The Winsted Welcomes played the 1896 season as members of the Independent level Naugatuck Valley League.
[1][2][3] A Baseball Hall of Fame member, Jim O'Rourke was owner/player/manager for the Bridgeport team.
[7] The 1896 team was also referred to as the "Winsted Blues"[3] In their only season of play, the Winsted Welcomes finished in 5th place, playing under managers Eugene McCarthy, W. A. Parsons and James Eaton.
The final Naugatuck Valley League standings were led by the 1st place Bridgeport Victors with a 25–15 record.
Bridgeport finished 1.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Torrington Tornados (24–17), followed by the Derby Angels (22–18), New Haven Edgewoods (22–18), Winsted Welcomes (15–25) and Ansonia Blues (12–28).