{{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name = Washington Browns | firstseason = 1897 | city = Washington, Indiana | logo = | uniformlogo = | past class level = Class C | past league = Central League | pastmajorleague = Unaffiliated | nickname = Washington Browns | colors = Brown & red<br>{{color box|brown}} {{color box|red}} | ballpark = }} The '''Washington Browns''' were a minor league baseball team from Washington, Indiana, that played in the Class C Central League in 1897.
== Team history == On February 7, 1897, the Washington Browns were formed as a charter member of the Class C Central League.<ref name=In2-8-97>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46419658/central-league-organized/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Central League Organized |work=The Indianapolis Journal |location=Indianapolis |date=February 8, 1897 |accessdate=March 9, 2020 |page=5}}</ref> Joining the Browns in the six-team league were the Cairo Egyptians, Evansville Brewers, Nashville Centennials, Paducah Little Colonels, and Terre Haute Hottentots.<ref name=BRCentralLeague>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=a600becb|title=1897 Central League|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|accessdate=March 9, 2019}}</ref> Washington's uniforms were brown and red.<ref name=Am2-10-97>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46370578/billy-work-is-in-town/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Billy Work Is in Town |work=The Nashville American |location=Nashville |date=February 10, 1897 |accessdate=March 9, 2020 |page=6}}</ref>
Severe financial problems forced the Washington team to disband on July 20, 1897. With low home attendance, the local Athletic Association had contributed $12,000 to support the franchise before it folded. The entire league was facing the same financial hardships and followed suit in folding. As of July 19, 1897, the final day of play, the Browns were in third place with a 33–32 (.508) record.<ref name=Pd7-20-97>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46522485/baseball-news/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Baseball News |work=The Paducah Sun |location=Paducah, Kentucky |date=July 20, 1897 |accessdate=March 11, 2020 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-9764846|title=Looking Back: The 1897 Nashville Centennials|website=MiLB.com}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Defunct Central League (1897) teams Category:Baseball teams established in 1897 Category:Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1897 Category:Professional baseball teams in Indiana Category:1897 establishments in Indiana Category:1897 disestablishments in Indiana Category:Washington, Indiana Category:Defunct baseball teams in Indiana Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1897