{{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name =Winchester Dodgers | firstseason =1922 | lastseason =1924 | allyears = | city =Winchester, Kentucky | logo = | uniformlogo = | class level =Class D (1922–1924) | league =Blue Grass League (1922–1924) | majorleague =None | nickname =Winchester Dodgers (1922–1924) | ballpark =Garner's Park (1922–1924) | classnum = | classchamps = | leaguenum =0 | leaguechamps =None | confnum = | conferencechamps = | divnum = | divisionchamps = | wildcardnum = | wildcardberths = }} The '''Winchester Dodgers''' were a minor league baseball team based in Winchester, Kentucky. From 1922 to 1924, the Dodgers played exclusively as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League, having been preceded in the league by the 1908 to 1912 Winchester Hustlers. Winchester hosted home games at Garner's Park.
==History==
The Dodgers were immediately preceded in minor league play by the 1912 Winchester Hustlers, who played a partial season as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League before relocating during the season to eventually become the Mt. Sterling Orphans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1912 Winchester Hustlers/Nicholasville Orphans/Mount St Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=514273ef|title=1912 Blue Grass League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Blue Grass League folded following the 1912 season and did not return to play until 1922.<ref name="encyc"/>
After a decade absence, the 1922 Winchester Dodgers resumed play as members of the six–team, Class D level Blue Grass League, which reformed.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-wd15421/y-1922|title=1922 Winchester Dodgers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> The Cynthiana Merchants, Lexington Reds, Maysville Cardinals, Mount Sterling Essex and Paris Bourbons joined Winchester in beginning league play on April 23, 1922.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-BLGR/y-1922|title=1922 Blue Grass League (BGL) on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc">{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first2=Miles |editor-last2=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}</ref>
Beginning play in the 1922 Blue Grass League, the Dodgers finished in a tie for last place.<ref name="auto"/> In the overall standings, Winchester placed fifth with their record of 28–36 under managers Walter Van Winkle and Howie Camnitz.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1922 Winchester Dodgers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Dodgers and the Lexington Reds ended the season with identical records and finished 8.0 games behind the first place Paris Bourbons in the overall standings, with neither team reaching the playoff. In the 1922 Finals, Maysville defeated Cynthiana to win the championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dtermanpresents.com/baseball-grab-bag/the-blue-grass-league-1922-1924|title=Donald Terman Presents - The Blue Grass League, 1922-1924|website=www.dtermanpresents.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
Continuing play in the 1923 Blue Grass League season, the Dodgers finished in as the league runner-up.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1923 Winchester Dodgers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> With a 53–44 record, the Dodgers finished in second place under manager Pat Devereaux.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-wd15421/y-1923|title=1923 Winchester Dodgers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> Winchester finished just 1.0 game behind the first place Cynthiana Cobblers in the final standings of the six–team league. No playoffs were held in 1923.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=10d8bc00|title=1923 Blue Grass League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
In their final season of play, the 1924 Winchester Dodgers finished last in the final standings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1924 Winchester Dodgers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> With a record of 43–51 under manager George Bell in the four–team Blue Grass League, Winchester finished in fourth place, ending the season 8.0 games behind the first place Paris Boosters. No playoffs were held.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-wd15421/y-1924|title=1924 Winchester Dodgers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/> Pitcher Weldon of Winchester led the Blue Grass League with a 14–3 record.<ref name="encyc"/>
The Blue Grass League permanently folded after the 1924 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=d08c417e|title=1924 Blue Grass League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Winchester has not hosted another minor league team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Winchester, Kentucky Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
==The ballpark== Winchester teams hosted minor league home games at '''Garner's Park'''. The ballpark had a capacity of 1,000 and was noted to be near the business district in Winchester.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Garner's Park in Winchester, KY minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com |url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2939 |website=www.statscrew.com |language=en}}</ref> Today, "College Park" is in use as a public park, with a playing field and amenities, located at the end of Garner Street. College Park is located at 30 Wheeler Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visitwinchesterky.com/contact/college-park/|title=College Park|website=Visit Winchester Kentucky}}</ref>
==Timeline== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;" ! Year(s) !! # Yrs. !! Team !! Level !! League!!Ballpark |- |1922–1924|| 3 || Winchester Dodgers ||Class D ||Blue Grass League||Garner's Park |- |}
==Year–by–year records== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background: #F2F2F2;" ! Year !! Record !! Finish !! Manager !! Playoffs |- align=center | 1922 || 28–36 ||5th (t)|| Walter Van Winkle / Howie Camnitz || Did not qualify |- align=center | 1923|| 55–44 || 2nd || Pat Devereaux || No playoff held |- align=center | 1924 || 43–51|| 4th || George Bell || No playoffs held |- align=center |}
==Notable alumni== *Howie Camnitz (1922, MGR) * Walter Van Winkle (1922, MGR), (1924)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Winchester&state=KY&country=US Winchester - Baseball Reference]
Category:Professional baseball teams in Kentucky Category:Defunct baseball teams in Kentucky Category:Baseball teams established in 1922 Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1924 Category:Blue Grass League teams Category:1922 establishments in Kentucky Category:1924 disestablishments in Kentucky Category:Winchester, Kentucky