Blue Grass League
Encyclopedia
The Blue Grass League was a minor baseball league
that existed in the early 1900s. There were two incarnations of the league, one that ran from 1908 to 1912 and one that existed from 1922 to 1924. It consisted entirely of teams based in Kentucky
.
, Richmond Pioneers
, Shelbyville Grays, Winchester Hustlers and a squad from Lawrenceburg
. The Statesmen finished in first place.
In 1909, the Hustlers, Pioneers, Statesmen and Colts returned to the league, while Shelbyville
dropped its nickname and the Lawrenceburg team departed. In its stead were the Paris Bourbonites. The Hustlers finished in first place.
All teams from 1909 returned for 1910, though partway through the year the Shelbyville squad moved to Maysville
to become the Maysville Rivermen. The Bourbonites finished firs t in the league.
All teams from 1910 returned for 1911, with the Bourbonites finishing in first place again. There was also a playoff held that season, with the Bourbonites winning the series.
In 1912, the Statesmen became the Frankfort Lawmakers. Winchester moved to Nicholas
and then Mount Sterling
. Outside of those changes, the league remained the same. Frankfort
finished in first place.
against Cynthiana, with the former winning the series.
1923 saw multiple teams change names. The Merchants became the Cynthiana Cobblers and the Mammoths became the Paris Bourbons. The other teams remained the same. Cynthiana
finished in first place.
The league consisted of only four teams in 1924 - Paris
, Cynthiana, Lexington
(now called the Studebakers) and Winchester
. The Bourbons finished in first place.
, Casey Stengel
, Fred Toney
, and Jim Viox
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
that existed in the early 1900s. There were two incarnations of the league, one that ran from 1908 to 1912 and one that existed from 1922 to 1924. It consisted entirely of teams based in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
1908 - 1912
Six teams played in the league's inaugural season: the Frankfort Statesmen, Lexington ColtsLexington Colts
Lexington Colts were a baseball team competing in the Blue Grass League, 1908-1912, and the Ohio State League, 1913-1916....
, Richmond Pioneers
Richmond Pioneers
The Richmond Pioneers were a minor league baseball team that played in the Class-D Blue Grass League from 1908 to 1912. They were based in Richmond, Kentucky, USA....
, Shelbyville Grays, Winchester Hustlers and a squad from Lawrenceburg
Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Lawrenceburg is a city in Anderson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 10,505 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Anderson County...
. The Statesmen finished in first place.
In 1909, the Hustlers, Pioneers, Statesmen and Colts returned to the league, while Shelbyville
Shelbyville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,085 people, 3,822 households, and 2,549 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,333.5 people per square mile . There were 4,117 housing units at an average density of 544.4 per square mile...
dropped its nickname and the Lawrenceburg team departed. In its stead were the Paris Bourbonites. The Hustlers finished in first place.
All teams from 1909 returned for 1910, though partway through the year the Shelbyville squad moved to Maysville
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
to become the Maysville Rivermen. The Bourbonites finished firs t in the league.
All teams from 1910 returned for 1911, with the Bourbonites finishing in first place again. There was also a playoff held that season, with the Bourbonites winning the series.
In 1912, the Statesmen became the Frankfort Lawmakers. Winchester moved to Nicholas
Nicholas County, Kentucky
Nicholas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 6,813. Its county seat is Carlisle. The county is named for George Nicholas, the "Father of the Kentucky Constitution".- Geography :...
and then Mount Sterling
Mount Sterling, Kentucky
The Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Library was established in 1871. The Mt. Sterling – Montgomery County Library moved to the current location, accessible from both Main and Locust Streets, in July 1984. The building was officially dedicated on September 30, 1984...
. Outside of those changes, the league remained the same. Frankfort
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
finished in first place.
1922 - 1924
The inaugural season of the second incarnation of the league featured the Paris Mammoths, Maysville Cardinals, Cynthiana Merchants, Mt. Sterling Essex, Winchester Dodgers and Lexington Reds. The Mammoths finished in first, though the league playoff pitted MaysvilleMaysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
against Cynthiana, with the former winning the series.
1923 saw multiple teams change names. The Merchants became the Cynthiana Cobblers and the Mammoths became the Paris Bourbons. The other teams remained the same. Cynthiana
Cynthiana, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,258 people, 2,692 households, and 1,639 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,873.6 people per square mile . There were 2,909 housing units at an average density of 870.9 per square mile...
finished in first place.
The league consisted of only four teams in 1924 - Paris
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
, Cynthiana, Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
(now called the Studebakers) and Winchester
Winchester, Kentucky
Winchester is a city in and the county seat of Clark County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. The Bourbons finished in first place.
Notable players
Notable players include future Hall of Famer Hod EllerHod Eller
Horace Owen Eller was a pitcher in Major League Baseball.Eller started his minor league career in 1913 and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds after the 1916 season. He pitched five years for the Reds, going 60-40 with a 2.62 earned run average .Eller peaked in the Reds' pennant-winning 1919 season...
, Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
, Fred Toney
Fred Toney
Fred Toney , of Nashville, Tennessee, was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals from 1911-1923. His career record was 139 wins, 102 losses, and a 2.69 earned run average...
, and Jim Viox
Jim Viox
James Harry "Jim" Viox was a professional baseball player who played for five seasons in the National League from 1912 to 1916, all of them with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played second base for much of his career, and played in the middle infield with Honus Wagner during the latter's final...
.