The Detroit Wolverines were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team based in

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

. From 1889 to 1891, the Wolverines played as minor league baseball, first as members of the

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

level International Association in 1889 and 1890, winning the league championship in both seasons, while hosting home games at Recreation Park. The 1891 Wolverines continued play as members of the

Northwestern League The Northwestern League was a sports league that operated in the Central United States during the early years of professional baseball for six seasons: 1879, 1883–1884, 1886–1887, and 1891. After the 1887 season, the league was replaced by t ...

, moving home games to Riverside Park. The minor league Detroit "Wolverines" were immediately preceded by the major league

Detroit Wolverines The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th-century Major League Baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant (and winning the ...

, who played from 1881 to 1888 as members of the

National League National League often refers to: *National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada *National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...

History

The minor league "Detroit Wolverines" were immediately preceded by the

of 1881 to 1888, who played as a major league team in the

. In 1888, the team was managed by Bill Watkins and

Bob Leadley Robert H. Leadley (November 11, 1858 – May 19, 1936) was an American professional baseball manager, administrator, and team owner whose career spanned from 1884 to 1897. He was a manager in Major League Baseball for the last portion of the ...

. The Detroit franchise was replaced by the

Cleveland Spiders The Cleveland Spiders were an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The team competed at the major league level from 1887 to 1899, first for two seasons as a member of the now-defunct American Association (AA), followe ...

in the eight–team 1889 National League. Leadley remained in Detroit to manage the 1889 and 1890 minor league Wolverine teams. In 1889, the Detroit Wolverines became members of the International Association. Joining Detroit in the eight–team league were the

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...

, Hamilton Hams,

London Tecumsehs The historic London Tecumsehs were a professional men's baseball team in London, Ontario, Canada, that were first formed in 1868 — a merger of the Forest City Base Ball Club and the London Base Ball Club — which, according to George Railton's ...

, Rochester Jingoes, Syracuse Stars, Toledo Black Pirates and Toronto Canucks. In their first season of minor league play, the Wolverines won the 1889 International Association championship. With a regular season record of 72–39, Detroit placed first in the eight–team International Association league standings, playing under manager Bob Leadley. Detroit finished 6.5 games ahead of the second place Syracuse Stars in the final league standings. After the 1889 Detroit club compiled a their 72–39 record, outfielder

Count Campau Charles Columbus "Count" Campau (October 17, 1863 – April 3, 1938) was an American professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1888 through 1894 for the Detroit Wolverines, St. Louis Browns (NL), St. Louis Br ...

, called the team "one of the greatest minor league teams gathered" and stated the team "won the flag so easy that fans stopped going out to see the games." Continuing International Association play in 1890, the Detroit Wolverines won their season opener at Toronto on May 1, 1890. After a parade and ceremonies before the opener, Toronto committed 7 errors in the game, as Detroit won by a score of 10–6. The 1890 Detroit Wolverines played their final International Association season, winning a second consecutive championship in a shortened season. The league began play reduced to six teams and when the International Association folded on July 10, 1890, the Detroit Wolverines were in first place. The Wolverines had continued play under manager Bob Leadley and had a record of 31–19 when the league folded. The Wolverines finished 1.0 game ahead of the second place Saginaw-Bay City Hyphens (32–20) and 1.5 game ahead of the third place Toronto Canucks (30–20) when the International Association folded. After the league folded, Bob Leadley immediately left the Wolverines to become the manager of the

for the remainder of the 1890 season. In 1891, the Detroit Wolverines continued minor league play in a new league, before folding during the season. The Wolverines began the season as members of the eight–team

. The Bay City, Dayton,

Evansville Hoosiers Evansville is a city in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 118,414 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is Indiana's List of cities in Indiana, third-most populous city after India ...

, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids Shamrocks,

Peoria Distillers The Peoria Distillers were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1917. They played in the Western Association from 1894 to 1896; the Central League (baseball), Central League in 1900, 1904 and 1917; the Western League ( ...

and

Terre Haute Hottentots The Terre Haute Hottentots were a Minor League Baseball team from Terre Haute, Indiana, that played in the Northwestern League in 1891, Illinois–Iowa League in 1892, Western Interstate League in 1895, Western League in 1895, Class C Central Le ...

teams joined Detroit in beginning 1891 league play on May 9, 1891. On June 6, 1891, the Wolverines had compiled a 10–19 record playing under player/manager Rasty Wright when the franchise folded. In 1894, the minor league Detroit Wolverines were succeeded in Detroit by the

Detroit Creams The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club ...

of the Western League, who evolved to become today's

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

The ballparks

The Detroit Wolverines of 1889 and 1890 played minor league home games at Recreation Park. The ballpark had hosted the major league Detroit Wolverines in previous seasons. The ballpark was noted to have had a capacity: 7,500 with field dimensions of (Left, Center, Right): 215–325–215 with a 9–foot fence. The ballpark was reportedly built in 1879 and torn down in 1894 and was reportedly located at Willis, John R, Brady, & Beaubien Streets, Detroit, Michigan. The site today is behind

Harper University Hospital Harper University Hospital is one of eight hospitals and institutes that compose the Detroit Medical Center. Harper offers services in a broad range of clinical areas, including cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery, organ transplant, plastic sur ...

, with a historical marker in place identifying Recreation Park. The 1891 Detroit Wolverines hosted minor league games at Riverside Park. The ballpark was located between Jefferson & the

Detroit River The Detroit River is an List of international river borders, international river in North America. The river, which forms part of the border between the U.S. state of Michigan and the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ont ...

, Detroit, Michigan. Today, Riverside Park is still in use as a public park.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Varney Anderson Varney Samuel "Varn" Anderson ( – ) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Indianapolis Hoosiers and the Washington Senators. Professional career Early minor league years Anderson played professionally at least as early as 1 ...

(1889) *

Tug Arundel John Thomas "Tug" Arundel (June 30, 1862 – September 5, 1912) was an American Major League Baseball catcher born in Romulus, New York. He played in parts of four seasons between and with four teams. Career He made his debut at the age of 19 ...

(1889, 1891) *

Jim Banning James M. Banning (June 11, 1865 – October 14, 1952) was a catcher in Major League Baseball in the 19th century. He played for the Washington Nationals of the National League National League often refers to: *National League (baseball), one of ...

(1889–1890) *

Bill Delaney Bill Delaney (11 June 1915 – 2000) was a famous Gaelic footballer from Laois. His death at the age of 85 in July 2000 reminded of a decades-long career in the GAA as a player, referee and administrator. Career From a famous footballing f ...

(1889–1891) * Jim Donnelly (1889) * Mike Goodfellow (1889–1890) *

Frank Harris Frank Harris (14 February 1856 – 26 August 1931) was an Irish-American editor, novelist, short story writer, journalist and publisher, who was friendly with many well-known figures of his day. Born in Ireland, he emigrated to the United State ...

(1889) * Bill Higgins (1889–1890) * Frank Knauss (1889–1890) *

(1889–1890, MGR) *

Tom Lynch Thomas or Tom(my) Lynch may refer to: Politics * Thomas Lynch (statesman) (1727–1776), South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress * Thomas Lynch Jr. (1749–1779), signer of the Declaration of Independence * Thomas Lynch (congressman) (1 ...

(1889, 1891) *

Mac MacArthur Malcolm M. MacArthur (January 19, 1862 – October 18, 1932) was a Scottish professional baseball player, who played for the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the American Association from May 2, 1884, to June 9, 1884. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, ...

(1889) * John McCarty (1889–1890) *

John McGlone John T. McGlone (1864–1927) was a professional baseball player from 1886 to 1888. He played in the minors through 1894. External links 1864 births 1927 deaths Baseball players from Brooklyn Major League Baseball third basemen Clevelan ...

(1889, 1891) * Mike Morrison (1889, 1891) * Fred O'Neill (1889–1891) * John Rainey (1889, 1891) * George Rooks (1889) *

Lev Shreve Leven Lawrence Shreve (March 12, 1866 in Louisville, Kentucky – November 7, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan), was a pitcher in the Major Leagues from –. He played for the Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an ...

(1889) * Edgar Smith (1889–1890) * Jake Virtue (1889–1890) *

Jake Wells Jacobs Wells (August 9, 1863 – March 16, 1927) was an American right-handed Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Detroit Wolverines in 1888 and the St. Louis Browns in 1890. He made his major league debut on August 10, 1888. He spe ...

(1890) * Bobby Wheelock (1889–1890) * Rasty Wright (1889–1890), (1891, MGR) * Henry Yaik (1889)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Detroit - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Professional baseball teams in Michigan Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Baseball teams established in 1889 Baseball teams disestablished in 1891 Baseball teams in Detroit