Cleveland Blues (NL) all-time roster

[1] They were organized by businessmen William Hollinger, and J. Ford Evans in 1878 as the Forest Citys, and played a season as an independent team.

[8] Over the next two seasons, the team changed the on-field leadership often; employing Mike McGeary and John Clapp as player-managers in 1881, and Fred Dunlap in 1882.

[9] An upstart baseball league was created in 1884 by Henry Lucas called the Union Association (UA).

Several member of the Blues' signed contracts with teams in the UA despite being subject to the reserve clause: including star players McCormick, Dunlap, and Jack Glasscock.

[10] This deal was not enough for the franchise to profit, and Bulkeley sold the team to Lucas for $2,500 ($71,530 current dollar adjustment) following the conclusion of the 1884 season.

A baseball team is posing for a photograph. There are four men standing, five men sitting, and two men are laying on the ground.
The 1879 Cleveland Blues baseball team
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Doc Bushong was the Blues' starting catcher in 1883 and 1884.
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John Clapp was the player-manager of the 1883 Blues.
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Hugh Daily pitched the only no-hitter in franchise history.
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Fred Dunlap was the player-manager of the 1882 Blues.
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Jack Glasscock played in each of the Blues' seasons.
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Hall of Fame manager Ned Hanlon began his playing career with the 1880 team.
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Jim McCormick was the franchise's all-time leader in pitching wins with 174, and was the team's player-manager from 1879 to 1880.
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Bill Phillips was the franchise's all-time leader in most batting categories.
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Orator Shafer was the franchise's starting right fielder for three seasons.
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Tom York led the league in most games played by a left fielder in 1883.