The Cleveland Blues were a professional baseball franchise that operated in the National League (NL), a "major" league, from 1879 until 1884.[1] They were organized by businessmen William Hollinger, and J. Ford Evans in 1878 as the Forest Citys, and played a season as an independent team.[2][3] The NL expanded from six teams to eight before the 1879 season, and the Forest Citys accepted an invitation to join the league.[2] Evans became their president and stayed in that capacity until C. H. Bulkeley assumed the role in 1882.[4][5] In their six seasons in the NL, the team never finished higher than third place in the standings.[1] They played their home games in League Park.[1][6]
For their first season in the NL, the franchise (now named the Blues due to their dark blue uniforms) employed Jim McCormick as the manager as well as the ace of their pitching staff.[1][7] Cleveland did not fare well, winning just 27 games against 55 losses, with a league-low .223 batting average.[1][2] The 1880 season was better, however, as the team increased its win total to 47 against 37 losses and a tie,[1] McCormick winning a league-leading 45 of those victories.[8] Over the next two seasons, the team changed the on-field leadership often; employing Mike McGeary and John Clapp as player-managers in 1881, and Fred Dunlap in 1882. The changes did not prove effective as the team was unable to finish higher than fifth place during that span.[1] The team had their best record and highest win total in 1883 under manager Frank Bancroft.[1] On September 13, 1883, Hugh Daily threw the franchise's lone no-hitter.[9]
An upstart baseball league was created in 1884 by Henry Lucas called the Union Association (UA). Several member of the Blues' signed contracts with teams in the UA despite being subject to the reserve clause: including star players McCormick, Dunlap, and Jack Glasscock.[7] These moves caused the Blues to become financially unstable. However, the franchise was able to secure a deal with the league for a better share of gate receipts.[10] This deal was not enough for the franchise to profit, and Bulkeley sold the team to Lucas for $2,500 ($71,530 current dollar adjustment) following the conclusion of the 1884 season.[10]
Once a star pitcher in the mid-to-late 1870s, Bradley played various positions in the field and only occasionally as a relief pitcher. In June 1883, he was sold to the Philadelphia Athletics.
Cady played in three games for the Blues, two as their right fielder and one as a pitcher. He collected no hits in 11 at bats, and was credited with the loss in his only pitching appearance.
In Daily's only season with the Blues, he had a 23–19 win–loss record and a 2.42 earned run average. On September 13, he pitched the only no-hitter in the franchise's history.
He played his final two seasons at the major league level with the Blues as their back-up third baseman. He later became an umpire, and his son, Jack Doscher, also played in the majors.
Dunlap played the first four of his twelve seasons in the majors with the Blues, and was their player-manager in 1882. He led the league in doubles in 1880. As a fielder he twice led the league in assists and double plays.
In his two seasons with the Blues, Gilligan had batting averages of .171 and .172, while playing mostly catcher his first season, and in left field during his second.
Played in each season of the Blues' existence. He played different infield positions in 1879 until settling in as their starting second baseman from 1880 until joining the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds of the Union Association during the 1884 season. Led the league in several fielding categories, including fielding percentage twice.
McCormick was the franchise's all-time leader in most pitching statistical categories. Of his 265 career pitching wins, 174 of them were with the Blues. Twice he led the league in pitching wins; 45 in 1880 and 36 in 1882. He was the team's player-manager in both 1879 and 1880, as well as a short stint in 1882.
In 1882, Muldoon split his playing time between third base and the outfield, then settled in as the team's starting third baseman for the 1883 and 1884 seasons.
Nolan's 1881 season with the Blues was the second, and last, full season at the major league level. He had an 8–14 win–loss record in 24 games pitched. When he wasn't pitching, he played at various other fielding positions.
Shafer played three full seasons for the Blues as their starting right fielder. In two of those seasons, he led the league's right fielders in games played.
^"Mike McGeary". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
^"Bill McGunnigle". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Bobby Mitchell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Sam Moffet". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Jerry Moore". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Mike Moynahan". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Mike Muldoon". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Willie Murphy". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"The Only Nolan". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Bill Phillips". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"George Pinkney". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Phil Powers". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Blondie Purcell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Jack Remsen". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"John Richmond". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Billy Riley". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Dave Rowe". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Will Sawyer". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Orator Shafer". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Bill Smith". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Germany Smith". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Pop Smith". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Len Stockwell". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"George Strief". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Billy Taylor". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"John Tilley". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Fred Warner". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Harry Wheeler". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Guerdon Whiteley". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Julius Willigrod". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
^"Tom York". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
Bibliography
Egan, James M. (2008). Base Ball on the Western Reserve: The Early Game in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, Year by Year and Town by Town, 1865–1900 (illustrated ed.). McFarland. ISBN0786430672.
Purdy, Dennis (2010). Kiss 'Em Goodbye: An ESPN Treasury of Failed, Forgotten, and Departed Teams (illustrated ed.). Random House Digital, Inc. ISBN0345520122.
Spink, Alfred Henry (1911). The National Game. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. ISBN0809323044.