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{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name = Portland Colts
| firstseason = 1909 
| lastseason = 1914
| allyears = {{baseball year|1909}}, {{baseball year|1911}}, {{baseball year|1912}}, {{baseball year|1913}}, {{baseball year|1914}}
| city = Portland, Oregon
| logo = 
| uniformlogo = Portland Pippins, 1911.jpg
| past class level = [[Class B (baseball)|Class B]]
| league = {{plainlist|
* Portland Beavers {{small|(unofficial)}} (1909, 1911–14)
* [[Northwestern League (1905–17)|Northwestern League]] (1909, 1911–14)
}}
| conference = 
| division = 
| past league = 
| pastmajorleague = [[Cleveland Indians]] {{small|(unofficial)}} (1911–14)
| pastnames = 
| pastparks = {{plainlist|
*[[Vaughn Street Park]] (1909, 1911–14)
*McKenna Park {{small|(hosted exhibition games in 1911)}}
}}
| classchamps = 
| leaguechamps = ''None''
| conferencechamps =  
| divisionchamps = 
}}
The '''Portland Colts''' were a [[minor league baseball]] team based in [[Portland, Oregon]] for five seasons (1909, 1911–14) in the [[Class B (baseball)|Class B]] [[Northwestern League (1905–17)|Northwestern League]]. The Colts served as an unofficial farm team for the [[Portland Beavers]] and the [[Cleveland Indians]].<ref name="The Portland Beavers (1)">{{cite book |last1=Carlson |first1=Kip |last2=Andresen |first2=Paul |title=The Portland Beavers |date=September 1, 2004 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=0-7385-3266-5 |page=15 |chapter=1}}</ref> The Colts and Beavers shared [[Vaughn Street Park]].<ref name="The Portland Beavers (1)"/> The franchise was established in 1909 by [[William Wallace McCredie]], who was the owner of the Beavers and a sitting [[United States House of Representatives|Congressman]]. The team was disbanded after their first season, with McCredie selling several players to the Beavers. McCredie originally said he did not want to run two teams, but changed his mind in 1911 when he placed a bid for a Northwestern League franchise. The league penalized McCredie with a US$1,000 re-entry fee and adopted new rules when it came to selling players from your team.

In 1911, the Portland team was not officially named, but the "Colts" nickname returned at the start of the 1912 season. The Colts had two managers over their five seasons, Pearl Casey (1909) and Nick Williams (1911–14). Towards the end of the 1914 season, McCredie sold the team to [[timber]] mogul [[Quinn Farr]] who relocated the team to his native [[Ballard, Washington]] and changed their name to the [[Ballard Pippins]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=29758 |title=1914 Portland Colts/Ballard Pippins |publisher=Baseball-Reference |access-date=2009-11-25}}</ref> [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] members [[Harry Heilmann]] and [[Dave Bancroft]] played for the Colts. Several other [[Major League Baseball]] alumni graced the Colts roster throughout their five seasons of existence. Aside from playing in the Northwestern League the Colts also played several exhibition games including one during the 1913 season against the [[Chicago American Giants]] of the [[Negro league baseball|Negro leagues]].

==History==
Before the start of the 1909 season, the Colts held their training camp in [[Ashland, Oregon]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Prospects good for ball season; Coast League teams are in fine trim for the opening games Tuesday|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=29 March 1909|location=Medford, Oregon|page=5|first=W. J|last=Petrain}}</ref> The team toured several [[Oregon]] towns including [[Jacksonville, Oregon|Jacksonville]] and [[Grants Pass, Oregon|Grants Pass]] and played baseball teams composed of locals.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mac Rae|first=Will G.|title=Colts Win Again. Take Game before Crowd at Jacksonville, 7 to 1|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=3 April 1909|location=Medford, Oregon|page=12}}</ref> The Colts first game was played on April 4, 1909 against the [[Seattle Turks]] at [[Dugdale Field]] in front of 8,000 attendees. Seattle defeated Portland, 5–2.<ref>{{cite news|title=Big crowds see opening games; Northwestern League makes fine start; Seattle defeats Portland|newspaper=The Oregonian|place=Seattle, Washington|date=5 April 1909}}</ref> The Colts home opener in Portland was held [[Doubleheader (baseball)|before]] the [[Portland Beavers]] home opener on May 11, 1909 at [[Vaughn Street Park]]. The games would be preceded by a parade for each teams. The Colts parade consisted of 60 automobiles. [[John F. Carroll]] threw out the [[ceremonial first pitch]] to [[district attorney]] George G. Cameron.<ref>{{cite news|title=Northerners to open here today; Casey's men will try conclusions with Tacoma if weather permits|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=11 May 1909 |page=7}}</ref> The Colts won their home opener 3–2 against the [[Tacoma Tigers]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Petrain|first=W. J.|title=Colts start off in proper manner; Win first game of Northwestern season here by 3-to-2 score|date=11 May 1909|newspaper=The Oregonian |page=7}}</ref> The [[Northwestern League (1905–17)|Northwestern League]] teams, including Portland, started attracting gamblers who made wagers on the games at local tobacco stores.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mac Rae|first=Will|title=Vancouver fine baseball town; Will Mac Rac tells of Colts trip to northern city where Sunday games are taboo|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=16 May 1909|location=Vancouver, British Columbia|page=4}}</ref> In August 1909, the Colts traded Bill Chenault, [[Phil Cooney (baseball)|Phil Cooney]] and Tom Murray to the [[Pacific Coast League]] (PCL) Portland Beavers in exchange for [[Charlie Armbruster]] and Dick Breen.<ref>{{cite news|last=Petrain|first=W. J.|title=Beavers absorb trio from Colts. Cooney, Chenault and Murray to play|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=16 August 1909|location=Portland, Oregon|page=12}}</ref> For the entire 1909 season, Pearl Casey served as the Colts [[player-manager]] and led the club to a 79–88 [[win–loss record|record]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Farce ends game; Will Mac Rae protesting put on bench in Spokane|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=4 October 1909 |page=15}}</ref> In January 1910, the Colts owner [[William W. McCredie]], who also owned the Beavers, decided to disband the team due to the strain of managing two teams playing on the same field. McCredie did claim that the Portland Colts turned a profit in their first season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Petrain|first=W. J.|title=Dropping of club business action Northwestern team made but slight money for McCredie so cut was made|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=2 January 1910 |page=5}}</ref> The president of the league, William H. Lucas, said he was disappointing that Portland was abandoning its efforts to keep their second minor league team. He subsequently announced he was moving the league offices from the city of Portland to a city that housed a Northwest League team.<ref>{{cite news|last=Petrain|first=W. J.|title=Lucas compelled to quit Portland Northwestern League chief hates to leave good city|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=13 January 1910 |page=7}}</ref>

Despite giving the Northwestern League franchise up in 1910, William W. McCredie looked to return a second team to Portland for the 1911 season. It was agreed upon by the league after Portland paid a US$1,000 entry fee. To avoid conflicts with Pacific Coast League games played at Vaughn Street Park the Northwestern League agreed to let PCL games get higher priority if any scheduling errors arose. McCredie agreed to a waiver clause that stated if he was to disband his team again, other Northwestern League teams would be able to buy their players before an outside league. The reason for this rule was because McCredie dumped all of his players from the 1909 season, even adding some to his PCL team for discounted prices.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Harry B.|title=Hetling case is sent up higher; Portland to have two teams next year|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=21 October 1910 |page=10}}</ref> The team held work outs at [[University of Portland|Columbia University]] before the start of the 1911 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Team gets "Gym"; Williams' Northwestern boys train at Columbia|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=24 February 1911 |page=8}}</ref> Due to conflicts with the PCL schedule, the Northwestern League team played 15 weeks in other cities as opposed to nine weeks at home in 1911.<ref>{{cite news|title=Team long on road Portland to see but 9 weeks of Northwestern ball|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=26 February 1911 |page=9}}</ref> Portland played at [[McKenna Park]] in the [[University Park, Portland, Oregon|University Park]] neighborhood on Sunday exhibition games during the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Seals win twice San Francisco defeats Hanford and Reds|newspaper=The Oregonain|date=27 February 1911|location=Portland, Oregon|page=11}}</ref>

At the end of the 1912 Northwestern League season the Colts played an exhibition game against the Portland Beavers at Vaughn Street Park.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beavers vs. Colts is novel schedule; Portland's Class AA and Class B teams to clash September 30; Victoria here tomorrow|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=28 July 1912 |page=3}}</ref> Colts owner William W. McCredie requested an exhibition game be played against the [[Negro league baseball|Negro league]] [[Chicago American Giants]] in 1913. Later, the Northwestern League scheduled every team in the league play an exhibition game against the Negro league team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Negroes plan iour; American Giants to meet Colts in Portland; Comparison is possible|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=21 March 1913 |page=14}}</ref> In 1914, the Colts held their annual training camp in [[Santa Rosa, California]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Practice schedule of Colts is fixed; Williams to break camp on March 23 and play on way north|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=14 March 1914 |page=6}}</ref> During the 1914 mid-season, McCredie sold the Colts to [[timber]] mogul [[Quinn Farr]] who announced his intention of relocation the team to [[Ballard, Seattle, Washington|Ballard, Washington]]. The reason for the sale of the team, McCredie claimed, was due to the fact Portland's franchise was going to be revoked for the 1915 season because opponents travel expenses to the city were too high.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fielders Jones to resign, is belief; Sale of Colts may cause demand for man from another city to head league|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=20 July 1914 |page=8}}</ref>

==Notable players==
{{multiple image
| align     = right
| direction = vertical
| header_align = right
| footer_align = right

| image1   = Harry Heilmann.jpg
| width1   = 200
| alt1     = 
| caption1 = [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] member Harry Heilmann played for the Portland Colts during the 1913 season

| image2   = Bancroftbaseballcard.jpg
| width2   = 200
| alt2     = 
| caption2 = Dave Bancroft played three years in [[Portland, Oregon]], one with the Colts.

| image3   = Ed Pinnance.png
| width3   = 200
| alt3     = 
| caption3 = Ed Pinnance, the first [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] to play in [[Major League Baseball]], was a member of the Colts in 1909.
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| {{small|HOF}}
| Indicates a member of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]].
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Position
! Year(s)
! Ref
|-
| bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|[[Dave Bancroft]] {{small|HOF}}
| [[Shortstop]]
| {{baseball year|1913}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bancro001dav|title=Dave Bancroft|work=baseball-reference.com|publisher=Baseball-Reference|access-date=2009-11-25}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jack Bradley (baseball)|Jack Bradley]]
| [[Catcher]]
| {{baseball year|1911}}
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Jack Bradley Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bradle003joh|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ray Callahan (baseball)|Ray Callahan]]
| [[Pitcher]]
| {{baseball year|1912}}
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ray Callahan Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=callah001ray|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Al Carson
| Pitcher
| 1913
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Carson Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=carson001alb|work=Basketball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jack Fournier]]
| [[First baseman]]
| {{baseball year|1909}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=fourni001joh|title=Jack Fournier|work=baseball-reference.com|publisher=Baseball-Reference|access-date=2009-11-25}}</ref>
|-
| [[Howie Haworth]]
| Catcher
| 1914
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Howie Haworth Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hawort001hom|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|[[Harry Heilmann]] {{small|HOF}}
| [[Outfielder]]
| 1913
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=heilma001har|title=Harry Heilmann|work=baseball-reference.com|publisher=Baseball-Reference|access-date=2009-11-25}}</ref>
|-
| [[Oscar Jones]]
| Pitcher
| {{baseball year|1914}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jones-002osc|title=Oscar Jones|work=baseball-reference.com|publisher=Baseball-Reference|access-date=2009-11-25}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jack Kibble]]
| [[Infielder]]
| 1912
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Jack Kibble Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=53f970e4|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ed Kinsella]]
| Pitcher
| 1909
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ed Kinsella Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=kinsel001edw|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Fred Lamlein]]
| Pitcher
| 1911
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Fred Lamlein Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lamlin001fre|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Chris Mahoney (baseball)|Chris Mahoney]]
| Outfielder
| 1912
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Chris Mahoney Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mahone001chr|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Carl Mays]]
| Pitcher
| 1913
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mays--001car|title=Carl Mays|work=baseball-reference.com|publisher=Baseball-Reference|access-date=2009-11-25}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kid Mohler]]
| [[Second baseman]]
| 1913
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Kid Mohler Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mohler001kid|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Charlie Mullen]]
| First baseman
| 1909
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mullen001cha|title=Charlie Mullen|work=baseball-reference.com|publisher=Baseball-Reference|access-date=2009-11-25}}</ref>
|-
| [[Milo Netzel]]
| Outfielder
| 1913–14
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Milo Netzel Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=netzel001mil|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ned Pettigrew]]
| Outfielder
| 1911
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ned Pettigrew Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=pettig001jim|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ed Pinnance]]
| Pitcher
| 1909
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Ed Pinnance Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=pinnan001edw|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tom Seaton]]
| Pitcher
| 1909
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=seaton001tho|title=Tom Seaton|work=baseball-reference.com|publisher=Baseball-Reference|access-date=2009-11-25}}</ref>
|-
| [[Buck Stanley]]
| Pitcher
| 1913
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Buck Stanley Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=stanle001joh|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jesse Stovall]]
| First baseman
| 1911
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Jesse Stovall Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=stoval001jes|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>
|}

==Records==

===Single-season records===
''This is a list of leaders of single-season statistics for the Portland Colts.''

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Player
!Category
!Record
|-
|{{baseball year|1913}}
|[[Harry Heilmann]]
|[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|.305
|-
|{{baseball year|1911}}
|Howard Mundorff
|[[hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|184
|-
|{{baseball year|1912}}
|Edward Fries
|[[At-bats]]
|660
|-
|{{baseball year|1911}}
|Howard Mundorff
|[[double (baseball)|Doubles]]
|36
|-
|{{baseball year|1912}}
|Bill Speas
|[[Triple (baseball)|Triples]]
|11
|-
|{{baseball year|1912}}
|Lee Strait
|[[Home runs]]
|21
|-
|{{baseball year|1909}}
|Ed Kinsella
|[[Win (baseball)|Wins]]
|23
|-
|{{baseball year|1909}},<br>{{baseball year|1914}}
|Ed Pinnance,<br>Elmer Leonard
|[[Loss (baseball)|Losses]]
|18
|}

==See also==
*[[History of baseball in Portland, Oregon]]
*[[Portland Beavers]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*Team statistics and information at [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=29657 Baseball-Reference]
{{Baseball teams based in Portland, Oregon}}

[[Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams]]
[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Oregon]]
[[Category:Defunct baseball teams in Oregon]]
[[Category:Portland Beavers]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:1914 disestablishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 1909]]
[[Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1914]]
[[Category:Northwestern League teams]]