Toledo Blue Stockings

• Location: Toledo, OH
• League: Northwestern League 1883, American Association 1884
• Ballpark: League Park (Toledo) (May 14, 1883 – June 15, 1885) 4,000; Tri-State Fair Grounds (Sept. 13, 1884)

Team History

Organized in 1883, the Toledo Blue Stockings were a charter franchise in the Northwestern League. After sixteen games, manager Bill Voltz was replaced by Charlie Morton, prompting the team to go 51-17 with an overall record of 56-28, and win the inaugural league pennant.

Because of their performance, they were invited to play in the major league American Association in 1884. The team finished in eighth place with a 46-58-6 record. Following the 1884 season, the league decided to scale back the number of teams, with Toledo being one of those that was bounced. They were then invited to join the newly formed Western League. Unfortunately the league lasted only three months before folding. This team is listed under the name "Toledo Avengers".

They were also known as the Toledo Toledos, or rather the Toledo team or simply Toledos, at a time when team nicknames were fluid. The name "Blue Stockings" was not really used by contemporary newspapers.

The Blue Stocking are most famous for having two African-American players on their team, brothers Fleet Walker and Welday Walker, including at the time they were a major league team. While there were other African-American players in top leagues in the 19th Century, Moses "Fleet" Walker remains the most famous, and one who never try to "pass" as white, something that others did in order not to stir up resistance.

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1883	56-28	1st	William Voltz / Charlie Morton
1884	46-58-6	12th	Charlie Morton

Source:

• John A. Husman: Baseball in Toledo, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, SC, 2003. ISBN 978-1531614690