Kosciuszko Reds

The Kosciuskos Reds were originally founded as a semi-pro team in 1908 by Milwaukee politician Louis Fons. The team represented the Polish south side of Milwaukee. The team is named after Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish patriot. The team was nicknamed, the “Koskys.”[1]

The Kosciuskos Reds made their debut on April 11, 1909, with owner Louis Fons playing 2nd base. The Reds won multiple titles in the semi–pro Lake Shore League. The team wore red and white uniforms and drew large crowds to South Side Park, their home ballpark, with the team and league playing games only on Sunday afternoons. The original Kosciuskos Reds ceased play in 1920.[2][1]

In 1928, the Kosciuskos Reds franchise was revived and the team became members of the reformed Wisconsin State League. It appears the league held games weekly. The Kosciuskos Reds ended the 1928 season with a record of 17–15, finishing 3rd in the six–team Wisconsin State League standings, 2.5 games behind the 1st place Two Rivers Mirros. Eddie Lenehan was the Reds' manager in 1928.[3][4]

In their second Wisconsin State League season, the 1929 Kosciuskos Reds finished 8–17. The Reds finished in a tie for 7th with the Madison Blues, 5.5 games behind the 1st place Two Rivers Mirros. The 1929 Wisconsin State League expanded to eight teams.[5]

The 1930 Kosciuskos Reds played their final season. Playing in the Wisconsin State League, the Reds finished the 1930 season with a record of 9–15, 7th in the league final standings, 4.5 games behind the 1st place Racine Belles.[6][7]

For the 1931 Wisconsin State League season, the Milwaukee-based franchise became known as the Milwaukee Red Sox. The Milwaukee Red Sox were owned and managed by Eddie Stumpf, who had earlier managed the 1928 Union Oils, another Milwaukee-based franchise of the Wisconsin State League. The 1931 Milwaukee Red Sox finished 4th in the Wisconsin State League, which featured five teams. The 1931 Milwaukee team finished with a record of 8–10, 3.5 games behind the Champion Sheboygan Chairmakers.[8][9][10][11][12]

In May, 1931 Milwaukee Red Sox owner/manager Eddie Stumpf arranged for the Red Sox to play a night game exhibition contest against the House of David baseball team at Borchert Field. The Milwaukee Red Sox borrowed lighting from the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues for the contest. The game was held on June 5, 1931 and the night game followed the Milwaukee Brewers (American Association) afternoon game. Baseball Hall of Fame member Grover Cleveland Alexander pitched for the House of David team against the Milwaukee Red Sox in front of a crowd of 8,000.[13]

In 1932, the Wisconsin State League became the Wisconsin-Illinois League. The nine–team integrated league featured the Milwaukee Red Sox. The Milwaukee Red Sox finished 11–14, in 6th place. The Red Sox finished 7.0 games behind the Champion Harley Mills (Chicago). The Milwaukee franchise folded after the 1932 season, there was no Milwaukee based team in the 1933 Wisconsin-Illinois League.[14]

The Milwaukee Red Sox continued play in semi-pro leagues in 1933–1935. On June 11, 1935, the Red Sox played an exhibition game against a team of Japanese all-stars at Borchert Field, with Eddie Stumpf continuing as owner/manager. Attendance at the game was 1,400 and the Japanese All-Stars, aka Tokyo Giants with Eiji Sawamura won the game 9–4.[15]

The Milwaukee Red Sox returned to play in the 1936 Wisconsin State League, their final minor league season. The four–team league played a split–season schedule. The Milwaukee Red Sox finished with a record of 1–9 (4th place) in the first half and 2–3 (3rd place) in the second half of the split schedule. The Red Sox' 3–12 overall record finished in 4th place.[16][17]

The Kosciuskos Reds' original home ballpark was South Side Park in Milwaukee. The ballpark, also called Grove Street Park, opened in 1912. The ballpark had grandstands that could seat 5,000. Harrison street ran south of the ballpark and it was near St. Josaphat's Basilica. South Side Park was torn down in 1920.[1][2][18]

The minor league Kosciuskos Reds and Milwaukee Red Sox played at Borchert Field. Originally called "Athletic Park," the ballpark was built in 1888 for $40,000. The ballpark was renamed after the death of Milwaukee Brewers owner Otto Borchert in 1927. Besides the Reds, Borchert Field also hosted the Milwaukee Creams (1888–1894), Milwaukee Brewers (AA) (1891), Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team) (1902–1952), Milwaukee Bears (Negro National League) (1923) and the Milwaukee Chicks of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1944). The ballpark also hosted home National Football League games of the Milwaukee Badgers (1922–1926) and Green Bay Packers (1933). In 1952, Mrs. Borchert sold the ballpark property to the city for $123,000 and it was soon cleared to make way for nearby roadway construction. The address of the ballpark was 3000 North 8th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Today, I-43 runs through the site of Borchert Field. A Borchert Field historical placard has been erected in the nearby neighborhood.[1][2][19][20][21][22][18]

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