# Cynthiana Cobblers

The Cynthiana Cobblers were a minor league baseball team based in Cynthiana, Kentucky. From 1922 to 1924, Cynthiana teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Blue Grass League, winning the 1923 league championship. Cynthiana played as the "Merchants" in 1922 and the franchise hosted minor league home games at River Road Park.

## History

The 1922 Cynthiana Merchants were the first minor league baseball team based in Cynthiana, Kentucky. The Merchants began play as members of the six–team Class D level Blue Grass League. Some sources have the 1922 team moniker as the "Philanthropists." The 1922 league franchises were the Cynthiana Merchants (34–30), Lexington Reds (28–36), Maysville Cardinals (33–28), Mount Sterling Essex (30–31), Paris Bourbons (36–28) and Winchester Dodgers (28–36).
The "Merchants" moniker was used in reference to local merchants contributing funds to purchase uniforms and equipment for the new team. The Merchants who sponsored the team had their business name(s) displayed on the backs of the Cynthiana uniforms.
Beginning play in the 1922 Blue Grass League, the Merchants won the second–half standings and advanced to the Finals. In the overall standings, Cynthiana placed third with their record of 34–30 under manager Ernest McIlvan. The Merchants finished 2.0 games behind the first place Paris Bourbons in the overall standings. The Maysville Cardinals, with a 16–6 record, won the first half standings and Cynthiana, with a 25–17 record, won the second half standings. The two teams met in a playoff series to decide the championship. In the 1922 Finals, the Maysville Cardinals defeated Cynthiana 3 games to 1 to win the championship.
Continuing play in the 1923 Blue Grass League season, the team became the "Cynthiana Cobblers" and won the league championship. With a 54–43 record, the Cobblers finished in first place under manager Bill Schumaker and were league champions. Cynthiana finished 1.0 game ahead of the second place Winchester Dodgers in the final standings of the six–team league. No playoffs were held in 1923.
The Cynthiana area had over 30 whiskey distilleries in the era. A "Cobbler" was a popular whiskey cocktail at the time.
In their final season of play, the 1924 Cynthiana Cobblers finished a close second in the final standings. With a record of 50–42 under managers Bill Schumaker and John Koval in the four–team Blue Grass League, Cynthiana finished just a 0.5 game behind the first place Paris Boosters. No playoffs were held and the Blue Grass League permanently folded after the 1924 season.
Cynthiana has not hosted another minor league team.

## The ballpark

The Cynthiana teams hosted minor league home games at River Road Park. Today, River Road Park is still in use as a public park with the ballfield. River Road Park is located at 217 Kentucky Highway 316 in Cynthiana, Kentucky.

## Timeline

| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Ballpark |
| 1922 | 1 | Cynthiana Merchants | Class D | Blue Grass League | River Road Park |
| 1923–1924 | 2 | Cynthiana Cobblers | Class D | Blue Grass League | River Road Park |

## Year–by–year records

| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
| 1922 | 34–30 | 3rd | Ernest McIlvan | Lost in Finals |
| 1923 | 54–43 | 1st | Bill Schumaker | League Champions |
| 1924 | 50–42 | 2nd | Bil Schumaker / John Koval | No playoffs held |

## Notable alumni

* Jim Mullen (1923)
* Stan Rees (1922)
* Cynthiana Cobblers players
* Cynthiana Merchants players