Wilmington Blue Rocks (Class A Advanced)
From SoSH
| Location: | Wilmington, DE |
| Established: | 1976 |
| MLB Affiliation: | Kansas City Royals |
| League: | Carolina League |
| Level: | A |
| Ballpark: | Daniel S. Frawley Stadium |
| Championships: | 4 (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999) |
| Division Titles: | |
| Wild Card: |
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team based in Wilmington, Delaware. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, is a Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
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Team History
Baseball started early in Wimington, Delaware, as amateur teams started playing as early as 1865. In 1883, The Inter-State Association of Professional Baseball Clubs was founded, and Wilmington had their first professional franchise. The team would play its games at the Wilmington Ball Grounds, as all teams would until 1916. In 1884, the league changed their names to the Eastern League, and the Wilmington Quicksteps dominated the league. They won the championship in August (with a 50-12 record)... and the Union League, a new rival Major League to the National League, brought up the team to the League in August, replacing the Philadelphia team that folded. It is perhaps the only time in history that a team jumped leagues in the middle of the season.
Unfortunately, the Major League status (and the team) was shortlived, as players used the jump in league to break contracts, and go to other teams at higher salaries. With the team filling in, and the league already won, crowds stayed away. The Final game of the season was forfeited (with an attendance of ZERO), and the team was disbanded (with a record of 2-16).
A new team started in 1885, but moved to Atlantic City in June. Another team was started in 1899, but was disbanded after starting with a 4-16 record. Another team was started in 1890, but was expelled from the league (Atlantic Association) for financial irregularities in August. In 1896, another team started up and actually played a whole season. The team disbanded after the season, but not before participating in a first... Night Baseball. On July 4th, the team played a Triple Header... with the final game being an exhibition played under newly installed arc lighting. The game was a farce as the lights were not effective... and the experiment ended after the pitcher threw a ball with a firecracker in it.
1904 brought another team and another new league, but the league disbanded halfway through the season. 1907 saw another full season in a restarted league, but the team was sold back to the league in the middle of 1908. A small run of success finally came to Wilmington, as they had teams from 1911-1914... but despite a first place finish in 1913, fans stayed away in 1914... and the league folded after the year.
1916 brought another league and team to Wilmington... but again the league failed, and the organization was folded in June.
Another new league started in 1923, but despite being in first place, the team disbanded on May 24th. Professional Baseball would not return until the Blue Rocks were formed.
The Original Blue Rocks
In 1939, an agreement between Bob Carpenter and Hall of Famer Connie Mack resulted in a new team for Wilmington, as Mack would provide the team and Carpenter would supply the park. Wilmington Park was built at a cost of $185,000 and included lights, one of the finest parks of its era. Connie Mack would become Vice President of the team, and his son Roy Mack was named Treasurer. The team started in 1940 in the Class B Inter-State League.
As an affiliate for the A's, Hall of Famer Chief Bender was named manager. The Blue Rocks finished 2nd in its first year, and then finished 5th, 2nd and 3rd. In 1944, an affiliation change happened, as the A's were replaced by the Phillies as Carpenter gained full control of the team. 1944 and 45 saw two more runner up finishes, but 1946 finally saw a Regular Season Championship. 1947 saw another 2nd place finish, while the 1948 team, stocked with the players who would become the Whiz Kids, won another pennant. 1949 saw another second place finish, but 1950 brought another pennant. Unfortunately, the focus was on the Philadelphia Phillies 35 miles to the north, who won the pennant. In 1951, the team finished 3rd and in 1952, the team finished 5th. With flagging attendance, the team was disbanded after the season. The league would follow a year later.
The New Blue Rocks
Baseball returned to Wilmington in 1993, as the Penninsula Pilots relocated from Hampton Virginia. A new stadium was built by the construction company of owner Matt Minker. The Kansas City Royals was the major league affiliate, and Wilmington would enjoy great success, going to the playoffs in 8 of the 12 years they played in Wilmington. 75 KC prospects moved through Wilmington on their way to the Major League, Including Johnny Damon, Mike Sweeney, and Carlos Beltran
Red Sox affiliation
The Blue Rocks joined the Red Sox system in 2005, as the Red Sox decided to move from the Florida State League and the team they owned, the Sarasota Red Sox. The Red Sox returned to the Carolina League, a league that they had been affiliated with multiple times over the year, the last being with the Lynchburg Red Sox from 1988-1994.
The first season as an affiliate was not kind for either side, as the Red Sox took the Blue Rocks to their worst record ever (20 game under .500). However, the second season would see a return to the playoffs for the Blue Rocks, as a 35-35 record in the first half brought Wilmington the 1st half Division title in the Northern Division. In the second half of the season, the Rocks finished under .500, but still finished in second place. They lost the 3 game playoff series, losing the second game in demoralizing fashion (Losing 2-1 despite pitching a one hitter).
The end of the season was even worse for the Sox, as Wilmington decided not to renew the Player Developement Contract with the Sox, instead reuniting with the Royals. The Red Sox moved to the California League in 2007, playing as the Lancaster JetHawks.
Teams and Records
- 2005 60-80 Manager: Dann Bilardello
- 2006 68-72 Manager: Chad Epperson
Season Ending Reports
Team Affiliations
- Kansas City Royals (1993-2004, 2007-present)
- Boston Red Sox (2005-2006)
- Seattle Mariners (1990-1992)
- Chicago White Sox (1986-1987)
- Philadelphia Phillies (1976-1985)
Team Names
- Wilmington Blue Rocks (1993-present)
- Virginia Generals (1988)
- Peninsula White Sox (1986-1987)
- Peninsula Pilots (1976-1985, 1989-1992)
Alumni
Notable Red Sox who played here
Trivia
- Frawley Stadium was originally known as Legends Stadium
- The Full Name of Frawley Stadium is Judy Johnson Field at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium
- The Blue Rocks have three mascots: Mr. Celery, Mr. Bluewinkle, and Rubble
- The Blue Rocks name was chosen in a Name the Team contest back in 1939
- The Blue Rocks name comes from the Blue Granite Stones found in the Brandywine River in Wilmington
External Links
- Wilmington Blue Rocks - Official Site
- Carolina League
- Delaware Online Blue Rocks Page
- Delaware's Baseball History
