July 24, 201412 yr Apparently there's been a documentarian working on a film to hallmark the Covington Blue Sox baseball team that played in the Federal League in 1913. Looks like it's a 30 minute documentary - which sounds appropriate seeing as the team only had one seasons. In their brief, two month long season in Covington, they posted a 21-31 record and was sold and relocated to Kansas City directly following the end of the season. I'd LOVE to go to the premiere screening at the Covington Public Library on July 31st, but I can't make it.
July 24, 201412 yr Sounds really interesting and cool. Here is what is what wikipedia has to say about the Blue Sox Covington Blue Sox In 1912, city leaders tried to acquire a baseball franchise in the Class D Blue Grass League; the Cincinnati Reds, whose park was just five miles away across the Ohio River, decided against the move. Instead (after several larger cities backed out), Covington was awarded a team in the new "outlaw" circuit, the Federal League. The city raised $12,500, with $6,000 budgeted to build the ballpark. Bernard Wisehall, a prominent local architect, designed Federal Park (also known as Riverbreeze Park) with a capacity to 6,000. The playing field (bounded by East 2nd Street, East 3rd Street, Madison Avenue and Scott Boulevard) was tiny, believed to be smallest for any pro baseball park ever built: just 194 feet down the right-field line, 267 feet to dead center and 218 feet down the left-field line. (Modern rules dictate no pro ballpark may have a fence closer than 325 feet, even down the foul lines.) Construction did not begin until a month before Opening Day; after starting the season on a long road trip, the Blue Sox managed to sell out their home opener in late May, with thousands of fans turned away.[4] The Covington area did not have the population to support such an ambitious endeavor. On June 26, the team moved to Kansas City and ownership of the team reverted to creditors. Federal Park was used for other events the next few years, but was eventually torn down. A tobacco warehouse was put up in its place. Covington has not hosted a professional team in any sport since.
July 24, 201412 yr That sounds awesome, I'll have to watch the YouTube videos when I get home. 21 & 31 isn't too impressive. I wonder if their ownership was happy to see watch them struggle so they could sell the team.
July 25, 201412 yr Sounds really interesting and cool. Here is what is what wikipedia has to say about the Blue Sox Covington Blue Sox In 1912, city leaders tried to acquire a baseball franchise in the Class D Blue Grass League; the Cincinnati Reds, whose park was just five miles away across the Ohio River, decided against the move. Instead (after several larger cities backed out), Covington was awarded a team in the new "outlaw" circuit, the Federal League. The city raised $12,500, with $6,000 budgeted to build the ballpark. Bernard Wisehall, a prominent local architect, designed Federal Park (also known as Riverbreeze Park) with a capacity to 6,000. The playing field (bounded by East 2nd Street, East 3rd Street, Madison Avenue and Scott Boulevard) was tiny, believed to be smallest for any pro baseball park ever built: just 194 feet down the right-field line, 267 feet to dead center and 218 feet down the left-field line. (Modern rules dictate no pro ballpark may have a fence closer than 325 feet, even down the foul lines.) Construction did not begin until a month before Opening Day; after starting the season on a long road trip, the Blue Sox managed to sell out their home opener in late May, with thousands of fans turned away.[4] The Covington area did not have the population to support such an ambitious endeavor. On June 26, the team moved to Kansas City and ownership of the team reverted to creditors. Federal Park was used for other events the next few years, but was eventually torn down. A tobacco warehouse was put up in its place. Covington has not hosted a professional team in any sport since. Lord have mercy!!!!
July 25, 201412 yr Yankee Stadium is only 318 ft down the LF line and 314 down the RF line. There is a 325 rule. But clubs are allowed to request different dimensions to be approved.
July 26, 201412 yr There is a 325 rule. But clubs are allowed to request different dimensions to be approved. I think the Yankees were given a pass because of their efforts to have the new stadium mirror old Yankee Stadium as closely as possible. It's a bit shorter in the power alleys in the new stadium, but otherwise the rest of the dimensions are the same.
August 7, 201412 yr Here's the documentary... Our True Blues: The Story of the Covington Blue Sox [video=youtube;xOOkF-uZ9Mo]
June 13, 20179 yr Author The Florence Freedom will be playing in Covington Blue Sox throwback uniforms on August 17th. Pretty darn cool...
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