Covington Blue Sox

The Covington Blue Sox are a quick but significant part of history in Covington, Kentucky.  The Blue Sox were part of the original "rebel" sports league, the Federal League. The Federal League, much like hockey's WHA and basketball's ABA in much later years, sought to challenge the existing hold that the American Association and National League on professional baseball by creating a new league that did not abide by the same financial rules. 

The Blue Sox were originally intended to be a memeber of the Class D Blue Grass League - which we have detailed extensively - but the Cincinnati Reds blocked the move, as they were located just across the Ohio River from Covington, despite being a much bigger deal than the Class D league that was semi-pro. So, Covington joined the outlaw league. 

Covington built the team's ballpark Federal Park, also known as Riverbreeze Park, to house the Blue Sox. It was built quickly, but not quickly enough, as the Blue Sox opened their 1913 season with a number of games on the road. When they finally returned home, it was a holiday in Covington (the mayor declared it as such) and they apparently had to turn hundreds or thousands of fans away who went to the 6,000 seat ballpark. 

Unfortunately for the Blue Sox, that's as good as it would get. The team would only average a few hundred fans for the rest of their games and they would be moved to Kansas City to become the Packers in June 1913.