The Richmond Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1953. They played in the

Virginia League The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928. The most famous alumni to c ...

in 1894, and in another

in 1900, and another

from 1906 to 1914 and from 1918 to 1928. In 1932, they played in the Eastern League and from 1933 to 1953, they played in the

Piedmont League The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States. Teams The following teams were members of the Piedmont ...

. They were affiliated with the Philadelphia Athletics from 1935 to 1936, and the New York Giants from 1937 to 1938, in 1940, and from 1944 to 1950. As was more common during that time period, the Colts occasionally played exhibition games against major league teams. One of their home ballparks was Mooers Field, from the early 1940s until 1953, named after Eddie Mooers, who purchased the team in 1931. Prior to Mooers Field, the team played at

Tate Field Tate Field, known as Island Park in the 1890s and Mayo Island Park prior to 1926, was a stadium located on Mayo Island in the James River within the city of Richmond, Virginia. It hosted sporting events including college football and Minor Le ...

on Mayo Island in the James River, but that facility was destroyed in a fire in May 1941. (notes that team won Virginia League pennant in 1925) In 1953, the team signed Whit Graves as its first black player. When Richmond obtained a Class AAA franchise in 1954, Mooers moved the Colts to Colonial Heights' Shepherd Stadium. Harry Seibold purchased the team and renamed it the Virginians. Mooers Field was turned into a racing track, and then torn down in 1958.

League championships

Under manager Perry Lipe in 1908, the Colts won their first league championship. They were co-league champions in 1923 under manager Dave Robertson, and from 1924 to 1926 they won the league championship every year. W. Harrison Daniel & Scott P. Mayer, ''Baseball and Richmond: a history of the professional game, 1884–2000'', Ch 6 (McFarland & Co. 2003)() In 1924, they were managed by

Jack Onslow John James Onslow (October 13, 1888 – December 22, 1960) was an American player, manager (baseball), manager, coach (baseball), coach and scout (sports), scout in Major League Baseball. A catcher during his playing days, he spent a dozen years i ...

; in 1925, Percy Dawson and in 1926,

Troy Agnew Troy Pipkin Agnew (August 8, 1890 in Farmington, Missouri, USA – November 23, 1971 in Richmond County, Georgia Richmond County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,549. It is one of ...

, Guy Lacy and

Rube Oldring Reuben Henry "Rube" Oldring (May 30, 1884 – September 9, 1961) was a professional baseball player who played outfield in the major leagues from 1905 to 1918. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees. Early life Oldring was ...

. They won a league championship again in 1935, under manager

Eddie Rommel Edwin Americus Rommel (September 13, 1897 – August 26, 1970) was an American right-handed pitcher and umpire in Major League Baseball. He spent his entire playing career ( 1920–1932) with the Philadelphia Athletics. He is considered to be ...

. In 1952, they won their final league championship, under manager Tom O'Connell.

References

{{reflist Sports in Richmond, Virginia Baseball teams established in 1894 Baseball teams disestablished in 1953 1894 establishments in Virginia 1953 disestablishments in Virginia Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Virginia New York Giants minor league affiliates Philadelphia Athletics minor league affiliates Piedmont League teams Virginia League teams