1890 Louisville Colonels

1890 Louisville Colonels / Franchise: Louisville Colonels / BR Team Page

Record: 88-44, Finished 1st in American Association (19th Century) (1890 AA)

Won AA Pennant

Managed by Jack Chapman

Ballpark: Eclipse Park

History, Comments, Contributions

Louisville had a team in the major leagues from 1882-1899. Its 1890 Louisville Colonels was the only team that finished in first place.

The star of the team was Chicken Wolf, who played with the Louisville team from 1882-91 during all its years in the American Association. Wolf led the league in batting, and would likely have been named the MVP if such an award had been given.

The star pitcher was Scott Stratton, who went 34-14.

The team, which won 2/3 of its games, finished 10 games ahead of Columbus in second place. It must have been some rivalry, with Columbus located only 200 miles away from Louisville.

First baseman Harry Taylor was the only regular other than Wolf to hit over .300, and Taylor led the team with 115 runs scored. Second baseman Tim Shinnick tied Wolf for the most triples on the team with 11, and was second on the team behind Wolf in RBI. Farmer Weaver was second on the team in runs scored.

Manager Jack Chapman was in the ninth year of his eleven-year managing career in the majors, and 1890 was his only championship year. Prior to managing Louisville in the American Association he had managed Louisville's entry in 1876-77 in the National League as well as some other National League teams.

Wolf and Harry Raymond were the oldest regular players on the team, at age 28, while Stratton and Herb Goodall were the youngest pitchers at age 20. Chief Roseman, who played two games for Louisville in 1890 at age 34, was the oldest player who appeared for the team that year, and those appearances finished out his major league career.

The next year, 1891, Louisville would fall apart and finish eighth, in the last year of the American Association. After that Louisville would be an entry in the National League.

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Bridegrooms tied Colonels (3-3-1)