The team was organized in 1879 as the Worcester Baseball Association, and joined the minor league National Association.[6] The team was profitable, successful against rival teams, and did well against NL teams in exhibition games. After the season, team management turned their attention on the NL, and pursued the slot vacated by the departing Syracuse Stars.[2][7] The team was voted into the NL by a majority of the owners, and in 1880, the team began their first season. The manager of the team, Frank Bancroft, and many of the players stayed with the team when it joined the NL, including pitchersLee Richmond and Tricky Nichols, and position players Arthur Irwin, Doc Bushong, Charlie Bennett, and Chub Sullivan.[8] On June 12, Richmond threw the first perfect game in major league history, against the Cleveland Blues.[9]Harry Stovey, in his first major league season, led the league in triples and home runs.[10] However, the Ruby Legs were, in turn, no-hit on August 20 by Pud Galvin of the Buffalo Bisons, becoming the first team to be no-hit at home.[9] They played 85 games in their first season, and had a win–loss record of 40 wins, 43 losses, with 2 ties, finishing fifth in the league.[4]
Before the 1881 season, the Worcester team experienced several setbacks. Bancroft departed as their manager, and many of the players also left the team. Mike Dorgan replaced Bancroft and served as player-manager, while Hick Carpenter and Pete Hotaling were brought in as player replacements.[11][12] Further complications arose during the season: the popular Sullivan was sick with tuberculosis, and on August 19, shortstop Irwin broke his leg. This presented a problem for that day's game, because his backup, Buttercup Dickerson, was also injured at the time.[12] As a solution, local sports equipment dealer Martin "Flip" Flaherty was used to help field a full team.[12] Matters did not improve the following month: Lip Pike was accused of conspiring to throw baseball games, and was later expelled by the NL, and Sullivan succumbed to tuberculosis.[12] To commemorate their teammate, the team wore a black crape on their sleeve, which began baseball's tradition of honoring the recently deceased in this manner.[12][13] Dorgan departed the team before the season ended, and Stovey took over the on-field managerial duties, while also continuing his playing role. The team finished with a record of 32 wins, 50 losses, with 1 tie, finishing last among the eight teams in the league.[4][12]
In 1882, the team's decline continued, and the pitchers began to complain of exhaustion and accused management of overuse.[12] A second consecutive last-place finish, along with declining talent, their fans stopped attending home games, with attendance numbers averaging 50 paid spectators.[12]John Clarkson, who went on to win 328 games in a 12-season career, and was the only Hall of Famer to have played for the franchise, began his career for the 1881 Ruby Legs.[14] When the season ended, the NL decided to drop the team from the league, replacing them with the Philadelphia Quakers, who later became the Phillies.[1][15]
Doc Bushong split time at catcher in Worcester's first season, but became the starter for the final two.John Clarkson began his Hall of Fame career with the 1882 Worcester team.Arthur Irwin was the starting shortstop for the first two seasons, then switch over to third base for most of the 1882 season.Harry Stovey played in all three of the club's seasons.
He was a reserve outfielder in 1880, but started in left field for the 1881 season. He is credited as being the first Italian-American to appear in a major league game.
Nicknamed "Flip", he was the owner of a local sporting goods retailer who, due to injuries, came out of the stands to play, and he struck out in two at bats. It was the only major league game in which he appeared.
He played in all three seasons, usually as the starting shortstop, with the Ruby Legs. He was the brother of John Irwin, who played for this franchise in 1882.
His career had ended after the 1878 season, when in 1881, he joined the Ruby Legs for five games. He is credited as being the first great Jewish baseball player.
He was the Ruby Legs' number one starting pitcher for all three seasons. He won 32 games in 1880, and 25 in 1881, and he threw the major leagues' first perfect game.
^"Buttercup Dickerson". niashf.org. The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
^Schaefer, Robert H. (2002–2009). "The Biography Project: Lip Pike". bioproj.sabr.org. The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) & The Respective Authors. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
