Kansas City Blues (1885–1901)

Baseball Hall of Fame members Kid Nichols played for the 1888 Kansas City Blues and Joe McGinnity for the 1894 team.

Kansas City placed third, playing the season under manager Ted Sullivan, who also served as the league president.

With a record of 17–13, Kansas City finished nine games behind first place Indianapolis Hoosiers in the final standings.

Darby O'Brien of Kansas City led the Western League in batting average, hitting .362.

[3] In 1888, the renamed Kansas City Blues continued minor league play, becoming members of the eight-team Class A level Western Association.

The Blues began play with the Chicago Maroons, Des Moines Prohibitionists, Milwaukee Brewers, Minneapolis Millers, Omaha Omahogs, St. Paul Apostles and St. Louis Whites joining Kansas City in the league.

With a record of 76–42, Kansas City finished ½ game ahead of second place Des Moines Prohibitionists in the final 1888 standings.

Spud Johnson of Kansas City led the Western Association in batting average, hitting .342.

[10][11] In 1890, the Kansas City Blues returned to Western Association play and won a second league championship.

With a record of 78–39, Kansas City finished first in the standings of the eight-team league under managers Charlie Hackett and Jim Manning.

The Milwaukee Brewers were leading the standings in 1891, when they withdrew on August 16, 1893, with a 59–37 record to join the American Association.

Kansas City began play with the Lawrence Jayhawks, St. Joseph Saints and Topeka Populists.

The 1893 Western Association standings were Kansas City Blues (12–8), St. Joseph Saints (11–8), Topeka Populists (8–12) and Lawrence Jayhawks (7–12).

"[32] In November 1893, the Western League was formally established with Manning as the owner of the Kansas City Blues.

With Manning continuing as manager, Kansas City ended the season with a 73–52 record, finishing seven games behind the Indianapolis Hoosiers in the final standings.

With a record of 69–66 under Manning, Kansas City finished 19½ games behind first place Minneapolis Millers in the final standings.

Kansas City finished ahead of the Cleveland Lake Shores, Buffalo Bisons and Minneapolis Millers in the final 1900 American League standings.

I will take my team there bodily, will add a couple of National Leaguers and will show them that American League ball is a long way faster than they imagine.

The Blues finished the season with a 79–44 record under manager George Tebeau, 10 games ahead of second place St. Paul Saints in the final league standings.

[1] The Kansas City Blues and Cowboys teams played home games at Exposition Park.

The site is at 1600 Buck O'Neill Way, Kansas City, Missouri, located just behind the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.