[Lafayette53]

Interlude: The Federal League - The Rest

Detroit Robins

Former Names: None
Pennants: 5 - 1911, 1926-1928, 1936
Columbia Series: 1 - 1927

For the 50 years of the CBA's existence the Robins have mostly been content to fine tune their roster a bit and finish in the second division. Aside from a very solid dynasty during the late twenties the Robins have been a mediocre product on the field and Detroit has largely been content to ignore them. Nonetheless its important not to mistake the lack of fans during the lean years for lack of a potentially loyal support base- during the late 1920's the Robins almost became the second team to draw one million fans in a season three times. Nonetheless for the last decade or so Detroit has been forced to pay more attention to Hockey than Baseball.

Some of the interests involved in Detroit's ownership have begun advocating relocation to Milwaukee or Kansas City as potential cures to their woes on the field and at the gate. The Federal League owners as a whole have been firmly against allowing this, as they worry abandoning a strong market like Detroit for one of considerable less influence could trigger Congress to take action against the league. Nonetheless some believe the end of the wartime travel restrictions may open the minds, and wallets, of Federal League ownerhship to the prospect of the Robins leaving town.


Chicago Colts


Former Names: None
Pennants: 5 - 1903, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1945
Columbia Series: 3 - 1903, 1933, 1945

The Colts are the oldest team in Chicago, with team history placing their founding in the early 1880's. Nonetheless the Colts have not adapted well to the modern era. After a stretch of bottom dwelling from 1906 to 1930 which allowed the crosstown rival Packers to overtake them, the Colts are clearly the second favorite of the city despite having existed for nearly twenty more years.

Recently the Colts have begun to have a bit of onfield success and many believe this could be an important turning point for them as millions of young men return from the war hungry for good baseball to watch.

Behind the scenes the Colts ownership group is known to be influential in league politics. Supposedly they were the hand that stopped the Federal League's former St. Louis Saints from moving to Milwaukee and cutting into their potential fan base.

Philadelphia White Sox

Former Names: Philadelphia White Stockings (1900-1903), Philadelphia Stars (1904)
Pennants: 1 - 1934
Columbia Series: 0
The Philadelphia White Sox are different from the other bottom rung teams. They've consistently finished in the top division year-after-year, but have only one pennant to show for their dedication to actually fielding competitive teams.

Luckily for the White Sox their crosstown rival Keystones have been even more hapless, but the complete lack of success has led ownership to consider selling the team to West Coast interests in hopes of reversing whatever hex was placed on their team. Recent sliding up and down between the fourth and fifth place hasn't inspired confidence for the Philadelphia faithful either.

Baltimore Bombers

Former Names: St. Louis Maroons (1901-1915), St. Louis Saints (1916-1928, 1931), St. Louis Lions (1929-1930), Baltimore Canaries (1932-1933)
Pennants: 0
Columbia Series: 0

The former Federal League St. Louis entry spent years tanking at the bottom of the league without even a prayer at a Pennant. In 32 seasons in St. Louis under a variety of monikers their highest finish was third place.

In 1931 the team slipped to eighth yet again and drew just 136,940 fans with the the fruits of Hooverism in full force. With the team potentially being forced to fold the league took the Saints into receivership and relocated them to Baltimore for the 1932 season. After finding new ownership in a new city the Bombers have put together several first division finishes, but still have yet to capture that elusive pennant.