Chester Blue Stockings

Minor league baseball team

Chester Blue Stockings

* 1884-1912
* (1884–1885, 1901, 1904, 1907–1908, 1912)
* Chester, Pennsylvania

Minor league affiliations
Class| Independent (1884–1885)
Class D (1901)
Independent (1904, 1907–1908, 1912)
League| Keystone Association (1884–1885)
Pennsylvania State League (1901)
Pennsylvania League (1904)
Atlantic League (1907)
Pennsylvania-New Jersey League (1908)
Tri-State League (1912)
Major league affiliations
Team| None
Minor league titles
League titles | None
Team data
Name| Chester Blue Stockings (1884–1885)
Chester (1901, 1904, 1907–1908, 1912)
Ballpark| Union Park

The Chester Blue Stockings was the initial moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Chester, Pennsylvania between 1884 and 1912. The Chester teams played as members of the Keystone Association (1884–1885), Pennsylvania State League (1901), Pennsylvania League (1904), Atlantic League (1907), Pennsylvania-New Jersey League (1908) and Tri-State League (1912).

## History[edit]

The Keystone Association and the member teams were formed at a March 3, 1884 meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Carlisle, Pennsylvania and West Chester, Pennsylvania were franchises admitted to the league but never played.[1]

The Chester Blue Stockings began play in 1884, as the Keystone Association played as a five–team Independent league. The other Keystone Association franchises were based in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Littlestown, Pennsylvania and York, Pennsylvania.[2][3]

The Chester Blue Stockings began Keystone Association play on May 2, 1884. During the 1884 season, the Chester franchise disbanded on June 2, 1884. On June 10, 1884, the league folded for the season with the Blue Stockings in 4th place, 6.5 games behind 1st place Lancaster, playing under manager Thomas Hargraves. The League standings when the league folded were Lancaster Red Stockings (15–4), York White Roses (10–10), Chambersburg (8–10), Chester Blue Stockings (8–10) and Littlestown Brown Stockings (6–8). Lancaster disbanded on June 7, 1884, causing the rest of the league to fold.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

The 1885 Chester Blue Stockings returned to Keystone Association play, as the league featured the same five returning franchises. Chambersburg, the Chester Blue Stockings, Lancaster Red Stockings, Littlestown Brown Stockings and York White Roses all returned as 1885 league members. The 1885 league records and standings are unknown.[10][11] The 1885 Keystone Association final team standings are unknown.[10]

Chester returned to play as members of the 1901 Class D level Pennsylvania State League. 1901 league records and standings are unknown. Jesse Frysinger managed the Chester team.[12]

In 1904, the Chester team played as members of the Independent level Pennsylvania League. League standings for the six–team league are unknown.[13][14]

The Chester team played in the 1907 Independent level Atlantic League. The Tamaqua, Pennsylvania franchise combined with Chester. Joseph Senior, John Castle, Jack Quinn and James McGeehan were the managers. League standings and records for the six–team league are unknown.[15][16]

The 1908 Chester team became members of the Independent level Pennsylvania-New Jersey League. Chester had an 8–3 record to finish in 2nd place under manager Steve Yerkes. Trenton finished 1st in the six–team league, percentage points ahead of Chester.[17][18]

In 1912, Chester played briefly as members of the Tri-State League. The Johnstown Johnnies moved to Chester on August 2, 1912 with a record of 25–60. The Johnstown/Chester team ended the 1912 season with a record of 31–81, placing 8th in the standings. Bert Conn and Curt Wiegand served as managers.[19]

Chester folded following the 1912 season. Chester, Pennsylvania has not hosted another minor league team.[citation needed]

## The ballpark[edit]

The Chester minor league teams were noted to have played home games at Union Park. Still in use as a public park, the park is now named Veterans Memorial Park, Chester, Pennsylvania.[20][21]

Chester PA, 1885

## Timeline[edit]

Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League

|
|
|
|

1884–1885 | 2 | Chester Blue Stockings | Independent | Keystone Association
1901 | 1 | Chester | Class D | Pennsylvania State League
1904 | 1 | Independent | Pennsylvania League
1907 | 1 | Atlantic League
1908 | 1 | Pennsylvania-New Jersey League
1912 | 1 | Tri-State League

## Year-by-year records[edit]

Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes

|
|
|
|

1884 | 8–10 | 4th | Thomas Hargraves | Team folded June 2
League folded June 10
1885 | 00–00 | NA | NA | League records unknown
1901 | 00–00 | NA | Jesse Frysinger | League records unknown
1904 | 00–00 | NA | NA | League records unknown
1907 | 00–00 | NA | Joseph Senior / John Castle
Jack Quinn / James McGeehan | League records unknown
1908 | 8–2 | 2nd | Steve Yerkes | None held
1912 | 31–81 | 8th | Bert Conn / Curt Wiegand | Johnstown moved to Chester August 2

## Notable alumni[edit]

* Frank Berkelbach (1884)
* Bert Conn (1912, MGR)
* Snake Deal (1901)
* John Deasley (1884)
* Bill Farmer (1884)
* Harry Felix (1901)
* Paddy Greene (1901)
* Bill Jones (1884)
* Charlie Jordan (1901)
* Phil Ketter (1912)
* Joe Knotts (1904)
* Mike Mowrey (1904)
* Fred Odwell (1901)
* Cub Stricker (1901)
* Jesse Whiting (1901)

## See also[edit]

Chester (minor league baseball) players, Chester Blue Stockings players, Chester Johnnies players

## References[edit]

1. ^ Browne, Paul (March 27, 2013). The Coal Barons Played Cuban Giants: A History of Early Professional Baseball in Pennsylvania, 1886-1896. McFarland. ISBN 9780786461257 - via Google Books.
2. ^ "1884 Keystone Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
3. ^ a b "1884 Keystone Association (KA) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
4. ^ "1884 Keystone Association (KA) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
5. ^ Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Baseball America. 2007. p. 142.
6. ^ McClure, Jim. "York Revolution most recent addition to lengthy local professional baseball timeline". York Daily Record.
7. ^ "1884 Littlestown Brown Stockings minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
8. ^ "1884 Chester Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
9. ^ "1884 Chester Blue Stockings minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
10. ^ a b "1885 Keystone Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
11. ^ "1885 Chester Blue Stockings Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
12. ^ "1901 Chester Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
13. ^ "1904 Chester Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
14. ^ "1904 Pennsylvania League". Baseball-Reference.com.
15. ^ "1907 Chester/Tamaqua Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
16. ^ "1907 Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
17. ^ "1908 Chester Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
18. ^ "1908 Pennsylvania-New Jersey League". Baseball-Reference.com.
19. ^ "1912 Johnstown Johnnies/Chester minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
20. ^ "Union Park in Chester, PA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
21. ^ "Veterans Memorial Park". West Chester Borough, PA.