Western League/Western Association 1885–1888

The 1885 Kansas City Cowboys began minor league play as charter members of the Western League. Kansas City joined the Cleveland Forest Citys, Indianapolis Hoosiers, Milwaukee Milwaukees, Omaha and Toledo Avengers teams in the six–team Western League. Kansas City placed third, playing the season under manager Ted Sullivan, who also served as the league president. With a record of 17–13, Kansas City finished 9.0 games behind the first place Indianapolis Hoosiers in the final standings. Darby O'Brien of Kansas City led the Western League in batting average, hitting.362. Kansas City did not field a team in the 1886 Western League.^[1][2]

After not fielding a 1886 team, Kansas City returned to minor league play, rejoining the 1887 Western League. The 1887 Kansas City Cowboys placed third in the ten–team Western League with a record of 58–54, playing under managers Joe Ellick and Bradley Patterson. Kansas City finished 30.0 games behind the first place Topeka Golden Giants in the final standings.^[3]

In 1888, the Kansas City Blues continued minor league play, becoming members of the eight–team Class A level Western Association, as the Kansas City Cowboys began play in the Union Association. The Blues began 1888 Western Association play with the Chicago Maroons, Des Moines Prohibitionists Milwaukee Brewers, Minneapolis Millers, Omaha Omahogs, St. Paul Apostles and St. Louis Whites joining Kansas City in the league.^[4][5]

The president of the Chicago Maroons franchise was Sam Morton, who also was serving a dual role as president of the Western Association in 1888.^[6]

(1888) Old Judge baseball card, Jim Manning, Shortstop, Kansas City. Manning managed eleven seasons for the Blues franchise

The Kansas City Blues won the 1888 Western Association championship. The Blues began Western Association play on April 28, 1888, and finished the season in first place, playing under player/manager Jim Manning. With a record of 76–42, Kansas City finished 0.5 game ahead of the second place Des Moines Prohibitionists in the final 1888 standings. Spud Johnson of Kansas City led the Western Association in batting average, hitting .342. Player/manager Jim Manning led the league with 101 stolen bases and 123 runs scored. Kansas City did not return to the 1889 Western Association.^[7][8][4][9]

Baseball Hall of Fame member Kid Nichols played for the 1888 Kansas City Blues at age 18. Nichols pitched to a league leading 16–2 record and 1.14 ERA, pitching 18 complete games in 18 starts for the Blues.^[10][11]

Western League/Western Association 1890–1901

In 1890, the Kansas City Blues returned to Western Association play and won a second league championship. With a record of 78–39, Kansas City finished first in the standings of the eight–team league under managers Charlie Hackett and Jim Manning. Kansas City finished 1.0 game ahead of the second place Minneapolis Millers. Buster Hoover of Kansas City led the Western Association in hitting, with a batting average of .336, while Jim Manning led the league with 96 stolen bases.^{[12][13][14][15][11]}

The 1891 Kansas City Blues finished second in the Western Association behind the Sioux City Cornhuskers. The Blues finished with a record of 66–59, just 1.0 game behind Sioux City, who finished 66–57 in the eight–team league. The Milwaukee Brewers were leading the standings in 1891, when they withdrew on August 16, 1893, with a 59–37 record to join the American Association. Kansas City was again managed by Jim Manning.^{[16][17][18][19][20][11]}

Kansas City continued minor league play 1892, rejoining the renamed Western League, which folded during the season. In February 1892, Jim Manning signed with Kansas City to again manage and play second base. The Kansas City correspondent to The Sporting Life wrote at the time: "The news that Manning is to be with us again was hailed with satisfaction by his great army of friends, who have learned to admire him as a player and a gentleman during his many years' service in Kansas City. It may be put down as certain that no club in the Western League will have a better manager or as good a second baseman as Jimmy Manning."^[21]

The Kansas City Blues finished in third place as the Class A level Western League disbanded on July 17, 1892. The Blues had a 33–33 record under Jim Manning when the league folded. The 1892 team is also referred to as the "Cowboys" in some references. Kansas City was in third place, behind the first place Columbus Reds (46–20) and second place Milwaukee Brewers when the league folded. The Omaha Omahogs had a 31–31 record and were at .500 with Kansas City.^{[22][23][24][25]}

In 1893, the Kansas City Blues continued play as members of the Class A level Western Association, as the league reduced in size to play as a four-team league. Kansas City began 1893 play with the Lawrence Jayhawks, St. Joseph Saints and Topeka Populists joining the Blues in Western Association play.^[26]

The Kansas City Blues won the 1893 Western Association championship, as the league folded during the season. After beginning play on May 1, 1893, the Western Association folded June 20, 1893, Kansas City, also referred in some references as the "Cowboys" in 1893, had a record of 12–8, playing under manager William Lucas and finishing 0.5 game ahead of the second place St. Joseph Saints. The Kansas Blues (12–8), St. Joseph Saints (11–8) and Topeka Populists (8–12) and Lawrence Jayhawks (7–12) made up in the 1893 Western Association standings.^[27][28][26]

In the fall of 1893, Jim Manning was one of the three principal organizers of the new Western League, along with Charlie Cushman and John S. Barnes. The Western League was later renamed the American League in 1900.^[29] In September 1893, Manning visited Kansas City to lay the groundwork for establishing a new baseball club, including securing an option to play home games at the Exposition baseball grounds.^[30][31] The Kansas City Journal at the time called Manning "the most popular ball player who ever wore a Kansas City uniform." Manning told the press in Kansas City, "I spent six years here. Kansas City is like home to me ... If I put a new team here next year, as I hope to, it will be a winner, for that is what this town wants and what it demands."^[32]

In November 1893, the Western League was formally established with Manning as the owner of the Kansas City Blues.^[33]

In 1894, the Kansas City Blues franchise continued minor league play as members of the eight-team Western League, which was now under the direction of Hall of Fame member Ban Johnson. The 1894 team is listed in some references as the "Kansas City Cowboys." This franchise would evolve to become today's Minnesota Twins. The Kansas City Blues ended the 1894 season with a record of 68–58, placing third in the Western League, finishing 6.5 games behind the first place Sioux City Corn Huskers. Team owner Jim Manning continued as the Kansas City manager, also playing second base. Hall of Fame member Joe McGinnity pitched for the 1894 Kansas City Blues at age 22. McGinnity had an 8–9 record with a 4.09 ERA in 19 appearances for the Blues.^{[34][35][36][37][38][39]}

The 1895 Kansas City Blues finished in third place in the eight–team Western League. With Jim Manning continuing as manager, Kansas City ended the 1895 season with a 73–52 record, finishing 7.0 games behind the Indianapolis Hoosiers in the final standings.^[40][41][42]

Continuing 1896 Western League play, the Kansas City Blues placed fifth in the eight–team league. With a record of 69–66 under Jim Manning, Kansas City finished 19.5 games behind the first place Minneapolis Millers in the final standings.^[43][44][45]

After many seasons of success on the field, the 1897 Kansas City Blues team suffered a losing season and placed seventh in the standings. The Blues finished the Western League season with a 40–99 record, finishing 60.0 games behind the first place Indianapolis Indians, as Jim Manning again served as manager.^[46][47][48]

The 1898 Kansas City Blues rebounded from a poor 1898 season to capture the 1898 Western League Championship. Kansas City finished the 1898 season with a record of 88–51 as Jim Manning led the team to the championship. The Blues finished 1.5 games ahead of the second place Indianapolis Hoosiers in the final standings.^[49][50][51]

In 1899, the Blues ended their run of consecutive seasons of Western League play. The Kansas City Blues placed seventh in the Western League Standings. Kansas City finished the 1899 season with a record of 53–70, as Jim Manning continued his manager run. Kansas City finished 22.5 games behind the first place Indianapolis Hoosiers^[52][53][54]

1900 American League

In 1900, the Kansas City Blues franchise remained as the Western League evolved to become the American League under the direction of league president Ban Johnson. The American League played the 1900 season as a Class A level minor league. A newly formed Western League played in 1900 without a Kansas City franchise. The Blues placed fifth in the American League standings, remaining under manager Jim Manning. With a 69–70 record, the Blues finished 15.0 games behind the first place Chicago White Stockings. The Milwaukee Brewers, Indianapolis Hoosiers and Detroit Tigers finished in second through fourth place. Kansas City finished ahead of the Cleveland Lake Shores, Buffalo Bisons and Minneapolis Millers in the final 1900 American League standings.^[55][56][57]

Kansas City Blues manager/president Jim Manning was one of the organizers of the American League as a major league. Manning attended the organizational meeting in Chicago, Illinois in November 1900, as the representative of the Kansas City Blues, along with Charles Comiskey of Chicago, John McGraw of Baltimore, James D. Burns of Detroit and Henry Killilea of Milwaukee.^[58] At the meeting, it was decided that the new American League would become a major league and would not have a team in Kansas City, instead moving the franchise to Washington D.C. Manning was assigned responsibility for the proposed new club in Washington, D.C. Afterward, Manning stated: "I am reconciled to the idea of (Kansas City) moving into Washington. I will take my team there bodily, will add a couple of National Leaguers and will show them that American League ball is a long way faster than they imagine."^[58][59][60]

1901 Western League

In 1901, the Kansas City Blues American League franchise relocated to become the Washington Senators, with Jim Manning managing the Senators to a 60–71 record in the first major league season of the American League. The minor league Kansas City Blues franchise was reformed and the team rejoined the eight–team 1901 Western League. Returning to Western League play, the Blues won the 1901 Western League championship. The Blues finished the 1901 season with a 79–44 record under manager George Tebeau, finishing 10.0 games ahead of the second place St. Paul Saints in the final league standings.^[61][62][63]

In 1902, the Kansas City Blue Stockings franchise was formed by Jim Manning and Kid Nichols to continue play in the Western League, while the Kansas City Blues franchise became members of the American Association.^[1]