The Laurel Blue Hens were a minor league baseball team based in Laurel, Delaware. In 1922 and 1923, the Blue Hens teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League. Laurel hosted home minor league games at League Park.
| Laurel Blue Hens | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1922–1923) |
| League | Eastern Shore League (1922–1923) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Laurel Blue Hens (1922–1923) |
| Ballpark | League Park (1922–1923) |
History
editMinor league baseball began in Laurel, Delaware with the 1922 "Laurel Blue Hens." Laurel became charter members of the six–team Class D level Eastern Shore League.[1] The Cambridge Canners, Crisfield Crabbers, Parksley Spuds, Pocomoke City Salamanders and Salisbury Indians teams joined the Laurel Blue Hens as Eastern Shore League charter members.[2][3]
The use of the "Blue Hens" nickname corresponds to regional history. A company of soldiers from Delaware, known for their courage, who acquired the nickname of "The Blue Hen's Chickens" or "Sons of the Blue Hen." The Blue Hen Chicken became the official state bird of the state of Delaware.[4] Relatedly, beginning in 1911, the athletic teams at the University of Delaware became known as the Blue Hens, a moniker that continues to be used by the university today, updated to the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.[5]
The Laurel Blue Hens began play when the Eastern Shore League schedule started on June 12, 1922, with the team hosting home games at League Park.[6] Laurel ended the 1922 season with a record of 34–34, placing fourth in the six–team league, finishing 8.5 games behind the first place Parksley Spuds, who finished with a record of 42–25.[7] The Crisfield Crabbers (36–32) and Cambridge Canners (37–32) finished ahead of the Laurel Blue Hens, who were followed by the Pocomoke City Salamanders (29–41) and Salisbury Indians (27–41) in the final league standings.[8] Laurel was managed by Sam Frock and briefly, Ducky Davis.[9][10]
The Laurel Blue Hens continued play in the 1923 Eastern Shore League, in what would be their final season.[11] The Blue Hens placed third in the eight–team league with a 42–30 record. The Laurel Blue Hens finished 7.0 games behind the first place Dover Senators while playing under manager John Whalen.[12][10] Two other league teams folded during the season, as the Milford Sandpipers team withdrew on July 14, 1923 rather than forfeit all of its games due to an ineligible player and the Pocomoke City Salamanders disbanded on August 21, 1923.[13][14]
On July 19, 1923, in front of a crowd of 4,000, major league baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis threw out the first pitch at a game in Salisbury while wearing a Laurel Blue Hens cap to mark the occasion.[15]
After the 1923 season, the Eastern Shore League remained at six teams for the 1924 season. Laurel did not return to play in the 1924 league as the newly formed Easton Farmers franchise replaced Laurel and joined the five returning members.[10] Laurel, Delaware has not hosted another minor league team.[16][8]
The ballpark
editThe Laurel Blue Hens teams were noted to have played home minor league games at League Park.[17] The ballpark reportedly no longer exists, with the site becoming residential. It was reported that the Laurel High School band played at home games. The ballpark was located on West Street, between 7th Street and 8th Street in Laurel, Delaware.[18][19]
Timeline
edit| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922–1923 | 2 | Laurel Blue Hens | Class D | Eastern Shore League |
Year–by–year records
edit| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 34–34 | 4th | Sam Frock / Ducky Davis | No playoffs held |
| 1923 | 42–30 | 3rd | John Whalen | No playoffs held |
Notable alumni
edit- Eddie Bacon (1923)
- Sam Frock (1922, MGR)
References
edit- ^ "1922 Eastern Shore League (ESL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1922 Eastern Shore League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "The Early Days of Baseball on Delmarva - Delmarva Almanac". delmarva-almanac.com.
- ^ "Delaware State Bird | "Blue Hen Chicken"". statesymbolsusa.org.
- ^ "Why is the Blue Hen UD's Mascot? By Audrey Ostroski |".
- ^ "1922 Laurel Blue Hens minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1922 Eastern Shore League (ESL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b "1922 Eastern Shore League (ESL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1922 Laurel Blue Hens Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ "1923 Eastern Shore League (ESL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1923 Laurel Blue Hens minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1923 Eastern Shore League (ESL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1923 Eastern Shore League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "July 19, 1923: Judge Landis Day in Salisbury, MD – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ "1924 Eastern Shore League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "League Park in Laurel, DE minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Story Map Tour". salisburyu.maps.arcgis.com.
- ^ "All About Laurel Sports: Eastern Shore Baseball League", Laurel DE Historical Society Newsletter- Fall 2014 Newsletter: 8, 16 September 2014