Photograph Courtesy Rare Sports Films Vintage Blues Stadium Kansas City Missouri Kansas City Blues Kansas City Monarchs |
The first team to call this home was the Kansas City Blues of 1923. The Blues were
part of the ultra-exclusive 8 member Class A (Triple-A) "American Association".
This period of the A.A. would go down as the most stable league in the history
of professional baseball. The 8 teams that had began the league in 1903 (Columbus,
Toledo, St. Paul, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Louisville and Kansas
City), were the same exact 8 teams that made up the league in 1953. Except
for a 2 year span when Toledo temporarily moved to Cleveland, this core of 8
teams would remain unchanged... no new members, no new cities, no subtractions
and no moves... for 50 years! Imagine if you would with all of the changes constantly
taking place in the Minor League world (and it was even moreso during these
early years), the Triple-A International League for example keeping the current
exact roster of cities and teams that it has now... not adding or subtracting
or moving again continuously until 2060. Kansas City was part this tight 8
city core. Thus 1923 Blues franchise were led by Bunny Brief. The man with the
funny name had one hot bat hitting 47 2Bs, 15 3Bs, 29 HRs and a .359 batting avg.
Manager Wilbur Good also batted .350 with 40 2Bs and 15 3B and Dud Branom batted
.348. This potent linup, teamed up with Jimmy Zinn (27-6) on the mound, was
one exceptional ballclub. Together this team in its very first season here at
Blues Stadium would put up the best record of any team that would ever play at
this stadium for the rest of its 50 year history. The 1923 Blues went 112-54 easily
taking 1st place and winning the American Association championship; an excellent
way to start the ballpark's history. The Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs
meanwhile would join them in their excellence, by winning their division
as well and taking their title. More on the Negro League's K.C. Monarch's in a
moment. |