Indianapolis Blues
Encyclopedia
The Indianapolis Blues were a baseball team in the National League
only during the 1878 season and finished fifth in the six-team league with a 24-36 record. They were managed by outfielder
/first baseman
/catcher
John Clapp
, and played their home games at South Street Park
.
Their top-hitting regular was right fielder
Orator Shaffer
, who batted .338 with a slugging percentage of .455. Their winningest pitcher was The Only Nolan
(13-22, 2.57), but had two other starters with better ERAs
: Jim McCormick (5-8, 1.69) and Tom Healey
(6-4, 2.22).
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
only during the 1878 season and finished fifth in the six-team league with a 24-36 record. They were managed by outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
/first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
/catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
John Clapp
John Clapp (baseball)
John Edgar Clapp , nicknamed "Honest John", was a professional baseball player-manager whose career spanned 12 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the Major League Baseball Middletown Mansfields , Philadelphia Athletics , St...
, and played their home games at South Street Park
South Street Park
South Street Park is a former baseball ground located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The ground was home to the Indianapolis Blues of the National League for the 1878 season. The ground first hosted baseball for the city's International Association entry during 1876-1877...
.
Their top-hitting regular was right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Orator Shaffer
Orator Shaffer
George W. Shafer [sometimes spelled Shaffer or Schaefer] was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "Orator" because he talked a lot, Shafer played for 10 teams in four different major leagues between 1874 and 1890. Though he was a good hitter who batted over .300 three times, Shafer...
, who batted .338 with a slugging percentage of .455. Their winningest pitcher was The Only Nolan
The Only Nolan
Edward Sylvester "The Only" Nolan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, outfielder, and third baseman....
(13-22, 2.57), but had two other starters with better ERAs
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
: Jim McCormick (5-8, 1.69) and Tom Healey
Tom Healey
Thomas F. Healey was an American Major League Baseball player who pitched for one season. In he played with the Providence Grays and Indianapolis Blues. For his career, he compiled a 6-7 record in 14 appearances, with a 2.39 earned run average and 20 strikeouts. He was born in Cranston, Rhode...
(6-4, 2.22).
Roster
- John ClappJohn Clapp (baseball)John Edgar Clapp , nicknamed "Honest John", was a professional baseball player-manager whose career spanned 12 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the Major League Baseball Middletown Mansfields , Philadelphia Athletics , St...
- Art CroftArt CroftArthur F. "Art" Croft was an American Major League Baseball player. He played for three teams during three year professional and Major League career.-Career:...
- Silver FlintSilver FlintFrank Sylvester Flint was a Major League catcher in the 19th century. He began his career at age 19 with the St...
- Jimmy HallinanJimmy HallinanJames H. "Jimmy" Hallinan was an American baseball player born in Ireland. In the first professional league season, he played shortstop in five games for the 1871 Fort Wayne Kekiongas...
- Tom HealeyTom HealeyThomas F. Healey was an American Major League Baseball player who pitched for one season. In he played with the Providence Grays and Indianapolis Blues. For his career, he compiled a 6-7 record in 14 appearances, with a 2.39 earned run average and 20 strikeouts. He was born in Cranston, Rhode...
- Jim McCormick
- Russ McKelvyRuss McKelvyRussell Errett McKelvy was an American Major League Baseball player who played center field for the Indianapolis Blues of the National League , and one game in right field for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys.-Career:After attending Allegheny College from 1873 through 1877, he signed with the...
- Candy NelsonCandy NelsonJohn W. "Candy" Nelson was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played 13 seasons between and for nine different teams in three different leagues. In 1890, he was the oldest player in the American Association at age 41.-Sources:...
- The Only NolanThe Only NolanEdward Sylvester "The Only" Nolan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, outfielder, and third baseman....
- Joe QuestJoe QuestJoseph L. Quest was a utility player with a 10 year career from 1871, 1878-1886. He played with the Cleveland Forest Citys of the National Association of Professional Baseball Players, the Indianapolis Blues, Chicago White Stockings and Detroit Wolverines all of the National League, and the St...
- Orator ShafferOrator ShafferGeorge W. Shafer [sometimes spelled Shaffer or Schaefer] was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "Orator" because he talked a lot, Shafer played for 10 teams in four different major leagues between 1874 and 1890. Though he was a good hitter who batted over .300 three times, Shafer...
- Fred WarnerFred Warner (baseball)Frederick John Rodney Warner was an American Major League Baseball third baseman for five seasons from 1875 to 1884. Warner died at the age of 30 or 31 in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is interred at Woodlands Cemetery.-External links:...
- Ned WilliamsonNed WilliamsonEdward Nagle "Ned" or "Ed" Williamson was an American Major League Baseball player for 13 seasons from 1878 until 1890...