebirds

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Richmond Bluebirds
1895–1901
Richmond, Virginia
Minor league affiliations
Class
  • Class B (1895–1899)
  • Class D (1900)
  • Class C (1901)
League
Major league affiliations
Team
  • None
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1895
  • 1896
  • 1898
  • 1899
Team data
Name
  • Richmond Bluebirds (1895–1901)
BallparkRichmond Fairgrounds (1895–1897)
Mayo Park (1895–1899)
Broad Street Park (1897–1901)

The Richmond Bluebirds was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Richmond, Virginia between 1895 and 1901. The Richmond teams played as members of the Virginia League in 1895 and 1896, Atlantic League from 1897 to 1899, Virginia League in 1900 and Virginia-North Carolina League in 1901.

Baseball Hall of Fame member Jack Chesbro played for the Richmond Blue Birds from 1897 to 1899.

The Bluebirds were succeeded by the 1906 Richmond Colts, who began play in the Virginia League. Today, the Richmond Flying Squirrels play as members of the Double-A Northeast League.

History[]

The minor league Richmond Bluebirds team was preceded by the Richmond Virginians and Richmond Colts teams. The Richmond Virginians last played as members of the 1884 Virginia League. the Colts immediately preceded the Bluebirds, when the team played as members of the 1894 Virginia League.[1]

The 1895 Richmond Bluebirds won the championship in their first season of play. The Bluebirds began play as members of the six–team Class B level "Virginia State League," formally called the Virginia League. The Bluebirds ended the 1895 season with a record of 78–45 to place 1st in the league standings, finishing 9.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Lynchburg Tobacconists. Jake Wells served as manager and would continue as the Bluebird manager through the 1899 season. Carney Flynn of Richmond led the league with 23 wins and 203 strikeouts.[2][3][4][5]

The Richmond Bluebirds repeated as Virginia League champions in 1896. The Bluebirds ended the 1896 season with a final record of 71–55, placing 1st and finishing 3.0 games ahead on the 2nd place Norfolk Braves in the final standings of the six–team league. Jake Wells served as manager.[6][7][5]

The 1897 Richmond Bluebirds continued play as members of the eight–team Class B level Atlantic League. The Richmond Bluebirds of the Atlantic League ended the 1897 season with a record of 71–59, placing 4th and finishing 16.5 games behind the 1st place Lancaster Maroons. The 1897 Richmond team was also referenced under the "Giants" moniker. Jake Wells again served as manager. Baseball Hall of Fame member Jack Chesbro pitched for the 1897 Richmond team, his first of three seasons with the club, compiling a 16–18 record with a 1.80 ERA in 289 innings at age 23.[8][9][10]

The Richmond Bluebirds won the 1898 Atlantic League championship. The Bluebirds ended the 1898 season with a record of 77–44, placing 1st in the final standings, finishing 0.5 game ahead of the 2nd place Lancaster Maroons. Jake Wells served as manager. Bluebird player Socks Seybold led the league with 17 home runs. Jack Chesbro again played for Richmond, with his 1898 individual statistics unknown.[11][12][13]

The 1899 Richmond Bluebirds defended their Atlantic League title and won the championship. Richmond ended the 1899 season with a record of 63–25, placing 1st in the final standings, as Jake Wells returned as manager Richmond finished 13.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons. Richmond pitcher Jack Chesbro compiled a 17–4 record with a 2.91 ERA before being called up to make his major league debut with the 1899 Pittsburgh Pirates. Richmond did not return to Atlantic League play following the 1899 season.[14][15][16]

In 1900, the Richmond Bluebirds became members of the six–team Class D level Virginia League, but disbanded during the season. The Virginia league resumed play with the Norfolk Mary Janes, Portsmouth Pirates, Newport News Shipbuilders and as well as teams in Hopewell and Petersburg joining Richmond in beginning league play. On June 13, 1900, the Richmond franchise folded with a record of 21–15. Charles Boyer and Harry Berte served as managers. Petersburg also disbanded during the season. Following the 1900 season, the league became the Virginia-North Carolina League.[17][18][19][20]

The 1901 Richmond Bluebirds reformed and became members of the Class C level Virginia-North Carolina League. The Bluebirds ended the 1901 season with a record of 27–35. Norfolk and Richmond were noted to have disbanded in "early July". The league continued play until disbanding August 17. Charles Kain served as the Richmond manager. The team was also referred to as the "Grays" in some references.[21][22]

Richmond, Virginia was without a minor league team until the 1906 Richmond Colts began play as members of the Virginia League. Today, the Richmond Flying Squirrels continue minor league play in Richmond play as members of the Double-A Northeast League.[23][1]

The ballparks[]

From 1895 to 1897, the Richmond Bluebirds were referenced to have played home games at the Richmond Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds were located at North Belvedere Street (US 301 & US 1) between West Main Street & W. Franklin Street. Today the site is known as Monroe Park.[24]

Richmond tams were noted to have played home games at Mayo Park in the seasons between 1895 and 1899. Overall, Richmond minor league teams played at the ballpark between 1894 and 1932. The ballpark was referenced to have been located on On Mayo Island, on the east side of the South 14th Street Bridge, Richmond, Virginia.[25]

Beginning in 1897, Richmond teams were noted to have played minor league games at Broad Street Park, which was built for the Richmond Bluebirds. The ballpark had a seating capacity over 6,000. Home plate was located 80 feet from the grandstand. The field dimensions were 295 feet down the left field foul line and 340 feet down the right field foul line, with the fences extending to a distance of 560 feet from home plate in right-center field.[26] The stadium was located on Broad Street near its dead-end intersection with Allen Avenue on land leased from the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. It overlooked the railyard to the north.[27]

The first game played at Broad Street Park was on April 3, 1897, when the Richmond Bluebirds beat Richmond College by a score of 11 to 3.[28][29][30]

An illustration of Broad Street Park published in The Richmond Dispatch, 1897

Timeline[]

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League
1895–1896 2 Richmond Bluebirds Class B Virginia League
1897–1899 3 Atlantic League
1900 1 Class D Virginia League
1901 1 Class C Virginia-North Carolina League

Year-by-year record[]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs/Notes
1895 78–45 1st Jake Wells League champions
1896 71–55 1st Jake Wells League champions
1897 71–59 4th Jake Wells None held
1898 77–44 1st Jake Wells League champions
1899 63–25 1st Jake Wells League champions
1900 21–15 NA Charles Boyer / Harry Berte Team folded June 13
1901 27–35 NA Barley Kain Team disbanded in July

Notable alumni[]

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni[]

Notable alumni[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Richmond, VA - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. ^ "1895 Richmond Bluebirds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ^ "1895 Virginia State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. ^ "1895 Richmond Blue Birds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ^ a b "Virginia League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. ^ "1896 Richmond Bluebirds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ^ "1896 Richmond Bluebirds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "1897 Richmond Bluebirds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ^ "1897 Richmond Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Atlantic_Leagu[dead link]
  11. ^ "1898 Richmond Bluebirds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. ^ "1898 Richmond Bluebirds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "Atlantic League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  14. ^ "1899 Richmond Bluebirds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. ^ "Jack Chesbro Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "1899 Richmond Bluebirds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "1900 Virginia League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. ^ The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition
  19. ^ "1900 Richmond Bluebirds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  20. ^ "1900 Richmond Blue Birds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. ^ "1901 Richmond Grays/Bluebirds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. ^ "1901 Richmond Bluebirds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. ^ "Richmond, Virginia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  24. ^ "Richmond Fair Grounds in Richmond, VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. ^ "Mayo Island Park in Richmond, VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  26. ^ "To Play To-morrow". The Richmond Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. March 28, 1897. p. 15. Retrieved September 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  27. ^ Mayor, Scott P. (2001). "The first fifty years of professional baseball in Richmond, Virginia : 1883-1932". Richmond, Virginia: University of Richmond. p. 46. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  28. ^ "Bluebirds At Work". The Richmond Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. April 4, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved September 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  29. ^ "Richmond Bluebirds - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  30. ^ "Broad Street Park in Richmond, VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

External links[]

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