March, 1901 - Richmond Bluebirds
March 1901-Richmond Bluebirds
Jake Wells had spent the last thirteen years around baseball. He had enough talent to make it to the National League, playing for the Wolverines of Detroit and the Browns of St. Louis in his mid twenties. His career behind the plate in the National League only lasted 46 games in the two seasons he played. The Memphis native had spent the past six years managing in the Southern League, Virginia League and Atlantic League.
Jake Wells owned the club that he had managed for five years. The Bluebirds had been one of the dominant teams in the Atlantic League. The team had moved into a new ballpark the past year, Broad Street Park. The park was well suited to the usual strength of the bluebirds, pitching, with a deep center field. Left was inviting at less than 295, and the small foul ground behind the plate gave some advantages to the hitters. The outfield, like a lot of southern ball parks, was slightly sloped upward toward the fence.
Wells had bought the team and the ball park from Mr. Donati ater the Atlantic League failed in 1899. A reformed Bluebird team, minus star players like Kid Elberfield, Socks Seybold, Jack Chesbro, Jesse Tannehill, and Sam Leever, played in the Virginia League the following season, but Jake Wells retired from managing and the League midway through the year to concentrate on his theater and amusement park business that was booming in the South. Wells’ Bluebirds were doing well despite the loss of star power, but the Virginia League also folded shortly after Wells left. The formation of a powerful circuit of strong Southern cities intrigued Wells, who was willing to give baseball one more shot in Richmond.
Wells had financing available to him that the Bluebirds former owners never had, and he decided upon being accepted into the Southern League to make a calculated gamble. Wells went after his former star players now playing on National League teams. The National Agreement was no longer in effect according to the National League due to the upstart American League raiding players. So Wells offered big time one year deals to his former stars and was able to recruit back Elberfield, Seybold, Chesbro, Tannehill, Leever, and Zeke Wrigley. The rest of team was filled out with local kids who may or may not cut it in the Southern League.
Wells last need was a field manager that would take care of the day to day operations of the club. Jake loved managing, but his business was too successful to ignore. Wells called upon local baseball legend Pop Tate to manage the club. Tate was lured out of semi-retirement with the offer to play catcher and manage the new Richmond Bluebirds. Tate graciously accepted the offer, and the powerful Bluebirds looked to capture yet another pennant. After all, the team had yet to record a losing season with Jake Wells involved.
Bluebirds Lineup
1. Kid Elberfield 25 yearold (3B 90) R-The Tabasco Kid is quite the sparkplug for the Bluebirds. His hard nose style should rub off on the other Bluebirds. He is a versatile player, capable of playing anywhere on the infield.
2. Paul McCrory 31 year old (CF 81) S-McCrory is a new face to the Bluebirds, but his defense in center should make him a favorite of the Bluebird rooters quickly. He has good speed to play center and bat second.
3. Socks Seybold 30 year old (LF 90) R-Seybold returns to the Bluebirds as the main power threat. Socks is an all round threat with the bat, and he can run well for a big man.
4. Kevin Young 36 year old (RF 81) S-Young adds a solid bat behind Seybold. The veteran right fielder doesn't have any real power, but hits for a high average. He has a solid arm in right, but there are definitely stronger in the Southern League.
5. John Snell 26 year old (1B 77) R-Snell might be quite a find by Wells. He has real solid power and is a good base runner. He will struggle to make contact at times, but his power will make up for the lower average.
6. Zeke Wrigley 27 year old (2B 71) R-Wrigley was brought back to the ball club, but he is not a great hitter. He is a smart ballplayer, and has been around winning teams. He might be a positive influence on the Bluebirds, but don't expect much on the diamond.
7. Kevin Murray 17 year old (SS 63) S-Murray might develop into a solid shortstop, but right now he isn't much of a hitter. He has decent speed, but nothing outstanding for a middle infielder. He isn't much of a fielder either.
8. Gabe Burgoyne 25 year old (C 71) R-Burgoyne is an excellent defensive catcher. His job is to handle the pitchers, and he is good at that. Hitting is another matter, but that is not why Burgoyne is on the Bluebirds.
Bluebirds Starting Staff
1. Jack Chesbro 27 year old (97) R-Chesbro was the prize catch of Wells offseason reaquisition. The hard throwing spitballer is the best pitcher in the Southern League by far.
2. Sam Leever 29 year old (95) R-The Goshen Schoolmaster is a top flight pitcher as well. He was signed to a one year deal, and since coming back is not happy that he is the second pitcher to Chesbro. Leever has a great curveball, and throws hard as well.
3. Jesse Tannehill 26 year old (92) L-The southpaw is the third ace of the Bluebirds. He has the best control of the trio, and throws just as hard. He has a good hard curve to go along with his great fastball.
4. Richie White 29 year old (76) R-The Bluebirds pitching staff is very top heavy. He is yet another hard thrower, but he lacks the control and movement of the big three. He doesn't finish as many games as them either which will be probably with the Bluebirds weak bullpen.
Bluebirds Top Prospects
1. Jernard Conrad 18 year old (RF 68) L-Conrad has good speed and excellent paitence at the plate. He could develop into another star for the Bluebirds, but he has a ways to go before he is ready to play everyday.
2. Warren Carlson 16 year old (SS 61) R-Carlson is a better defensive shortstop Murray. He has the potential to be an outstanding player with above average power.
3. Keith Wade 18 year old (3B 62) S-Keith has the potential to be an outstanding player with above average power. He should develop into a major leaguer, but it will be a while before he is ready to play everyday.
Jake Wells had spent the last thirteen years around baseball. He had enough talent to make it to the National League, playing for the Wolverines of Detroit and the Browns of St. Louis in his mid twenties. His career behind the plate in the National League only lasted 46 games in the two seasons he played. The Memphis native had spent the past six years managing in the Southern League, Virginia League and Atlantic League.
Jake Wells owned the club that he had managed for five years. The Bluebirds had been one of the dominant teams in the Atlantic League. The team had moved into a new ballpark the past year, Broad Street Park. The park was well suited to the usual strength of the bluebirds, pitching, with a deep center field. Left was inviting at less than 295, and the small foul ground behind the plate gave some advantages to the hitters. The outfield, like a lot of southern ball parks, was slightly sloped upward toward the fence.
Wells had bought the team and the ball park from Mr. Donati ater the Atlantic League failed in 1899. A reformed Bluebird team, minus star players like Kid Elberfield, Socks Seybold, Jack Chesbro, Jesse Tannehill, and Sam Leever, played in the Virginia League the following season, but Jake Wells retired from managing and the League midway through the year to concentrate on his theater and amusement park business that was booming in the South. Wells’ Bluebirds were doing well despite the loss of star power, but the Virginia League also folded shortly after Wells left. The formation of a powerful circuit of strong Southern cities intrigued Wells, who was willing to give baseball one more shot in Richmond.
Wells had financing available to him that the Bluebirds former owners never had, and he decided upon being accepted into the Southern League to make a calculated gamble. Wells went after his former star players now playing on National League teams. The National Agreement was no longer in effect according to the National League due to the upstart American League raiding players. So Wells offered big time one year deals to his former stars and was able to recruit back Elberfield, Seybold, Chesbro, Tannehill, Leever, and Zeke Wrigley. The rest of team was filled out with local kids who may or may not cut it in the Southern League.
Wells last need was a field manager that would take care of the day to day operations of the club. Jake loved managing, but his business was too successful to ignore. Wells called upon local baseball legend Pop Tate to manage the club. Tate was lured out of semi-retirement with the offer to play catcher and manage the new Richmond Bluebirds. Tate graciously accepted the offer, and the powerful Bluebirds looked to capture yet another pennant. After all, the team had yet to record a losing season with Jake Wells involved.
Bluebirds Lineup
1. Kid Elberfield 25 yearold (3B 90) R-The Tabasco Kid is quite the sparkplug for the Bluebirds. His hard nose style should rub off on the other Bluebirds. He is a versatile player, capable of playing anywhere on the infield.
2. Paul McCrory 31 year old (CF 81) S-McCrory is a new face to the Bluebirds, but his defense in center should make him a favorite of the Bluebird rooters quickly. He has good speed to play center and bat second.
3. Socks Seybold 30 year old (LF 90) R-Seybold returns to the Bluebirds as the main power threat. Socks is an all round threat with the bat, and he can run well for a big man.
4. Kevin Young 36 year old (RF 81) S-Young adds a solid bat behind Seybold. The veteran right fielder doesn't have any real power, but hits for a high average. He has a solid arm in right, but there are definitely stronger in the Southern League.
5. John Snell 26 year old (1B 77) R-Snell might be quite a find by Wells. He has real solid power and is a good base runner. He will struggle to make contact at times, but his power will make up for the lower average.
6. Zeke Wrigley 27 year old (2B 71) R-Wrigley was brought back to the ball club, but he is not a great hitter. He is a smart ballplayer, and has been around winning teams. He might be a positive influence on the Bluebirds, but don't expect much on the diamond.
7. Kevin Murray 17 year old (SS 63) S-Murray might develop into a solid shortstop, but right now he isn't much of a hitter. He has decent speed, but nothing outstanding for a middle infielder. He isn't much of a fielder either.
8. Gabe Burgoyne 25 year old (C 71) R-Burgoyne is an excellent defensive catcher. His job is to handle the pitchers, and he is good at that. Hitting is another matter, but that is not why Burgoyne is on the Bluebirds.
Bluebirds Starting Staff
1. Jack Chesbro 27 year old (97) R-Chesbro was the prize catch of Wells offseason reaquisition. The hard throwing spitballer is the best pitcher in the Southern League by far.
2. Sam Leever 29 year old (95) R-The Goshen Schoolmaster is a top flight pitcher as well. He was signed to a one year deal, and since coming back is not happy that he is the second pitcher to Chesbro. Leever has a great curveball, and throws hard as well.
3. Jesse Tannehill 26 year old (92) L-The southpaw is the third ace of the Bluebirds. He has the best control of the trio, and throws just as hard. He has a good hard curve to go along with his great fastball.
4. Richie White 29 year old (76) R-The Bluebirds pitching staff is very top heavy. He is yet another hard thrower, but he lacks the control and movement of the big three. He doesn't finish as many games as them either which will be probably with the Bluebirds weak bullpen.
Bluebirds Top Prospects
1. Jernard Conrad 18 year old (RF 68) L-Conrad has good speed and excellent paitence at the plate. He could develop into another star for the Bluebirds, but he has a ways to go before he is ready to play everyday.
2. Warren Carlson 16 year old (SS 61) R-Carlson is a better defensive shortstop Murray. He has the potential to be an outstanding player with above average power.
3. Keith Wade 18 year old (3B 62) S-Keith has the potential to be an outstanding player with above average power. He should develop into a major leaguer, but it will be a while before he is ready to play everyday.
