Covington Blue Sox
| Covington Blue Sox | |
|---|---|
| Location | Covington, Kentucky |
| Ballpark | Federal Park |
| Year founded | 1913 |
| Former league(s) | |
The Covington Blue Sox was a Federal League baseball club in Covington, Kentucky in 1913. The Blue Sox team was moved to Kansas City in July 1913 and became known thereafter as the Kansas City Packers.
History
In 1912, Covington city leaders tried to acquire a baseball franchise in the Class D Blue Grass League; the Cincinnati Reds, whose ballpark was just five miles away across the Ohio River, blocked the move. Instead (after several larger cities backed out), Covington was awarded a franchise in the Federal League.[1]
The Blue Sox played in the first official game ever in the Federal League against Cleveland on May 3. The game ended in a 6-6 tie, called after ten innings due to darkness.
On May 9, the Blue Sox played their first home game. Covington Mayor George "Pat" Phillips declared a half holiday for the city; city offices closed at noon and he encouraged businesses to close to support the team. Pregame festivities included a parade, bands, and decorations across city along with the mayor tossing out a golden ball for the ceremonial first pitch, messenger pigeons being released to spread the news of the opening to each city on the Federal League circuit as well as one going to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson.[2] Pitcher Walter Justus shut out the St. Louis Terriers in a 4-0 victory.
On June 23, 1913, with the team in fourth place with a 21-31 record, it was announced that the Blue Sox would leave town because of low attendance. On June 26 the league voted to move the team from Covington to Kansas City, Missouri [3]
Logo
The Blue Sox logo was a line drawing of a batter with the blue initials "BS."[4]
Stadium
In July 1913, a month before the season was scheduled to start, ground was broken at a town park in Covington known as Shinkle Playgrounds. The Stadium originally held 4,200 but was later expanded to 6,000. $12,500 was raised for the construction of the stadium by William Reiden who was the president of Covington's Bavarian Brewery, and R.C. Stewart who was the president at Stewart Iron Works. The stadium was named Federal Park and was designed by Bernard Wisehall, who was a prominent local architect.
In March 1919 the ballpark was sold and torn down, and a tobacco warehouse was built on the site.[3]
Field size
Left Field - 218 ft
Center Field - 267 ft
Right Field - 194 ft [3]
Notable players
See also
References
- ↑ "Federal Park / Covington Blue Sox". http://www.ballparkdigest.com/. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "Professional Baseball in Covington: They built it but they did not come.". http://kentonlibrary.wordpress.com/. Retrieved 20 June 2014. External link in
|website=(help) - 1 2 3 Wiggins, Robert Peyton (October 21, 2011). The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs: The History of an Outlaw Major League. McFarland; Reprint edition.
- ↑ http://www2.cincinnati.com/blogs/ourhistory/2010/09/27/1913-blue-sox-went-down-swinging/