BASEBALL MONTHLY
V. 11.10
December 1881
Profesional Baseball Doubles Itself!
In an unprecedented move, and by some opinions a risky move, the most popular sport in America is advancing itself, in fact double in size. After lenghty meetings for the past weeks, the league will restructure itself to 8 teams per division with a total of 16.
"It is a historic day in the game of baseball," said the league president, "a great day for fans throughout the country and a great day for the game itself."
The league will expand as follows:
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
Philadelphia Athletics
Cleveland Blues
Baltimore Orioles
Louisville Eclipse (old St. Louis Browns)
Washington Nationals (new)
Detroit Wolverines (new)
Chicago White Sox (new)
Boston Americans (new)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Chicago White Stockings
St. Louis Brown Stockings (new)
Cincinnati Red Stockings
Brooklyn Atlantics
Boston Red Caps
Pittsburgh Alleghenys (new)
Philadelphia Quakers (new)
New York Gotham (new)
Four new cities are entering profesional play (Pittsburgh, Detroit, Washington, and Louisville) and four cities are adding another pro team to an existing market (Chicago, New York, Phildelphia, and Boston).
There is incredible excitement in the new cities as the pro game advances itself. The next step for the league will be an expansion draft to fill these new teams with some pro talent to make the play on the field hopefully more competitive. It was also announced that each existing team will be allowed to protect 12 players on their roster.
The Chicago White protected the following 12 players:
3B Cap Anson
2B Fred Dunlap
SP Al Spalding
OF Pete Hotaling
P Hugh Campbell
P John Cassidy
1B John Reily
3B Ned Williamson
SP George Derby
C Ed Whiting
3B Mike Muldoon
RF Chief Roseman
The Whites did not protect two players that many thought that they would, short stop George Wright and outfielder Mike Dorgan.