Louisville Colonels

"Colonels" was also the name of several minor league baseball teams that played in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 20th century.

After spending several years as a well-known semi-pro team, the Eclipse joined the newly founded American Association in 1882.

The Eclipse's backer, local distiller J. H. Pank, was named vice-president of the AA, and the team was to be run by a consortium led by W. L. Lyons.

Their star player, infielder Pete Browning, who had achieved some measure of local fame, remained with the team when they ascended to major league status.

In 1900 Dreyfuss acquired controlling interest of the Pittsburgh Pirates and brought 14 Colonels players with him, including future Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Fred Clarke, marking the end of the original Colonels organization and Louisville as a Major League Baseball host city.