Hartford Dark Blues
Encyclopedia
The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball
team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut
.
in 1874 and 1875 and the National League
in 1876 and 1877. In 1877 the team played in Brooklyn, New York as the Brooklyn Hartfords.
Playing at the Hartford Ball Club Grounds
, in 1876 they joined the National League
as a charter member. The team's owner, Morgan G. Bulkeley
, was also the first president of the National League. Managed by their third baseman, Bob Ferguson, the Dark Blues went on to finish third in 1876 with a record of 47–21. The team's strong suit was pitching, with both Tommy Bond
and future Hall of Famer Candy Cummings
finishing with an earned run average
under 2. The pitching staff recorded the most complete games (69) and allowed the lowest number of home runs throughout the 70-game 1876 campaign (the Philadelphia Athletics also accomplished this feat that season). The team's best hitter was right fielder Dick Higham
, who led the team in most offensive categories.
The team left Hartford and moved to Brooklyn, New York for the 1877 season to become the Brooklyn Hartfords. Managed again by Ferguson, the team finished in third again, with a record of 31–27. With Bond, Cummings and Higham all having left the team, the team's best player this year was undoubtedly right fielder John Cassidy, who batted .378 and also led the team in many other categories.
The team disbanded after the 1877 season.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
.
History
They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball PlayersNational Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
in 1874 and 1875 and the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in 1876 and 1877. In 1877 the team played in Brooklyn, New York as the Brooklyn Hartfords.
Playing at the Hartford Ball Club Grounds
Hartford Ball Club Grounds
Hartford Ball Club Grounds was a baseball grounds in Hartford, Connecticut. It was home to the Hartford Dark Blues from 1874 to 1876, two years in the National Association and one in the National League....
, in 1876 they joined the National League
19th century National League teams
The following is a list of United States Major League Baseball teams that played in the National League during the 19th century.-Major league:*Boston Red Stockings 1876–1900 – now Atlanta Braves...
as a charter member. The team's owner, Morgan G. Bulkeley
Morgan G. Bulkeley
Morgan Gardner Bulkeley was an American politician as well as business and sports executive. Bulkeley, a Republican, served in the American Civil War, was a Hartford city councilman and bank president, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the first president of the National...
, was also the first president of the National League. Managed by their third baseman, Bob Ferguson, the Dark Blues went on to finish third in 1876 with a record of 47–21. The team's strong suit was pitching, with both Tommy Bond
Tommy Bond (baseball)
Thomas Henry Bond was a Major League Baseball player who was a pitcher and a right fielder a total of ten seasons. A native of Granard, Ireland, he is the first person born in Ireland to play Major League Baseball. Bond was also the last survivor of the National League's first season...
and future Hall of Famer Candy Cummings
Candy Cummings
William Arthur "Candy" Cummings was a professional baseball pitcher in the National Association and National League who was credited with inventing the curveball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.-Career:...
finishing with an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
under 2. The pitching staff recorded the most complete games (69) and allowed the lowest number of home runs throughout the 70-game 1876 campaign (the Philadelphia Athletics also accomplished this feat that season). The team's best hitter was right fielder Dick Higham
Dick Higham
Richard Higham was an American professional baseball player born in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. However, he is best known as the only umpire to be banned from baseball....
, who led the team in most offensive categories.
The team left Hartford and moved to Brooklyn, New York for the 1877 season to become the Brooklyn Hartfords. Managed again by Ferguson, the team finished in third again, with a record of 31–27. With Bond, Cummings and Higham all having left the team, the team's best player this year was undoubtedly right fielder John Cassidy, who batted .378 and also led the team in many other categories.
The team disbanded after the 1877 season.
Notable alumni
- Lip PikeLip PikeLipman Emanuel "Lip" Pike the "Iron Batter", was one of the stars of 19th century baseball in the United States. He was the first player to be revealed as a professional , as well as the first Jewish player...
, major league baseball 4x home run champion - Candy CummingsCandy CummingsWilliam Arthur "Candy" Cummings was a professional baseball pitcher in the National Association and National League who was credited with inventing the curveball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.-Career:...
, reputed inventor of the curve ball
See also
- 1874 Hartford Dark Blues season1874 Hartford Dark Blues seasonThe Hartford Dark Blues were formed by Morgan Bulkeley and joined the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players for the 1874 season. They finished in seventh place in their debut.-Roster:- Batting :...
- 1875 Hartford Dark Blues season1875 Hartford Dark Blues seasonIn their second season in the National Association, the 1875 Hartford Dark Blues finished in third place. They were managed by starting third baseman Bob "Death to Flying Things" Ferguson....
- 1876 Hartford Dark Blues season1876 Hartford Dark Blues seasonThe Hartford Dark Blues joined the new National League for its first season in , and team owner Morgan Bulkeley was the first National League president. They finished the season in third place.-Regular season:-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1877 Brooklyn Hartfords season1877 Brooklyn Hartfords seasonThe Hartford Dark Blues moved to Brooklyn, New York prior to the season and were renamed as the Brooklyn Hartfords. This was to be the Hartfords last season, as they disbanded following the completion of their schedule.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- Hartford Dark Blues all-time rosterHartford Dark Blues all-time rosterThe Hartford Dark Blues were a Major League Baseball club in the 1870s, based in Hartford, Connecticut for three seasons and in Brooklyn, New York for one. Hartford was a member of the National Association , – and a founding member of the National League in , when it played home games at...
External links
- Major League Baseball in Gilded Age Connecticut: The Rise and Fall of the Middletown, New Haven and Hartford Clubs (Complete history of Hartford Dark Blues)
- Team index page at Baseball Reference
- The Hartford Dark Blues by David Arcidiacono (Hog River Journal 2003)
- Hartford Dark Blues Vintage Base Ball Club