1880—The League, now calling itself the National Base Ball League (“baseball” wouldn’t be standardized as one word until later), awarded Cleveland a franchise, which became known as the Blues.
Another great pennant race thrilled the fans of Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, and Philadelphia; the ’Cels and ’Stones stayed in contention until the final week, and for the second year in a row, the Haymakers found themselves tied with a team from the East on the eve of the first game of their final three-game series. This time the Knicks, who won 12 of their last 14 games, quelled the suspense by taking the first two games of the series to clinch the flag with a game to spare.
The Knicks’ Marty Paine won the batting title, hitting .340, while teammate Tom Sanders led the loop in ERA (1.53) and victories (36). The second no-hitter—and first perfect game—in league history was thrown by Cincinnati’s John Smith on August 8 vs. Buffalo.
It was an exciting season, and attendance was generally good, but it was not to be a smooth transition into 1881. Among League President Hubert Williams’ strictest edicts was the prohibition of alcohol sales at league games; when the Excelsiors were revealed to have allowed beer to be sold at Seven Hills Park, Williams removed them from the league, a maneuver that would have consequences far beyond the city of Cincinnati.
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