10 Disbanded Baseball Teams Remembered

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Charlotte Hopkins

2.    The St. Louis Brown Stockings played from 1871 – 1876. On July 15, 1876, their pitcher, George Bradley, became the first person to throw a no-hitter in the history of professional baseball, on July 15, 1876.

3.    The Hartford Dark Blues of Connecticut played for one season in 1876. They finished in 3rd place. They faced financial difficulties, limited success, and declining attendance. Due to these challenges, the team folded and disbanded after the 1876 season.

4.    Providence Grays were based in Providence, Rhode Island. The Grays were established in 1876. Even though they won the pennant in 1879, in the years that followed the team faced financial challenges and declining attendance. After the 1885 season, the Providence Grays disbanded.

5.    The Buffalo Bisons played from 1879-1885 for the National League. In their final season, they were awarded the pennant. The team was managed by future Hall of Famer Dan Brouthers. He had one of the highest batting averages in the history of baseball.

6.    The Worcester Worcesters was based in Worcester, Massachusetts, and only played for one year, during the 1880 season. One notable player from the Worcester Worcesters was pitcher Lee Richmond. He is remembered for being the first left-handed pitcher to throw a perfect game in Major League Baseball.

7.    The Cleveland Spiders competed from 1887 – 1899. Poor performance and financial struggles led to the demise of the team. They played most of their games on the road and were unable to draw a crowd at their home games.

8.    The Indianapolis Hoosiers played for one season in 1888. Their pitcher, Amos Rusie, went on to play for the Giants in 1890. He was known for his incredible fastball and earned the nickname "The Hoosier Thunderbolt." Rusie's career included multiple no-hitters and strikeout records. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.

9.    The Kansas City Packers were based in Kansas City, Missouri, and played for two seasons in 1914 and 1915. They were often affectionately referred to as the "Lambs," a reference to the sheep that adorned the outfield fences at their home ballpark, Muehlebach Field. The idea behind the sheep was that they were meant to keep the grass on the field short and maintained, acting as natural lawnmowers.

10. The Chicago Feds played for the National League during the 1914 and 1915 seasons. The team faced financial difficulties and legal challenges. After the 1915 season, the Federal League ceased operations, and the Chicago Feds disbanded. The Feds are credited for introducing the use of the designated hitter.