title: Columbus Blue Birds
text: # Columbus Blue Birds
  
  The Columbus Blue Birds were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio in 1931 and 1933.
  
  ## Founding
  
  Their name appears to have been derived from that of the Columbus Red Birds, the top-level minor league baseball team that played in the American Association from 1931 through 1954.
  
  Columbus was an associate team to the first Negro National League in $1931.^{:5}$
  
  The Blue Birds, which were one of the five founder members of the second incarnation of the Negro National League, were organized under the ownership of WJ Peebles of Columbus.
  
  Peebles was reported to have built up "a formidable aggregation" and one that was fast growing in favor in the capital city.
  
  Several players, who formerly wore the colors of the Homestead Grays and Kansas City Monarchs had been added to the Birds' roster for their first season.
  
  ## League play
  
  Columbus started the season well, but proved too weak and finished the first half of the split season in last place of the six team league with a record of 11-18.
  
  ## Demise
  
  The team was disbanded and ended up merging with the Akron Tyrites, one of the top independent Negro league teams of their day. The merged team more or less became the Cleveland Giants, which finished the season.
  
  ## Notable players
  
  Batting champion Leroy Morney and slugger Jabbo Andrews were the top stars.
  
  * Jabbo Andrews
  * Ameal Brooks
  * Bill Byrd
  * Lou Dials
  * Dizzy Dismukes
  * Leroy Morney
  * Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe
  