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Players issue Manifesto; New league to play in 1890
November 30, 1889
The Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players issued its Manifesto stating that "players have been bought, sold, and exchanged as though they were sheep instead of American citizens." Later in the month of November the Players League was officially born, announcing an eight team league that will begin play during the 1890 season. The Players League has made it clear that they intend to 'take on' the National League, placing teams in seven of the National League cities. Several prominent stars have announced their intention of joining the new league, including John Montgomery Ward, Buck Ewing, and King Kelly.
The National League issued a rebuttal to the Manifesto, claiming that the National League saved baseball in 1876 and under the reserve system player's salaries "more than trebled". The National League denouncing the Players League as "efforts of certain overpaid players to again control for their own aggrandizement……to its ultimate dishonor and disintegration."
The American Association has yet to issue a statement, but two American Association teams have announced that they will be joining the National League in 1890, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who will become known as the Cincinnati Reds, and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. Two additional teams, the Kansas City Cowboys and Baltimore Orioles have announced they will be dropping out of the American Association, leaving the American Association with just four teams.
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