Wilmington Quicksteps facts for kids

The Wilmington Quicksteps were a baseball team from Wilmington, Delaware. They played in the Union Association in 1884. The team was also known as the Quickstep Club of Wilmington. They had a tough time in the Union Association, winning only 2 games and losing 16. Their manager was Joe Simmons.

The Quicksteps played their home games at Union Street Park. This park was located near Union Street and Front Street (which is now called Lancaster Avenue). Back then, this area was just outside the city limits of Wilmington. Union Street Park was used for baseball games for many years, even hosting minor league teams until the 1910s.

Early Success in the Eastern League

Before joining the Union Association, the Quicksteps were part of a different league. In 1883, a league called the Inter-State Association of Professional Baseball Clubs was started. Wilmington got its own team thanks to local investors.

In 1884, the Inter-State Association changed its name to the "Eastern League." This was one of the first "minor leagues" in baseball history. It's even considered a team that helped create today's AAA International League. The Wilmington Quicksteps were incredibly good in this league! They won so many games that other major league teams wanted to play against them in special exhibition games. The Quicksteps even beat teams like the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Monumentals during that season.

By August, the Quicksteps had already won the Eastern League championship. They had an amazing record of 50 wins and only 12 losses! But their success was so big that it made the league less exciting for fans. Even in Wilmington, only about 400 people came to watch each game.

Joining a New League

Later in the 1884 season, something big happened. Henry Lucas, who started the Union Association and owned the St. Louis Maroons, convinced the Quicksteps to join his league. This happened after another team, the Philadelphia Keystones, stopped playing.

The Quicksteps started strong in the Union Association, winning their first game 4-3 against Washington on August 18. But after that, things went downhill fast for the team.

Players Leave for More Money

Many Quicksteps players felt they could get paid more money in the new league. They started signing with other teams. For example, their shortstop and team captain, Oyster Burns, left to play for the Baltimore Monumentals for $900 a month! Outfielder Dennis Casey also left for $700 a month. Their catcher, Andy Cusick, joined the Philadelphia Phillies for $375 a month. Before this, they were only making about $150 a month in Wilmington.

The only star player who stayed with the Quicksteps was pitcher Ed "The Only" Nolan. He helped Wilmington get their second and last win against Washington. But the team couldn't recover after losing so many key players. Their batting average in the Union Association was very low, only .175. By this time, the St. Louis Maroons had already won the league championship. So, the Quicksteps were mainly just filling in for the last month of the season.

The End of the Quicksteps

On September 21, 1884, the Quicksteps were supposed to play against the Kansas City Cowboys. But before the game, manager Joe Simmons realized he couldn't pay the $60 fee needed for the visiting team. There were no fans in the stands, so there was no money from ticket sales.

Because of this, the Wilmington Quicksteps had to drop out of the Union Association. The team stopped playing. The Milwaukee Brewers took their place in the league.

Roster

See also

• Wilmington Blue Rocks
• List of professional sports teams in Delaware