Home and road jerseys for the 1914 Indianapolis Hoosiers of the Federal League.

With the professional basketball season nearing its end, and the "boys of summer" starting to get into their grooves, I decided to look into whether Indiana had professional baseball teams in the past.

Most baseball fans are aware of the Indianapolis Indians, who are the minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But have you heard of the Indianapolis Hoosiers.

No, I am not talking about the college team, but a team that played in the late 1800's.

The Hoosiers started out in the American Association in 1884, finishing in 12th place with a record of 29-78, 46 games behind the first place New York Metropolitans. Yes, those Mets.

The team folded after one season, but would return with the same name in 1887, as part of the National League.

In three seasons, the Hoosiers never finished with a winning record, registering their best year in 1889 with a record of 59-75.

They were, however, the site for the beginning of Amos Rusie's Hall of Fame career.

Rusie, who was born in Mooresville, Ind., was 17 when he made his debut with the Hoosiers, and was the catalyst for a major change in baseball.

He beaned Hughie Jennings in the head during one game, causing Jennings to be in a coma for four days, and forcing the change of how close the pitcher's mound is to home plate.

Prior to the 1893 season, the distance was increased from 55 feet to 60 feet, 6 inches, which is still in effect today.

Rusie's tenure with the Hoosiers lasted only one season as the team disbanded in 1889.

The Hoosiers would serve as a minor league team in the Western League, which was the predecessor to the current American League. When the Western League became the American League in 1901, the team was contracted.

The Hoosiers would pop up once more, in 1914, as a member of the Federal League, which was a challenger to the National and American major leagues.

They finished the year with an 88-65 record and won the Federal League Championship, but because of financial problems, the team moved to New Jersey for the next season, ending the existence of major league baseball teams in Indiana.

The Indians, who formed in 1902, are the second oldest minor-league franchise in professional sports. Only the Rochester Red Wings, of the International League, have been around longer.