The Richmond Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...

 that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1953. They played in the Virginia League

Virginia League (1894-1896)

The Virginia League was a minor league baseball organization active in central Virginia. In 1894 it fielded six teams: the Lynchburg Hill Climbers, the Norfolk Clam Eaters, the Petersburg Farmers, the Richmond Crows, the Roanoke Magicians, and the Staunton Hayseeds/ Newport News- Hampton...

 in 1894, and in another Virginia League

Virginia League (1900)

The Virginia League was a minor baseball league based in Virginia that played in 1900. It was the second league to go by that name, succeeding the first which lasted from 1894 to 1986.It was composed entirely of teams from Virginia...

 in 1900, and another Virginia League

Virginia League

The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928....

 from 1906–1914 and from 1918-1928. In 1932, they played in the Eastern League

Eastern League (baseball, 1916-32)

The Eastern League of 1916 through the mid-season of 1932 was an American minor baseball league and the third of four circuits to use the Eastern League name since the 19th century...

 and from 1933 to 1953, they played in the Piedmont League

Piedmont League

The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...

.

They were affiliated with the Philadelphia Athletics from 1935 to 1936, and the New York Giants

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

 from 1937 to 1938, in 1940, and from 1944 to 1950. As was more common during that time period, the Colts occasionally played exhibition games against major league teams.

One of their home ballparks was Mooers Field, from the early 1940s until 1953, named after Eddie Mooers, who purchased the team in 1931. Prior to Mooers Field, the team played at Tate Field on Mayo Island in the James River

James River

The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...

, but that facility was destroyed in a fire in May 1941.

In 1953, the team signed Whit Graves as its first black player.

When Richmond obtained a Class AAA franchise in 1954, Mooers moved the Colts to Colonial Heights' Shepherd Stadium. Harry Seibold purchased the team and renamed it the Virginians. Mooers Field was turned into a racing track, and then torn down in 1958.

League championships

Under manager Perry Lipe

Perry Lipe

Perry Hamilton Lipe was a long-time minor league baseball player and manager.He played from 1898 to 1916, though a statistical record from 1901 to 1916 is all that is available. In that time, the third basemen perennially hit near the Mendoza Line, hitting below .200 at least three times...

 in 1908, the Colts won their first league championship. They were co-league champions in 1923 under manager Dave Robertson

Dave Robertson

Davis Aydelotte Robertson is a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder over parts of 9 seasons with the New York Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1916 and 1917 he tied for the National League lead in home runs while playing for New York...

, and from 1924 to 1926 they won the league championship every year. In 1924, they were managed by Jack Onslow

Jack Onslow

John James Onslow was an American player, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.At age 60, Onslow became one of the oldest rookie managers in MLB annals when he was named skipper of the Chicago White Sox in the fall of 1948, succeeding Hall of Fame pitcher Ted Lyons...

; in 1925, Percy Dawson

Percy Dawson (baseball)

Henry "Percy" Dawson served many roles in professional baseball.He was a minor league baseball team owner, heading the Richmond Colts and Portsmouth Truckers, and scout for the New York Yankees, signing - among others - pitcher Jim Coates...

 and in 1926, Troy Agnew

Troy Agnew

Troy Pipkin Agnew was a minor league baseball catcher and manager. His brother is Sam Agnew.-Playing career:...

, Guy Lacy

Guy Lacy

Osceola Guy Lacy was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the 1926 Cleveland Indians....

 and Rube Oldring

Rube Oldring

Reuben Henry "Rube" Oldring , was a professional baseball player who played outfield in the major leagues from 1905 to 1918. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees....

. They won a league championship again in 1935, under manager Eddie Rommel

Eddie Rommel

Edwin Americus Rommel was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Athletics from 1920 to 1932. He is considered to be the "father" of the modern knuckleball...

. In 1952, they won their final league championship, under manager Tom O'Connell.