Fall 1882
The Louisville Eclipse and the Worcester Ruby Legs both joined the Liberty League in 1879 and after 4 futile seasons, they have both folded. They finished 7th and 8th in the 8 team league this past season and neither team will be much missed in their hometowns as very few paid to see them play. The St. Louis Maroons and the Washington Nationals will take their spots. The Maroons are owned by 46-year-old John Kelly and the Nationals are owned by 53-year-old Levi Mayer. By most accounts, Mayer has but one virtue and that is his bank account. He's from South Carolina and reportedly has gotten into the baseball business because he can't own slaves on his cotton plantation anymore. Only Providence's Bill Cox rivals Mayer's reputation for meanness, but Cox looks like a lady school teacher next to Mayer.
All 6 teams of the Grand National Association will return for 1883 and the circuit will expand to 8 teams by adding the Baltimore Orioles and the Omaha Mutuals. The Orioles are owned by 56-year-old Aaron Collier, who, in contrast to Washington's Mayer, is reported to be one of the most pleasant gentlemen to ever own a club. Omaha is owned by 52-year-old Eddie Therrien, who is a pretty nice fellow himself according to most observers.
The Annual B League Draft was held in December. Here are the results of the first round, along with the rest of the picks by Omaha:
