1889 Louisville Colonels season
Encyclopedia
The 1889 Louisville Colonels
season was a season in American baseball. The team finished with a 27-111 record, last in the American Association
.
The Colonels were the first major league team to lose more than 100 games in a season. The previous record for losses was 92, set by the Washington Nationals
in 1886 and matched by the Cleveland Blues
in 1887. The record would be broken again in 1890 by the Pittsburg Alleghenys
, but remained the AA record until the league folded in 1891.
brought in Dude Esterbrook
to manage the team, replacing Davidson himself. He was also seeking a buyer for the team, as his own finances were precarious.
Jimmy "Chicken" Wolf
was appointed team captain, although Davidson traveled with the team as well to ensure their good behavior - which proved quite unpopular.
Davidson continued to attempt to sell the club as the season progressed, but to no avail. He, too, began levying fines, and the local media was harsh on both the owner and the team. On May 22, the team began a losing streak that would eventually reach 26 straight games, which still stands as the all-time major league record as of 2011. Most of the losses came during a stretch from May 24 until July 1 in which the team played just three games at home.
The team was scheduled to play against the Baltimore Orioles
that day, and following Davidson's actions, five members of the club refused to take the field. Three local semi-pro players, Charles Fisher
, Mike Gaule
and John Traffley
, were recruited to join the remaining players on the field to allow the game to commence. The game was cancelled after just two innings due to rain, and was rescheduled for the following day.
At the meeting, Davidson admitted that he could not fulfill his obligations of ownership, but left promising to strengthen the team upon threat of the league taking control of the franchise. Davidson and Wyckoff met the players at their hotel the next day, but Davidson still refused to rescind the player fines. The team took the field with the semi-pros still in the lineup, losing 4-2 in a game shortened by rain to five innings. The second game was cancelled, and Wyckoff promised the players a hearing to return to the club for the next game. None of the three replacements ever played in the majors again.
was fined $335, and total team fines came to $1,800, $1,200 of which was attributed to the walkout. Guy Hecker
began taking steps towards founding a branch of John Montgomery Ward
's Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players for the AA. On June 24, Davidson hired local bouncer Buck McKinney, ostensibly as team manager. While Wolf continued to handle on-field duties, McKinney traveled with the team to keep an eye on the players for the owner.
.
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
season was a season in American baseball. The team finished with a 27-111 record, last in the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
.
The Colonels were the first major league team to lose more than 100 games in a season. The previous record for losses was 92, set by the Washington Nationals
1886 Washington Nationals season
The Washington Nationals finished with a 28-92 record in the National League, finishing in last place in their debut season.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
in 1886 and matched by the Cleveland Blues
1887 Cleveland Blues season
The Cleveland Blues baseball team finished with a 39-92 record, last in the American Association during their debut season. Organized by streetcar tycoon Frank Robison, the team played its home games at National League Park.- Roster :...
in 1887. The record would be broken again in 1890 by the Pittsburg Alleghenys
1890 Pittsburg Alleghenys season
The Pittsburgh Alleghenys season was a season in American baseball. The team finished eighth and last in the National League with a record of 23-113, 66.5 games behind the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. The 113 losses by the Alleghenys set a new major league record, breaking the old record of 111 set the...
, but remained the AA record until the league folded in 1891.
Offseason
Prior to the start of the season, team owner Mordecai DavidsonMordecai Davidson
Mordecai Hamilton Davidson was a Major League Baseball owner and manager. He is best known as the primary owner of the Major League Baseball Louisville Colonels during the worst period of the team's history...
brought in Dude Esterbrook
Dude Esterbrook
Thomas John "Dude" Esterbrook was an American Major League Baseball player from Staten Island, New York who played the majority of his games at third base, but did play many games at first base...
to manage the team, replacing Davidson himself. He was also seeking a buyer for the team, as his own finances were precarious.
Early season woes
The 1889 season was a tumultuous one for the Colonels. Manager Esterbrook fined several players, and was fired just ten games into the season. OutfielderOutfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Jimmy "Chicken" Wolf
Jimmy Wolf
William Van Winkle "Jimmy" Wolf , also known as Chicken Wolf, was an American Major League Baseball player from Louisville, Kentucky who played right field, but occasionally played other positions in the infield....
was appointed team captain, although Davidson traveled with the team as well to ensure their good behavior - which proved quite unpopular.
Davidson continued to attempt to sell the club as the season progressed, but to no avail. He, too, began levying fines, and the local media was harsh on both the owner and the team. On May 22, the team began a losing streak that would eventually reach 26 straight games, which still stands as the all-time major league record as of 2011. Most of the losses came during a stretch from May 24 until July 1 in which the team played just three games at home.
The strike
Things were no better from the perspective of the AA. Financial difficulties had caused the team to miss payroll on three occasions, and the players alerted AA president Wheeler C. Wyckoff to the problem. This led the AA to call a meeting to discuss the issue on June 14. On the way to the meeting, Davidson was confronted by his players calling for the rescinding of previous fines, threatening to strike if refused. Davidson instead upped the ante, threatening to fine the players further if they lost.The team was scheduled to play against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
that day, and following Davidson's actions, five members of the club refused to take the field. Three local semi-pro players, Charles Fisher
Charles Fisher (baseball)
Charles Fisher ,born Charles Fish, was an American professional baseball player. He played in one game on June 15, 1889 for the Louisville Colonels of the American Association. A local semi-pro player, he served as a replacement player when several members of the Colonels refused to play in...
, Mike Gaule
Mike Gaule
Michael John Gaule was an American professional baseball player. He played in one game for the Louisville Colonels of the American Association in 1889....
and John Traffley
John Traffley
John M. Traffley was an American professional baseball player who played for the 1889 Louisville Colonels. He appeared in one game for the Colonels, on June 15, 1889 as an outfielder. His brother, Bill Traffley, also played professional baseball. He got his chance to play for the Colonels because...
, were recruited to join the remaining players on the field to allow the game to commence. The game was cancelled after just two innings due to rain, and was rescheduled for the following day.
At the meeting, Davidson admitted that he could not fulfill his obligations of ownership, but left promising to strengthen the team upon threat of the league taking control of the franchise. Davidson and Wyckoff met the players at their hotel the next day, but Davidson still refused to rescind the player fines. The team took the field with the semi-pros still in the lineup, losing 4-2 in a game shortened by rain to five innings. The second game was cancelled, and Wyckoff promised the players a hearing to return to the club for the next game. None of the three replacements ever played in the majors again.
Continuing problems
Davidson met payroll on June 21, but only by accounting for new fines to the team's players. In some cases, the fines exceeded the players' salary, and they were told they owed the club money. Star outfielder Pete BrowningPete Browning
Louis Rogers "Pete" Browning was an American center and left fielder in Major League Baseball from 1882 to 1894 who played primarily for the Louisville Eclipse/Colonels, becoming one of the sport's most accomplished batters of the 1880s...
was fined $335, and total team fines came to $1,800, $1,200 of which was attributed to the walkout. Guy Hecker
Guy Hecker
Guy Jackson Hecker was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. His debut game took place on May 2, 1882. His final game took place on September 30, 1890. During his career he played for the Louisville Eclipse and Pittsburgh Pirates...
began taking steps towards founding a branch of John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward , known as Monte Ward, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, shortstop and manager. Ward was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Renovo, Pennsylvania...
's Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players for the AA. On June 24, Davidson hired local bouncer Buck McKinney, ostensibly as team manager. While Wolf continued to handle on-field duties, McKinney traveled with the team to keep an eye on the players for the owner.
Davidson gives up
By July 2, however, another payroll was due, and when it became apparent that he would be unable to meet it, Davidson decided to turn the team over to the AA. He did so officially on July 5, at the same time that the players received their hearing from Wyckoff. On July 10, all previous fines were remitted, with the exception of those associated with the June 15 walkout. While local owners were quickly secured, the team continued to spiral downward, and after the season the team was bought by local distillery owner Barney DreyfussBarney Dreyfuss
Bernhard "Barney" Dreyfuss was an executive in Major League Baseball who owned the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise from 1900 to 1932....
.
Roster
| 1889 Louisville Colonels | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager | ||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 81 | 286 | 65 | .227 | 0 | 15 | |
| 1B | 81 | 327 | 93 | .284 | 1 | 36 | |
| 2B | 121 | 498 | 128 | .257 | 4 | 48 | |
| 3B | 130 | 515 | 123 | .239 | 0 | 47 | |
| OF | 130 | 546 | 159 | .291 | 3 | 57 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 360 | 86 | .239 | 3 | 45 | |
| 62 | 222 | 66 | .288 | 4 | 34 | |
| 20 | 79 | 14 | .177 | 0 | 2 | |
| 11 | 44 | 14 | .318 | 0 | 9 | |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 0 | 0 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 364 | 10 | 29 | 4.80 | 135 | |
| 40 | 331 | 6 | 30 | 4.87 | 155 | |
| 19 | 151.1 | 5 | 13 | 5.59 | 33 | |
| 18 | 140 | 1 | 16 | 5.59 | 60 | |
| 19 | 133.2 | 3 | 13 | 3.23 | 42 | |
| 9 | 84.1 | 1 | 8 | 4.16 | 22 | |
| 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | 1 | |
| 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 10.13 | 2 | |
| 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 | 1 |