Ansonia Blues
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (1896)
LeagueNaugatuck Valley League (1896)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameAnsonia Blues (1896)
BallparkUnknown (1896)

The Ansonia Blues were a minor league baseball team based in Ansonia, Connecticut. In 1896, the Blues played as members of the Independent level Naugatuck Valley League. The Ansonia Blues were preceded in Ansonia by the Ansonia Cuban Giants.

History

Previous to the Blues, Ansonia had hosted the Ansonia Cuban Giants who integrated the Connecticut State League, playing in the 1888 and 1891 seasons.[1][2][3]

The Ansonia "Blues" became members of the Independent level Naugatuck Valley League in 1896. Formed for the 1896 season, with league founder Jim O'Rourke helping organize the league teams, Ansonia and the Naugatuck Valley League teams began play on May 6, 1896, as a six–team league.[4][5][6][7]

A Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Jim O'Rourke was owner/player/manager for the Bridgeport team, and was instrumental in forming both the Bridgeport franchise and the league members themselves after returning to his hometown of Bridgeport upon ending his major league career.[8][9][10][5]

As the Ansonia Blues began play with Naugatuck Valley League in 1896, the other charter members were the Bridgeport Victors from Bridgeport, Connecticut, the Derby Angels from Derby, Connecticut, the New Haven Edgewoods from New Haven, Connecticut, the Torrington Tornadoes from Torrington, Connecticut and Winsted Welcomes from Winsted, Connecticut. Some references refer to the 1896 team as the "Antonia Welcomes."[11][7]

The Ansonia Blues finished the 1896 season in sixth place, placing last in the six–team league, while playing the season under manager Thomas Houlihan. The final Naugatuck Valley League standings were led by the first place Bridgeport Victors with a 25–15 record. Bridgeport finished 1.0 games ahead of the second place Torrington Tornados (24–17), followed by the Derby Angels (22–18), New Haven Edgewoods (22–18), Winsted Welcomes (15–25) and Ansonia Blues (12–28). Ansonia finished 13.0 games behind Bridgeport in the final standings.[11][1]

After the 1896 season, with Jim O'Rourke still organizing the league, four Naugatuck Valley League teams continued play as members of the renamed 1897 Connecticut League. The Bridgeport, Derby, Torrington and Winstead teams continued play, adding Bristol and Meriden teams. The Ansonia franchise did not continue play in the new league.[11][5]

Ansonia, Connecticut has not hosted another minor league team.[12]

The ballpark

The name of the 1896 Ansonia Blues' home minor league ballpark is not referenced.[13]

(1930) Main Street. Ansonia, Connecticut

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1888, 18912Ansonia Cuban GiantsIndependentConnecticut State League
18961Ansonia BluesNaugatuck Valley League

Year–by–year records

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
189612–286thThomas HoulihanNone held

Notable alumni

See also

Ansonia Blues players

References

  1. 1 2 "Ansonia Cuban Giants minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. ↑ "Swinging for the Fences: Connecticut's Black Baseball Greats". April 6, 2021.
  3. ↑ "1891 Ansonia Cuban Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. ↑ "1896 Naugatuck Valley League (NVL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "Jim O'Rourke – Society for American Baseball Research".
  6. ↑ "1896 Ansonia Blues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. 1 2 "1896 Naugatuck Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ "Jim O'Rourke Independent & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ↑ "James O'Rourke – Bridgeport History Center".
  10. ↑ "Jimmy O'Rourke – Society for American Baseball Research".
  11. 1 2 3 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  12. ↑ "Ansonia, Connecticut Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ↑ "1896 Ansonia Welcomes minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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