A National League Divided: The National Association 1876-

[Haystacks]

A National League Divided: The National Association

“...The gentlemen assembled in Chicago have done wisely to divide the nation’s clubs into Eastern and Western associations. The folly of dispatching ball clubs from Boston to St. Louis and back again shall no longer ruin the sport. Henceforth, the National Game shall be played within sensible distance, and prosperity shall follow...” - Chicago Times, December 18, 1875.

1875 saw the Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP) unceremoniously collapse. A lack of a central authority, clubs unfulfilling schedules that were poorly organised and travel plans that were costly to implement, all were major factors in the inevitable failure of the first fully-professional sports league in baseball.

Out of the ashes a phoenix was to rise. William Hulbert of the Chicago club was not shy about the failings of the NAPBBP and had long been drawing up plans for a future association of professional baseball clubs. Joined by Morgan Bulkeley of the Hartford club and Arthur Soden of Boston, Hulbert coordinated a series of meetings with business magnates and club owners throughout the fall and winter months, he sold them on his vision for a new league founded on the principles of honest dealings, and business integrity. He also proposed a more orderly game on the field through prohibitions on drinking, gambling, and Sunday baseball, and more definite organization off it through limiting membership to cities of 75,000 inhabitants or more, and mandating teams to complete a predetermined schedule. Bulkeley, with concern for his own interests in Hartford, is credited with proposing two leagues, equal and aligned, but geographically seperate, a Western League and Eastern League. Bulkeley was able to convince the prospective members that two geographical leagues were essential to reducing travel costs, ensuring financial security for owners and a reduction in the risk of the schedules collapsing.

The founding of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs was announced to the world, December 18, 1875 in Chicago. The charter clubs unanimously agreed to a 70 game schedule, starting in early May and concluding in early October. Each team plays one another 14 times, the season will culminate in a 9 game National Championship series, where the winner of each league face off to be crowned champions of the nation.

1876 Charter Clubs

A note: I want to acknowledge and thank the world builders and contributors of https://legacy-baseball.com/ - it is their Eastern and Western League structure that acted as inspiration in creating this fictional league.

[Haystacks]

Eastern League

Brooklyn Atlantic Club

Also known as the Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn, the Atlantics were the first champions and dynasty in baseball. The culmination of their success was an invitation to the White House in 1865 from President Andrew Johnson.

The club’s fortunes on the field declined whilst members of the NAPBBP; however, they remain a stable club off the field, making them a natural choice as one of the Eastern League’s charter teams.

Ballpark: Washington Park

Star player: George Zettlein, pitcher — at 31, George is a well-established and respected hurler in baseball circles, although he is prone to complain of aches and pains. If the Brooklyn club are to be successful, they will no doubt rely on Zettlein’s ability to deny hitters solid contact.
(In reality, George Zettlein left the Atlantics in 1870.)

New York Mutuals

Formed by firefighters of New YorkÂ’s Mutual Hook and Ladder Company Number One, the Mutuals have been credited with creating the concept of spring training, sending the team to New Orleans in 1869 to prepare for the season, adopting professionalism shortly after by 1870.

The Mutuals have finally moved to the Polo Grounds, having until now only played games in Hoboken — at this point not considered part of New York City.

Ballpark: Polo Grounds

Star players: Catcher James Taylor, 30 — excellent contact with the bat and a dependable backstop. First baseman Thomas Jackson, 31 — known to hit the ball farther than any other man on the team; Jackson’s ability to hit long will be vital to the Mutuals’ run scoring.

Hartford Dark Blues

Baseball fever has recently gripped Hartford. Upon hearing of talk regarding the formation of a national professional league, a group of local businessmen led by Morgan Bulkeley leased land to build a baseball field and covered grandstands. Bulkeley’s business acumen appeared invaluable to Chicago’s William Hulbert as he set about establishing a new league; this secured Hartford’s place as a charter club.

Ballpark: Hartford Ball Club Grounds

Star player: Lemuel Thompson, RF, 24 — Thompson was considered a top outfielder in amateur circles; solid defensively with an excellent ability to hit the ball in the gap, he looks sure to have a fruitful professional career ahead of him.

Boston Red Stockings

The Boston club owes itself to the Cincinnati Red Stockings, established in 1869 as the first openly all-professional baseball team. After dissolving in 1870, player-manager Harry Wright went to Boston, Massachusetts with his brother George Wright and two other Cincinnati players, forming the Boston Red Stockings — a charter member of the now-defunct NAPBBP and now of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs.

Harry Wright now manages the club, whilst his younger brother is considered a solid shortstop and above-average hitter.

Ballpark: South End Grounds

Star player: Wyatt Green, LF, 25 — although considered sloppy defensively, Green's ability with the bat will surely make him a contender for the batting title.

Providence Grays

Rhode Island has been a hotbed for baseball, especially within the collegiate scene. The Grays have been considered a top semi-professional team and have been keen to make the move to full professionalism.

Ballpark: Messer Street Grounds

Star player: Moses Fleetwood, C, 19 — considered one of the best catchers in the game despite his young age, with great patience at the plate and the strength to hit long balls.

I renamed the player that was generated to Moses Fleetwood as a nod to Moses Fleetwood Walker, who I believe was the last African-American to play in the major leagues until Jackie Robinson. I have no desire to include the brutal injustice of segregation in my fictional/alt-history league.

Philadelphia Quakers

The Quakers owe themselves to former Philadelphia Athletic Base Ball Club player and manager Al Reach. As the NAPBBP faced collapse, so did the Athletics; mounting financial concerns ultimately saw the club fall apart. With the prospect of a new and more stable league, Reach secured funding to found the new club, the Philadelphia Quakers.

Ballpark: Eastern League Park

Star player: William Hall, SS, 26 — Hall is the one source of optimism in a team that looks short on talent. A top defender and excellent contact hitter, any Quakers win will likely depend on Hall.

Western League

St. Louis Brown Stockings

The St. Louis club was a latecomer to the NAPBBP, arriving just in time to see it collapse. On the edge of baseball and the nation's frontier, the Brown Stockings proved to have a solid foundation in a rapidly expanding market. They were a certainty to be chosen as a charter club for the Western League.

Ballpark: Sportsman’s Park

Star player: David O’Brien, 1B, 26 — St. Louis-born O’Brien is considered one of the best all-round hitters in the game. What he lacks defensively, he more than makes up for with the bat.

Cincinnati Originals

The Cincinnati club considers itself the successor to the Cincinnati Red Stockings, although those who moved to Boston may dispute that. They have been given the nickname Originals by rooters and writers alike, acknowledging their club's link to the original professional team.

Ballpark: League Park

Star player: George Nelson, OF, 27 — has a good claim to being the best contact hitter in the league and a sure hand defensively. Young hurler John Hill is also another name to watch.

Detroit Wolverines

Local industrialists caught wind of the ongoing discussions around a new professional league and, similar to the Hartford club, acted quickly to secure investment and submit themselves as a charter club for the Western League.

Ballpark: Bennett Park

Star player: Vincent O’Toole, SS, 21 — although inexperienced defensively, O’Toole has shown himself to be an incredible batter at amateur level. Competing at the professional level will be a natural progression for him, and the expectation is to see him near the top of the batting charts.

Milwaukee Cream City

Originally formed as the Cream City Base Ball Club in 1865, ownership have adopted the city’s name in anticipation of competing at the national and professional level. Although side-lined from the NAPBBP, Cream City continued to dominate in semi-professional circles, earning their spot as a Western League charter club.

Ballpark: Cream City Grounds

Star player: William Wright, OF, 35 — in a team short on talent compared with the rest of the league, it will be veteran Wright who shoulders the burden of carrying this club.

Chicago White Stockings

The White Stockings organization began play in 1870. Under the stewardship of William Hulbert, they have become a stable and respected club. A well-respected businessman and baseball enthusiast, Hulbert has an eye for talent and will be looking to build a quality team to compete in his newly founded league.

Ballpark: West Side Grounds

Star player: James Varney, IF, 17 — although not the outright most talented player on the team, Varney will be the star. At only 17 he is more than capable of competing at the same level as men much older and more experienced than he. If the infielder keeps his dedication to the game, this could be the dawn of a very long and successful career.

Cleveland Lakeshore

The Cleveland club owe their roots to the now-defunct Forest City club. After they folded in 1872, Lakeshore Base Ball Club was born from the ashes. Professional baseball in the area dates back to 1869, following the lead of fellow Ohioans in Cincinnati.

Ballpark: Lakeshore Grounds

Star player: Frank Klein, IF, 18 — this young ballplayer could be the future of the Cleveland club, similar to Varney in Chicago. Although inexperienced, he shows flashes of having a great bat and versatility in defence.

[Haystacks]

1876 Season Recap

The first recorded hit and run scored in the new National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs came in Cincinnati as the Milwaukee club visited the Originals. The first hit of this new era came from the Cream City lead-off hitter William Nelson. In the bottom of the first, the Cincinnati club recorded the first run scored when Sincere McTizic singled to allow George Nelson to cross home.

The Cincinnati club would lead the Western League the entire season, although the circuit remained competitive and close throughout. In the East, Boston dominated early, but an end-of-season slump allowed Providence to cement a four-game lead and win the inaugural Eastern League.

The Association began the tradition of awarding a pennant in this inaugural season, seen as a display of professionalism and permanence. Providence and Cincinnati were each presented with a giant silk pennant to hoist at their respective grounds the following spring.


League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Providence Grays 42 28 .600 -
Hartford Dark Blues 38 32 .543 4.0
Boston Red Stockings 38 32 .543 4.0
Brooklyn Atlantic Club 35 35 .500 7.0
New York Mutuals 33 37 .471 9.0
Philadelphia Quakers 24 46 .343 18.0

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Cincinnati Originals 44 26 .629 -
Detroit Wolverines 38 32 .543 6.0
Milwaukee Cream City 36 34 .514 8.0
St. Louis Brown Stockings 33 37 .471 11.0
Chicago White Stockings 32 38 .457 12.0
Cleveland Lakeshore Club 27 43 .386 17.0


National Championship Series
Eastern Champion: Providence Grays
Western Champion: Cincinnati Originals
Result: Cincinnati defeats Providence, 5 games to 1
Series Silver Ball: Peter Robinson, 3B, Cincinnati Originals
(The Series Silver Ball was awarded by the League’s directors in attendance to the player judged to have performed most admirably throughout.)


Batting Leaders – Eastern League
Batting average – Caleb Thompson, Brooklyn - .342
Runs batted in – John Hall, Hartford - 54
Stolen Bases – Frederick Jackson, New York Mutuals - 72

Batting Leaders – Western League
Batting average – George Olson, St. Louis - .342
Runs batted in – James O’Brien, Detroit - 66
Stolen Bases – Vincent O’Toole, Detroit - 92


Pitching Leaders – Eastern League
Earned Run Average – Van Makeever, Providence – 1.50
Wins – Van Makeever, Providence - 22
Strikeouts – George Zettlein, Brooklyn - 67

Pitching Leaders – Western League
Earned Run Average – Edward Klein, Cincinnati – 2.21
Wins – John Hill, Cincinnati - 22
Strikeouts – Josue Luna, Detroit - 53

Season Notes

The inaugural season was a resounding success. All clubs remained solvent throughout, completing their full schedules, and the National Championship Series captured the imagination of the base ball public and writers alike.

The end-of-season award had been a tradition established in the 1860s; players were presented engraved silver balls for notable feats or distinguished play. This custom continues in the N.A.P.B.C. for the batting champion and the pitcher with the most victories.

At the off-season’s annual general meeting of club owners and league officials, Morgan Bulkeley proposed an award to be voted upon by the players themselves — the Most Distinguished Player Medal — a precursor to the modern M.V.P. Award. The motion carried unanimously, and the first medal will be awarded at the close of the 1877 season.

William Hulbert could rightly be satisfied with his work in forming the Association, yet he was not. Frustrated by the fortunes of his Chicago club, he spent hundreds of his own dollars in search of talent. His efforts yielded the notable signings of outfielder Charles Cartwright, infielder Frank Brown, and hurler Silas Price during the winter of 1876–77.

[Haystacks]

1877 Season Recap

The second season of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs proved the stability and sound foundation of the new organization.

During the 1876–77 off-season, the Association agreed to a series of rule tweaks and changes that affected on-field play. A new definition of fair and foul balls was written—one that endures to this day. The rule defined a fair ball as one “batted directly to the ground that bound or roll within the foul lines between home and first or home and third base, without first touching the person of a player … [and designated as foul] all balls batted directly to the ground that bound or roll outside the foul lines between home and first or home and third bases, without first touching the person of a player … In either of these cases the first point of contact between the batted ball and the ground shall not be regarded.”

Other rule changes included a visiting team’s right to a 20 percent share of ticket sales, the guarantee that each club play 50 percent of its schedule at home, and the addition of Article XX to the league constitution—allowing a club to petition for membership provided it appeared likely to be able to compete competitively and committed to “make base ball playing respectable and honorable and … protect and promote the mutual interests of professional base ball clubs and professional base ball players.”

Finally the early frame work of what would become the reserve-clause was enshrined in the rule book with the addition of an article specifically prohibiting any league club from playing any other club that employed a player expelled by the National League or even released by his team “on account of disagreement between such player and his club.”

Throughout 1877 both leagues displayed their competitive nature and balance. Although the bottom clubs remained familiar, the upper half of each league saw constant movement, with the top positions changing hands many times over.


League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Boston Red Stockings 44 26 .629 -
Hartford Dark Blues 41 29 .586 3.0
Brooklyn Atlantic Club 37 33 .529 7.0
Providence Grays 35 35 .500 9.0
New York Mutuals 29 41 .414 15.0
Philadelphia Quakers 24 46 .343 20.0

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Chicago White Stockings 43 27 .614 -
Cincinnati Originals 42 28 .600 1.0
Detroit Wolverines 39 31 .557 4.0
Milwaukee Cream City 31 39 .443 12.0
St. Louis Brown Stockings31 39 .443 12.0
Cleveland Lakeshore Club 24 46 .343 19.0


National Championship Series
Eastern Champion: Boston Red Stockings
Western Champion: Chicago White Stockings
Result: Chicago defeats Boston, 5 games to 4
Series Silver Ball: Charles Cartwright, OF, Chicago


Batting Leaders – Eastern League
Batting average – James Bauer, Providence - .365
Runs batted in – Charles Wilson, Hartford - 55
Stolen Bases – Frederick Jackson, New York Mutuals - 64

Batting Leaders – Western League
Batting average – Robert Thompson, Cincinnati - .373
Runs batted in – Frank Brown, Chicago - 53
Stolen Bases – Vincent O’Toole, Detroit - 65


Pitching Leaders – Eastern League
Earned Run Average – Ivan Ibarra, Hartford – 1.91
Wins – Israel Flores, Boston - 21
Strikeouts – George Zettlein, Brooklyn - 100

Pitching Leaders – Western League
Earned Run Average – Edward Klein, Cincinnati – 2.05
Wins – Samuel Moore, Cincinnati - 22
Strikeouts – Samuel Moore, Cincinnati - 83


Awards & Honors
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League - John Hall (1B, Hartford) – AVG .346, 98 hits, 46 RBIs
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League - Vincent O’Toole (SS, Detroit) – AVG .302, 97 hits, 50 RBIs


Season Notes

George Zettlein becomes the first pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts in a season.

This 1877 Championship series is often credited with being the first to grab what you could describe as national attention, as news spread daily of the series extending to 9 games, the back and forth nature of it all really captured the imagination of the public in cities all across the east coast and midwest.

[Haystacks]

A Historic Exchange Between Detroit and Providence
Detroit Free Press, November 18, 1877

YESTERDAY - the Detroit and Providence clubs have completed what is believed to be the first formal exchange of players in the history of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs.

Detroit has acquired hurler Francisco Santamaria, aged 31, from Providence in exchange for outfielder Thomas “Toad” Connor, aged 24.

“This deal is mutually beneficial,” remarked a Wolverines official, “...it shows base ball organizations can do business in a respectful and honest fashion.”

Santamaria, a durable and respected hurler, has compiled a lifetime mark of 35 victories and 25 defeats, with an earned run average of 2.79 in 494⅓ innings of work. He has struck out 103 batsmen while limiting opponents to a .268 average.

The move is seen by many as a sign of the Association’s growing maturity, with clubs now willing to negotiate player rights in pursuit of competitive balance. The transaction has been approved by the League’s Secretary, and both players are expected to report to their new clubs in the spring.

[Haystacks]

Hartford Club Relocates to Baltimore
The Baltimore Sun, February 10, 1878



HARTFORD - rumors long whispered in base ball circles were confirmed yesterday, as Mr. Morgan G. Bulkeley and his associates finalized the sale of the Hartford Dark Blues Base Ball Club to a syndicate of investors in Baltimore, Maryland led by railroad magnet John W. Garrett. The club shall henceforth be known as the Baltimore Dark Blues.

Bulkeley, a founding figure of the National Association, has made no secret of his waning enthusiasm for the game in Hartford. Despite fielding a capable nine, the Hartford club struggled with modest attendance and limited receipts, leaving its future uncertain. Mister Bulkeley is not absolved of fault in this matter, he is blamed for poor or little promotion of the club and it's successes.

Baltimore, by contrast, offers a bustling port city of over 300,000 inhabitants, a proven appetite for sport, and convenient rail connections for visiting opponents.

The Dark Blues are expected to retain much of their roster, including John Hall, the Association’s reigning Most Distinguished Player medallist, and manager William Blanchard. Plans are already under way to construct a suitable ballpark in the area of East 25th Street...



Baltimore's Union Park, circa 1895

[Haystacks]

Season of 1878

Summary

The most notable events of the 1877-78 off-season were the first ever player for player trade between Providence and Detroit and the Hartford club's change in ownership and move to Baltimore.

The Eastern League was a competitive affair again, Boston finishing only 1 game ahead of Baltimore, who continued to be a defensive fortress following their relocation.

The Western League was dominated by Cincinnati and Chicago, no other team coming close. The Originals won every game of their 16 games in June, boasting a 24-2 record on July 1. It is incredible Chicago were able to keep pace, only 5 games behind at that point. To put into perspective just how dominant both organizations were, at this stage Milwaukee sat in third, 12 ½ games behind.

League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

W L PCT GB
Boston Red Stockings 42 28 .600 -
Baltimore Dark Blues 41 29 .586 1.0
Brooklyn Atlantic Club 35 35 .500 7.0
New York Mutuals 32 38 .457 10.0
Philadelphia Quakers 32 38 .457 10.0
Providence Grays 28 42 .400 14.0

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

W L PCT GB
Cincinnati Originals 50 20 .714 -
Chicago White Stockings 45 25 .643 5.0
Milwaukee Cream City 33 37 .471 17.0
Detroit Wolverines 31 39 .443 19.0
St. Louis Brown Stockings 27 43 .386 23.0
Cleveland Lakeshore Club 24 46 .343 26.0

National Championship Series

Eastern Champion: Boston Red Stockings
Western Champion: Cincinnati Originals
Result: Cincinnati win the series, 5 to 2.
Series Silver Ball: John Hill, pitcher, Cincinnati.

Batting Leaders – Eastern League

Batting average – Samuel Jackson, Brooklyn - .343
Runs batted in – Wyatt Green, Boston - 51
Stolen Bases – Frederick Jackson, New York Mutuals - 65

Batting Leaders – Western League

Batting average – Daniel Soden, Cincinnati - .330
Runs batted in – William Harris, Detroit - 58
Stolen Bases – Daniel Soden, Cincinnati - 83

Pitching Leaders – Eastern League

Earned runs average – Van Makeever, Providence – 1.86
Wins – Hiram Martin, Boston - 23
Strikeouts – George Zettlein, Brooklyn - 146

Pitching Leaders – Western League

Earned runs average – Edward Klein, Cincinnati – 1.87
Wins – Edward Klein, Cincinnati – 31
Strikeouts – Henry Hall, Chicago - 120

Awards & Honors

Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League -
John Hall, 1B, Baltimore – Batting average - .321, hits - 85 RBIs - 42
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League -
Daniel Soden – Batting average - .330, hits - 105, RBIs - 36.

Season Notes

November 17, 1877 — the first recorded player trade in Association history, Detroit send Thomas Connor, Providence send Francisco Santamaria
February, 1878 – Hartford relocate to Baltimore.
There are currently 30 players that have played 210 games, meaning they have not missed a game since the league’s inception.

[Haystacks]

First Reference to Boston as “Whalers”

In October of 1878, a Boston Globe writer by the name of Alexander Naylor made what is understood to be the first reference to the Boston club as the “Whalers.” Naylor could not have imagined the impact that passing remark would have.

Naylor was penning a retrospective on the Red Stockings’ 1878 campaign and, while lamenting their unfortunate fate—having captured the Eastern League pennant for two consecutive seasons only to fall short in the National Championship both years—he drew a striking comparison between the Boston club and Moby-Dick.

“Boston may become possessed Whalers in their hunt for that National crown,”
Naylor likened manager Harry Wright to Captain Ahab and the club to his Pequod—his 9, his crew - bound, perhaps, for a long voyage of vengeance.

Though the comparison was written as little more than literary flourish, the term “Whalers” struck a chord with the public and writers alike. Within a few short seasons, it would appear regularly in the columns of Eastern newspapers, and by the middle of the next decade the Boston club had all but adopted it as their own.

Note: I don't anticipate changing the name of Boston in game for a few season, I just wanted to lay the ground work for where that change comes from.

[Haystacks]

Mutuals Raise First Pennant
Union Park, Baltimore – Tuesday, October 7, 1879


YESTERDAY - before a spirited gathering of near two thousand spectators at Union Park, the New York Mutuals secured the Eastern League pennant by defeating the Baltimore Dark Blues, 11 to 3.

With both clubs tied 41-29 after 70 games, the stakes could not have been higher for this hastily organized tie-breaker. The Mutuals struck early and with purpose, tallying twice in the first inning and three times more in the second, while the Dark Blues faltered. Baltimore’s seven misplays proved ruinous, and the visiting nine never relinquished their advantage.

Frederick Jackson was the leader of the New York charge, scoring four runs, collecting three hits, and stealing two bases. Peter Johnson contributed two hits and two runs batted in, while backstop James Taylor doubled to score two in the seventh to bury Baltimore's hopes. In all, the Mutuals amassed thirteen hits off the deliveries of Henry Brown and relief hurler Francis Wilson.

John Hill, the Mutuals’ man on the mound, worked with steady control, scattering six hits across nine innings. Though Baltimore managed brief rallies in the third and sixth, Hill’s coolness under pressure and the fine support of his infield ensured a comfortable margin. He finished the game with two strikeouts and no earned runs against him.

For Baltimore, Charles Wilson’s two-run double in the third provided the only moment of cheer for the home crowd. Manager George Walker and his 9 appeared unsettled throughout, committing errors on routine chances and allowing the contest to slip beyond recovery.

The result crowns New York as winners of the Eastern pennant with a final mark of 42 victories against 29 defeats. Baltimore concludes one game behind at 41 and 30. The Mutuals will now pack their bags for the long train ride out to Saint Louis to meet the Western League’s Brown Stockings in the forthcoming National Championship Series.

Player of the Game: John Hill (New York Mutuals)
Attendance: 1,867 – Weather: cloudy, cool, wind from right field.

[Haystacks]

Season of 1879

Summary

The 1878–79 off-season was comparatively quiet when compered with recent years. The most contentious debate of the winter meetings arose from a petition by the amateur Union of Morrisania Base Ball Club, based in the New York area, seeking entry into the Association.

Representatives of smaller-market clubs raised concern that, if a second organization were permitted in New York, what would prevent similar duplication in less populous cities—potentially undermining their financial stability.

As a result, Clause XX of the constitution was amended to protect clubs located in cities with populations under half a million. Under the new provision, another organization may only play home games in such a city under exceptional circumstances (such as the destruction of or damage to their own ground), and no additional club may be admitted into a market of that size.

Union of Morrisania's petition was deferred for debate until the following annual general meeting whilst Clause XX was addressed. Rumour circulates that the amendment of this clause has actually inspired several clubs across these large markets to now petition for entry to the National Association's league system.

On the field, the New York Mutuals upended the established order of the previous two campaigns, capturing the Eastern pennant in a dramatic tie-breaker over the Baltimore Dark Blues, who have by now earned a reputation as perennial runners-up.

Likewise, in the Western League, the St. Louis Brown Stockings reversed their fortunes. After two years of middling play, they secured their first pennant—and their first winning record—while the previously dominant Cincinnati and Chicago clubs struggled to recapture 1878's form.


League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

W L PCT GB
New York Mutuals 42 29 .592 -
Baltimore Dark Blues 41 30 .577 1.0
Providence Grays 37 33 .529 4.5
Boston Red Stockings 36 34 .514 5.5
Philadelphia Quakers 33 37 .471 8.5
Brooklyn Atlantic Club 22 48 .314 19.5

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

W L PCT GB
St. Louis Brown Stockings 39 31 .557 -
Chicago White Stockings 38 32 .543 1.0
Cincinnati Originals 37 33 .529 2.0
Milwaukee Cream City 33 37 .471 6.0
Cleveland Lakeshore Club 32 38 .457 7.0
Detroit Wolverines 31 39 .443 8.0

National Championship Series
Eastern Champion: New York Mutuals
Western Champion: St. Louis Brown Stockings
Result: St. Louis defeats New York, five games to one
Series Silver Ball: Isaiah White, pitcher, St. Louis


League Leaders Combined – Batting

LEAGUE LEADERS AVG

Peter Johnson – NYM .369

Peter Flaherty – CWS .331

Robert Thompson – CIN .329

Peter Robinson – CIN .325

Robert Martin – PRV .322

LEAGUE LEADERS HR

Franz Moore – BOS 6

Sincere McTizic – CIN 4

William Nelson – MIL 4

William Taylor – SLB 4

2 tied with 3

LEAGUE LEADERS RBI

Frank Brown – CWS 57

William Harris – DET 56

Charles Wilson – BAL 53

Robert Martin – PRV 52

James Taylor – NYM 48

League Leaders Combined – Pitching

LEAGUE LEADERS W

Ivan Ibarra – BAL 23

James Hall – NYM 21

Edward Klein – CIN 20

Robert Cartwright – SLB 19

2 more tied with 19

LEAGUE LEADERS ERA

James Hall – NYM 1.77

Van Makeever – PRV 2.05

Isaiah White – SLB 2.06

Robert Wilson – PRV 2.11

John Hill – CIN 2.23

LEAGUE LEADERS K

Robert Wilson – PRV 135

James Hall – NYM 118

George Zettlein – BRK 114

Henry Hall – CWS 113

Francisco Santamaria – DET 111

Awards & Honors
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League – Peter Johnson, 3B, New York Mutuals – Batting AVG .369, Hits 114, RBIs 38
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League – Frank Brown, 2B, Chicago White Stockings – Batting AVG .310, Hits 95, RBIs 57


Season Notes
• First record of the Boston Red Stockings being referred to as the Boston Whalers.
• First ever tie-breaker game to decide a pennant.

[Haystacks]

1880 Expansion of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs


With Article XX of the constitution amended and finalized the previous off-season, it was finally time to address the Union of Morrisania’s petition to join the Association.

Several clubs had now joined the Morrisania organization in petitioning for admission. As each application was debated, some were ruled out for being from too small a population base, or for lying too far beyond the travel routes of current league members— these applications raised concerns of the members interested in preserving the stability of the Association and avoiding a return to the days when clubs folded mid-season or failed to complete their schedules.

In the Eastern League, Philadelphia Olympic and Union of Morrisania were accepted into membership with strong support from nearly all existing clubs, except the Philadelphia Quakers, who opposed a rival club in their own city. The overriding argument in favour of acceptance was that expansion should first take place in secure and well populated markets—those large enough to ensure stability and protect existing organizations. (Only Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York met the 500,000 population requirement for multiple clubs within one city.)

In the Western League, the Louisville Colonels were unanimously accepted without contention. Though Louisville was a smaller city, its position between Cincinnati and St. Louis along the railroad made it a natural and practical addition to the Association.

Finally, members voted in favour of admitting the Chicago Packers to the Association, with William Hulbert and his existing Chicago organization abstaining from the vote. Hulbert, who had strongly argued for the half a million minimum, considered it unbecoming to now oppose an organization that met criteria he himself had helped establish. Nevertheless, he asserted during debate that Chicago had yet to officially surpass the half-million mark.
.


Schedule Expansion


With both leagues now expanding to eight clubs apiece, the schedule required revision. After several proposals—some highly ambitious, exceeding 100 games—a balanced 84-game season was agreed upon, with each club facing every opponent 12 times.

The season would continue to open in early May and conclude by the end of September - the National Championship would then take place as quick as travel scheduling would allow.


The New Clubs

New York Union – Eastern League

Upon acceptance, the Morrisania club adopted a more nationally recognizable name: New York Union.

The organization has deep roots in the amateur game, tracing its lineage back to 1855 and claiming the National Amateur Championship in 1867. Refusing to join the precursor N.A.P.B.B.P., the club now enters the professional era with the backing of investors eager to capitalize on New York’s thriving baseball market.

Their standout player is hurler William Rossi, aged 25, one of the earliest adopters of the curve ball as a primary weapon. Though not overpowering, Rossi’s precision and deception mark him as a prospective dominant force on the mound.

Ballpark: Washington Heights Ballpark

Philadelphia Olympics – Eastern League

Formed by local investors determined to challenge the city’s established Quakers, the new Philadelphia organization honors one of the earliest known base ball clubs—the Olympic Club—whose name they have revived for the professional era.

Their captain and star is outfielder William Machner, admired for his committed defence and ability to make consistent contact at the plate. Though perhaps not a league-leading talent, Machner’s determination has quickly made him a fan favorite.

Ballpark: Columbia Avenue Grounds

Chicago Packers – Western League

Meatpacking magnate Philip Danforth Armour Sr. is regarded as the first owner to recognize the value of offering professional base ball to the working classes.

If Hulbert’s White Stockings embody middle-class respectability—no gambling, no drinking, no rowdiness—Armour’s Packers represent their antithesis: bold, brash, and rooted in the South Side’s stockyards and slaughterhouses.

Publicly, Armour spoke of promoting the “health benefits” of the game among the working classes. Privately, he saw an untapped market of working-class spectators eager for entertainment. Upon acceptance into the Association construction began immediately on a ballpark near the bordering the South Side's working class neighbourhoods and the Union Stock Yards, ensuring close proximity to the audience Armour intended to court.

The club’s early star is outfielder Charles Buxton, a skilled contact hitter with an uncanny ability to find gaps in the any defence he faced.

Ballpark: South Side Yard

Louisville Colonels – Western League

Louisville stands as the smallest market among the new additions but occupies an ideal geographic position between St. Louis and Cincinnati, which assured the organizations acceptance to the Association.

Though the club existed for only a few seasons in amateur circles, its stability and growing support convinced the voting members that Louisville was a secure addition.

The Colonels’ brightest prospects include outfielder Johannes Beekhof, only 19, yet already demonstrating poise and skill beyond his years, and third baseman Henry Green, whose bat is considered the steadiest in the Louisville line-up.

Ballpark: Colonels’ Park

[Haystacks]

Season of 1880
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Summary
The expansion of the two leagues for the 1880 season brought a palpable growth in public excitement. Newspapers in Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia delighted in immediately stoking the flames of rivalry between their cities’ two clubs.

In the Eastern League, the New York Union burst out of the gates, leading the circuit by June 1 and eager to prove their worth among the established professionals. Meanwhile, Boston fell into a deep slump; by July, they held the worst record across both leagues.

The Eastern pennant became a duel between Baltimore and the New York Mutuals. While Brooklyn Atlantic and New York Union kept a respectable pace, they never truly looked like contenders. The Mutuals stumbled in the final week, while Baltimore’s sweep of the Philadelphia Olympics assured them their first Eastern League pennant. That same sweep also condemned the Olympics to the worst record across both leagues.

In the West, Cincinnati never faltered, leading the league almost from the outset. The standings looked competitive on August 1—with Detroit two games back and Milwaukee three—but no club could withstand the summer heat quite like the Originals. By September 1, Cincinnati had opened an eleven-game gap over second-place Milwaukee.

The Chicago Packers surprised many by finishing above their city rivals, the White Stockings, while the Louisville Colonels remained competitive and were quietly satisfied not to finish at the bottom.


League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Baltimore Dark Blues 51 33 .607 -
New York Mutuals 49 35 .583 2.0
Brooklyn Atlantic Club 46 38 .548 5.0
New York Union 46 38 .548 5.0
Philadelphia Quakers 42 42 .500 9.0
Providence Grays 38 46 .452 13.0
Boston Red Stockings 37 47 .440 14.0
Philadelphia Olympics 27 57 .321 24.0

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Cincinnati Originals 59 25 .702 -
Milwaukee Cream City 46 38 .548 13.0
Chicago Packers 45 39 .536 14.0
Chicago White Stockings 42 42 .500 17.0
Detroit Wolverines 41 43 .488 18.0
Louisville Colonels 39 45 .464 20.0
St. Louis Brown Stockings35 49 .417 24.0
Cleveland Lakeshore Club 29 55 .345 30.0

National Championship Series
Eastern Champion: Baltimore Dark Blues
Western Champion: Cincinnati Originals
Result: Cincinnati defeats Baltimore, five games to four
Series Silver Ball: Sincere McTizic, RF, Cincinnati Originals


Batting Leaders – Combined

LEAGUE LEADERS AVG

Charles Buxton – CHP – .320

Javon Ludd – NYU – .317

William Wilson – MIL – .313

Cyrus Starr – BAL – .309

Joseph Brown – NYU – .308

LEAGUE LEADERS HR

Franz Moore – BOS – 10

Sincere McTizic – CIN – 8

William Taylor – SLB – 8

Frederick Lighten – CIN – 5

Jack McCaffrey – BOS – 5

LEAGUE LEADERS RBI

Vincent O'Toole – DET – 69

Sincere McTizic – CIN – 68

George Nelson – CIN – 63

William Harris – DET – 62

Charles Buxton – CHP – 58

Pitching Leaders – Combined

LEAGUE LEADERS W

John Hill – CIN – 30

Edward Klein – CIN – 27

Henry Brown – BAL – 26

William Rossi – NYU – 25

3 tied with – 24

LEAGUE LEADERS ERA

Robert Cartwright – SLB – 1.69

John Hill – CIN – 1.85

Robert Wilson – PRV – 1.87

Benjamin Mitchell – PRV – 2.11

Edward Klein – CIN – 2.11

LEAGUE LEADERS K

James Hall – NYM – 210

Henry Hall – CWS – 194

Edward Moore – BRK – 180

John Hill – CIN – 149

William Hall – BOS – 142

Awards & Honors
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League – Samuel O’Brien, 2B, Baltimore – AVG .259, 97 hits, 26 RBIs
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League – Vincent O’Toole, 2B, Detroit – AVG .305, 115 hits, 69 RBIs


Season Notes
• After five seasons of play, an Eastern League club has yet to win the National Championship Series. While a source of embarrassment in the East, it is a testament to the game’s growth beyond its origins as Philadelphia and New York town ball.
• June 20: Robert Cartwright (St. Louis) throws the first no-hitter in Western League history — 9 IP, 1 K, 2 BB vs. Milwaukee.
• September 1: John Hill (New York Mutuals) records the first no-hitter in Eastern League history — 9 IP, 2 K, 1 BB vs. Boston.
• The expanded schedule saw four players surpass the 60 RBI mark; previously, only James O’Brien (Detroit, 66 RBIs, 1876) had done so.
• Vincent O’Toole becomes the first player to surpass 300 career stolen bases.
• Edward Klein (Cincinnati) becomes the first pitcher to record 100 career victories.
• Baltimore newcomer Cyrus Starr sets a new record hitting streak of 31 games.

[Haystacks]

Season of 1881
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Summary
The 1881 season would rightly be described as the most competitive to date.

Approaching the halfway mark at forty games on July 15, the New York Mutuals led the Eastern League with a 27–13 record, Boston two games behind, Providence four, and New York Union five and a half back.

In the Western League, the White Stockings held a 24–16 record, with the Cincinnati Originals one and a half games behind, Detroit and Louisville two games back. The Packers trailed by only five games, and all five clubs appeared in contention as the play entered the height of summer.

As the season wore on, the parity of both leagues continued to grip sportswriters and base ball enthusiasts. By September, Providence had seized the lead in the East, three games clear of the Mutuals, with Baltimore and Boston close behind. In the West, Louisville emerged as the unlikely challenger, locked in a duel with the White Stockings for the pennant.

A dramatic three-way tie concluded the Eastern League campaign between New York Mutuals, Baltimore, and Providence. The Mutuals dominated their tie-breakers to claim the pennant, though suspicious betting patterns around Providence’s late-season losses drew whispers of scandal.

Louisville effectively secured the Western pennant in their penultimate home series, the White Stockings took a battering as Louisville won the series 2 games to 1. Chicago’s maintained pace, not losing again, but Louisville did not slip up.


League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
New York Mutuals 50 36 .581 -
Baltimore Blue Stockings 48 37 .565 1.5
Providence Grays 48 37 .565 1.5
New York Union 45 39 .536 4.0
Boston Whalers 43 41 .512 6.0
Brooklyn Atlantics 41 43 .488 8.0
Philadelphia Quakers 35 49 .417 14.0
Philadelphia Olympics 28 56 .333 21.0

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Louisville Colonels 55 29 .655 -
Chicago White Stockings 51 33 .607 4.0
Detroit Wolverines 46 38 .548 9.0
Cincinnati Originals 45 39 .536 10.0
Chicago Packers 38 46 .452 17.0
Cleveland Lakeshores 37 47 .440 18.0
Milwaukee Creams 36 48 .429 19.0
St. Louis Brown Stockings 28 56 .333 27.0

National Championship Series
Eastern Pennant: New York Mutuals
Western Pennant: Louisville Colonels
Result: Louisville defeats New York, five games to four
Series Silver Ball: Henry Green, 3B, Louisville Colonels


Batting Leaders – Combined

LEAGUE LEADERS AVG

Johannes Beekhof – LOU – .347

Vincent O'Toole – DET – .333

Patrick Herman – BRK – .332

Anton Reach – PHO – .329

2 tied with – .325

LEAGUE LEADERS HR

William Taylor – SLB – 9

Sincere McTizic – CIN – 7

Joseph Harris – BRK – 6

Frederick Lighten – CIN – 6

3 tied with – 5

LEAGUE LEADERS RBI

Andrew Jones – NYM – 89

Sincere McTizic – CIN – 77

George Butcher – CHP – 69

William Harris – DET – 68

Vincent O'Toole – DET – 63

Pitching Leaders – Combined

LEAGUE LEADERS W

Henry Hall – CWS – 27

William Hall – NYM – 27

Frank Johnson – LOU – 27

2 tied with – 25

LEAGUE LEADERS ERA

William Morales – NYU – 2.06

Robert Wilson – PRV – 2.12

Edward Moore – BRK – 2.32

Andrew Springer – CHP – 2.56

Frank Johnson – LOU – 2.57

LEAGUE LEADERS K

James Hall – NYM – 226

Henry Hall – CWS – 200

Robert Wilson – PRV – 193

George Zettlein – BRK – 161

William Hall – NYM – 160

Awards & Honors
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League – Henry Wharton, 1B, New York Mutuals – AVG .321, 116 hits, 53 RBIs
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League – Johannes Beekhof, CF, Louisville – AVG .347, 130 hits, 33 RBIs


Season Notes
• Several team nicknames in the standings now reflect how they are commonly referred to by sportswriters and their rooters.
• Mutuals’ Andrew Jones sets a new RBI record with 89.
• Vincent O’Toole (Detroit) surpasses 400 career stolen bases.
• Charles Cartwright (Chicago White Stockings) surpasses 300 career stolen bases.
• Six pitchers record their 100th career victory.
• Frederick Taylor (Cincinnati) falls one short of Cyrus Starr’s 1880 record with a 30-game hitting streak.
• As the season closes, a telegram informs Providence owner Henry Nelson of suspicious gambling patterns involving his club. Nelson vows to investigate…

[Haystacks]

The Providence Grays Scandal of 1881

The Providence Grays’ September collapse was nothing short of monumental — their first losing month of the 1881 season, posting an 8–12 record including their tie-breaker defeat. Owner Henry Nelson and manager Henry Jones publicly attributed the slump to “the pressure of the occasion.”

Since winning the inaugural Eastern League pennant in 1876, Providence had managed only one other season with a winning record, in 1879. Yet the talk around their apparent slum in form took a darker turn when, on October 1, Nelson received a telegram detailing suspicious gambling activity surrounding the club’s late-season games.

An investigation was launched in earnest. Within days, Thomas Perez and Robert Martin confessed to throwing games in exchange for $100 per contest.

Nelson and Jones hastily summoned the team on October 6, before players dispersed for the winter. They demanded that all members surrender any recent telegrams for inspection. All complied — except Thomas Bauer.

The telegrams revealed a conspiracy involving Perez, Bauer, and Robert Martin, who together had arranged to throw several games — including games in the club’s crucial final two series, at Boston and New York.

The three were immediately expelled from the Providence organization. On December 1, during the League’s annual Winter Meetings, they became the first players in Association history to receive lifetime bans.

The Three Banned Players

1. Thomas Perez - outfielder
Joined Providence in 1878. Appeared in 291 games, recording 327 hits, 134 runs batted in, and a .271 average.

2. Robert Martin - infielder
A member of the Grays since 1876 inaugural season, he appeared in every one of the club’s 449 games before his dismissal. He led the Eastern League in hits (100) in 1878 and finished with 579 hits, 206 RBI, and a .300 lifetime average.

3. Thomas Bauer - infielder
Signed in 1880. Played 122 games, totalling 84 hits, 31 RBI, and a .191 batting average across two seasons.

[Haystacks]

Season of 1882

The National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Summary

With the Providence gambling scandal dealt with swiftly, the Association was keen to put it behind them and move forward.
The Providence baseball community would not, however, move forward so easily — the feeling of betrayal ran so deep that they effectively shunned their own club. Season ticket sales and average attendance at games fell by over half. Their total attendance in 1881 of over 58,000 would drop to 22,560 for the 1882 season.

Owner Henry Nelson shared the sentiment of betrayal and effectively withdrew himself from all involvement in the day-to-day running of his organization. By the close of the 1882 season, the Grays would prove unable to maintain the lease payments on their ballpark and were on the verge of collapse.

On the field, the Eastern League proved to be a duel between Boston and Baltimore throughout, while Providence plummeted to the bottom after having the core of their usual nine banned for life.

The Western League was a tight contest for all but a month. By July, the Louisville club had built a four-game lead that would only continue to grow as they maintained their good form throughout the summer.

The Blue Stockings of Baltimore would at last bring a National Championship win home to the East, finally ending the West’s dominance of the season finale.


League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Baltimore Blue Stockings 51 33 .607 –
Boston Whalers 50 34 .595 1.0
New York Mutuals 48 36 .571 3.0
Philadelphia Olympics 44 40 .524 7.0
Brooklyn Atlantics 41 43 .488 10.0
Philadelphia Quakers 38 46 .452 13.0
New York Union 36 48 .429 15.0
Providence Grays 28 56 .333 23.0

WESTERN LEAGUE STANDINGS
W L PCT GB
Louisville Colonels 52 32 .619 –
Cincinnati Originals 45 39 .536 7.0
Chicago White Stockings 43 41 .512 9.0
St. Louis Brown Stockings 43 41 .512 9.0
Detroit Wolverines 41 43 .488 11.0
Milwaukee Creams 38 46 .452 14.0
Cleveland Lakeshores 38 46 .452 14.0
Chicago Packers 36 48 .429 16.0


National Championship Series
Eastern Champion: Baltimore Blue Stockings
Western Champion: Louisville Colonels
Result: Baltimore win series, 5 to 4
Series Silver Ball: Samuel O’Brien, 2B, Baltimore


Batting Leaders – Combined

Average

Heinrich White – BAL – .347

Thomas Morris – LOU – .313

Patrick Herman – BRK – .313

William Wilson – MIL – .310

Charles White – BOS – .310

Home Runs

Joseph Harris – BRK – 11

William Taylor – SLB – 10

Sincere McTizic – CIN – 7

Jaiden Prempeh – CIN – 7

Two tied – 5

Runs Batted In

Sincere McTizic – CIN – 74

Henry Green – LOU – 70

Andrew Jones – NYM – 70

Charles Buxton – CHP – 64

Two tied – 64


Pitching Leaders – Combined

Wins

James Hall – NYM – 29

Henry Brown – BAL – 28

Henry Astor – BOS – 25

Joseph Boneparte – PHO – 25

Frank Johnson – LOU – 25

Earned Run Average

Salvador Romero – BRK – 2.17

Henry Brown – BAL – 2.22

Amos Thompson – PHI – 2.25

Joseph Boneparte – PHO – 2.30

Frank Johnson – LOU – 2.39

Strikeouts

James Hall – NYM – 256

Robert Wilson – PRV – 248

Henry Hall – CWS – 199

George Zettlein – BRK – 179

John Hill – NYM – 168


Awards & Honors
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League – Heinrich White, 3B, Baltimore – AVG .347 – 117 H – 41 RBI
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League – Johannes Beekhof, CF, Louisville – AVG .301 – 114 H – 42 RBI


Season Notes
• Robert Wright (Philadelphia Quakers) hits the first ever cycle in Association history versus Providence.
• William Hall (Boston) throws a no-hitter against Providence, 9 K, 1 BB, 9 IP.
• Henry Rose (Baltimore) throws a no-hitter against New York Union, 1 K, 2 BB, 9 IP.
• Vincent O’Toole (Detroit) breaks 500 stolen bases.
• Peter Flaherty (Chicago) reaches 300 stolen bases.
• William Hall (Boston) and Amos Thompson (Philadelphia Quakers) reach 100 wins.
• Four players reach 200 stolen bases.
• Six pitchers pass 100 career wins.
• Henry Wharton (New York Mutuals) sets a new single-season stolen-base record with 105.
• Edward Schmidt (Cincinnati) sets a new single-season doubles record with 32.
• James Hall (New York Mutuals) sets a new single-season strikeout record with 256.

[Haystacks]

Providence Club Withdraws from the National Association

The Providence Journal, November 11, 1882

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The once-proud Providence Base Ball Club, commonly known to enthusiasts as the Grays, has this week formally tendered its resignation to the National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs, ceasing operations and disbanding its organization entirely.

The announcement brings to an end seven seasons of professional base ball in this city. A charter member of the Eastern League in 1876, winning the inaugural pennant, for that brief moment Providence stood as the pride of New England’s base ball circuit.

The revelations of last autumn’s gambling scandal struck a grievous blow to public confidence, from which the club never recovered. Attendance, once steadily growing, dwindled to a fraction of its former strength, and the club’s treasury, drastically weakened, could no longer sustain the expense of a professional side.

Owner Mr. Henry Nelson, who has been absent from active management since the scandal’s uncovering, issued a short statement yesterday evening:

“It grieves me deeply to close the book on the Providence Base Ball Club. The people of this city deserved better from their former pennant winners off and on the field. I cannot blame our patrons for turning their back on our club.”

The club’s ball-ground on Messer Street have been closed and the few remaining assets placed in trust pending sale. Players still under contract will be released to sign elsewhere by consent of the National Association’s board of executives.

It is understood that while some in the city hold out faint hope for the revival of professional base ball in Providence, there are at present no credible investors willing to take on the burden.

The Providence Grays leave behind a record of 256 victories and 277 defeats, and one Eastern League pennant (1876). Their loss will be felt not only in Rhode Island, but throughout the base ball fraternity.

[Haystacks]

In the aftermath of Providence’s collapse as a franchise, the Association’s executive committee was eager to fill the now vacant spot in the Eastern League for balance, and, more importantly, to generate positive press.

Washington, D.C., presented itself as the perfect opportunity. Many in the business and political classes of the capital city had been pushing for a Washington-based team to participate in the Eastern League. The executive believed that by admitting such a team it would not only demonstrate that this truly was the American game, but would go a long way in restoring some of the lost honour and respectability of the organisation in the aftermath of the gambling scandal.

Washington Admitted to the National Association

The Washington Mail, December 16, 1882

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs has voted to grant membership to a Washington organization, giving the capital city access to base ball of the professional standard.

The announcement was made following the Association’s winter meetings in Chicago. The new club, to be known officially as the Washington Baseball Club, is financed by a group of local businessmen led by Mr. Charles T. Pendleton, with partial backing rumoured to include members of the city’s political circles.

In approving the Washington petition, the Association’s secretary noted that the admission of the nation’s capital was “fitting for a league that represents the game of the American people.” The Providence vacancy, arising from the collapse of that organization last month, thus finds a worthy successor in the city of government and honour.

Work has already begun on preparing suitable grounds near Boundary Street, where plans call for a covered grandstand with seating for some eight thousand spectators.

Mr. Pendleton, addressing reporters after the vote, remarked:

“The eyes of the nation look to Washington in all matters of consequence. It is only proper that our national pastime is also seen in our great capital also.”

The Washington club will begin play in the Eastern League this coming spring. Their colours are said to be navy and white, with a monogrammed ‘W’ adorning the breast of their uniforms. Mr. Pendleton will now begin the important work of assembling his roster and management.

League officials expressed hope that the Washington club will not only maintain balance within the Eastern circuit, but elevate the prestige of the Association itself.

“From the capital to the frontier, the National Game now truly belongs to the nation.”

***

In no short time the Washington club would be refered to by the press as the Senators.

James Smith is appointed manager, coming off a two-year absence from the professional game, his previous experience was at the Quakers, leaving with a 155-209 record. In 1880, his final season at the club, the Quakers put up a 42-42 season, the best under his stewardship.

By spring training, 8 former Providence players are named in the Senators 15 man roster. Most notable are;
Van Makeever, the 30 year-old hurler had been with Providence from the inaugural NAPBC season, with a 114-141 record, he threw 2246 innings in a Grays uniform, with an ERA of 2.40. He led the league in wins in 1876 and has twice posted the lowest ERA by an Eastern League pitcher.

Moses Fleetwood, catcher, the 25-year old is considered one of the best backstops across all the professional game. He started 463 games for Providence, with an average of .212.

Edward Vance, INF, 31 - the versatile infielder was often used as a utility piece by Providence. Between 1877 and 1882 Vance started 324 games, recording 423 hits and 123 RBI, with a .283 average.

[Haystacks]

Season of 1883

The National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Off-Season Summary

The Providence gambling scandal and the club’s subsequent collapse a year later had placed great challenge upon the league, the Association overcame these hurdles with a efficiency and decisiveness that was well received.

With the business of finding a new organization to fill Providence’s vacancy concluded, the Winter Meeting turned to rule changes. Two significant adaptations were approved: all throws other than the overhand delivery were declared illegal, and the “foul-bound catch” rule — which had permitted a fielder to retire a batter by catching a foul ball on its first bounce — was abolished.

Owners also pressed for an expanded schedule. The 84-game season had proven a great success, and the opportunity to profit further from the public’s growing enthusiasm for the professional game could not be ignored. A 112-game schedule was agreed upon, with each club meeting its seven league opponents sixteen times. The campaign would now open in early April and close in late October.

The National Championship Series was reduced to a best-of-seven affair, the belief being that a shorter series would create greater drama and larger crowds, despite the possibility of few games played.

Season Summary

Both leagues remained tightly contested until August. In the East, the struggle among the Mutuals, Brooklyn Atlantics, Boston Whalers, and New York Union kept rooters in suspense until the summer heat broke the pack. The Mutuals, two games clear of Brooklyn at the start of August with a record of 41–21, lost only five games during the entire month. By September 1 they stood at 57–26, seven and a half games ahead.

The 1882 Eastern champions, Baltimore, slipped badly, suffering their first losing season.

The newly formed Washington Senators faced a mammoth challenge assembling a team in six months. Their challenge grew further when appointed manager James Smith failed to report for spring training. A hurried appointment brought Joseph Garret, a man with no professional experience, to the post. Smith was later discovered to have accepted a coaching position with the Chicago White Stockings.

It was little surprise that Washington struggled, yet the Senators fought gamely and earned the city’s pride. The true disappointment came from veteran hurler Van Makeever. Once the league’s most respected pitcher — leading the Association in wins in 1876 and ERA twice (his 1.50 ERA in 1876 still a record at this point) — Makeever suffered a sharp decline. His earned-run average of 4.05 and league-leading total of defeats perhaps signalling the the end of his time in the professional game.

In the Western League, the contest was much the same. The White Stockings held a game-and-a-half advantage over the Packers as August began, with Cincinnati five games back. Chicago lost only five games through the month, and by September the Packers trailed by nine. Louisville could not repeat their 1882 form, hovering mid-table for most of the season before a late push lifted them to third. Their star, Johannes Beekhof, continued his dominance, his 181 hits leading the Western League for a third consecutive year.


Eastern League Standings

W L PCT GB
New York Mutuals 80 32 .714 -
Brooklyn Atlantics 68 44 .607 12.0
Boston Whalers 58 54 .518 22.0
New York Union 54 58 .482 26.0
Baltimore Blue Stockings 52 60 .464 28.0
Philadelphia Olympics 49 63 .438 31.0
Philadelphia Quakers 48 64 .429 32.0
Washington Senators 39 73 .348 41.0

Western League Standings

W L PCT GB
Chicago White Stockings 77 35 .688 -
Chicago Packers 67 45 .598 10.0
Louisville Colonels 63 49 .563 14.0
Cincinnati Originals 60 52 .536 17.0
Detroit Wolverines 50 62 .446 27.0
St. Louis Brown Stockings 49 63 .438 28.0
Cleveland Lakeshores 41 71 .366 36.0
Milwaukee Creams 41 71 .366 36.0


National Championship Series

Eastern Pennant: New York Mutuals
Western Pennant: Chicago White Stockings
Result: New York defeats Chicago, 4 games to 2
Series Silver Ball: Henry Wharton, CF, New York Mutuals


Batting Leaders – Combined

Batting Average
1. Johannes Beekhof (LOU) - .368
2. George Butcher (CHP) - .354
3. Levi Ryder (NYM) - .348
4. Peter White (NYM) - .346
5. Henry Wharton (NYM) - .338

Home Runs
1. Edward Moore (CWS) - 19
2. Joseph Harris (BRK) - 14
2. William Taylor (SLB) - 14
4. Moses Fleetwood (WAS) - 9
4. Sincere McTizic (CIN) - 9

Runs Batted In
1. Hugo Zepeda (NYM) - 102
2. Edward Moore (CWS) - 101
3. Sincere McTizic (CIN) - 98
4. Edward King (LOU) - 92
5. Frank Brown (CWS) - 90


Pitching Leaders – Combined

Wins
1. James Hall (NYM) - 43
2. Henry Hall (CWS) - 41
3. Henry Bush (CHP) - 35
4. Salvador Romero (BRK) - 33
5. 3 tied with - 32

Earned Run Average
1. Henry Hall (CWS) - 1.89
2. James Hall (NYM) - 2.27
3. Ivan Ibarra (BAL) - 2.50
4. Silas Price (CWS) - 2.67
5. Salvador Romero (BRK) - 2.75

Strikeouts
1. James Hall (NYM) - 378
2. Henry Hall (CWS) - 315
3. John Hill (NYM) - 271
4. James Wright (BOS) - 240
5. George Zettlein (BRK) - 218


Awards & Honors

Most Distinguished Player Medal – Eastern League: Henry Wharton, CF, New York Mutuals – AVG .338, Hits 179, RBIs 59
Most Distinguished Player Medal – Western League: Johannes Beekhof, CF, Louisville – AVG .368, Hits 181, RBIs 83


Season Notes

• June 13 – Johannes Beekhof becomes the second player to hit for the cycle.
• Pitching Triple Crown – James Hall (NYM) and Henry Hall (CWS) each claim the honor in their respective leagues, becoming the first triple crown winners in league history.
• Pitchers Henry Hall, James Hall, and George Zettlein (BRK) surpass 1,000 career strikeouts.
• Vincent O’Toole (DET) and Charles Cartwright (CWS) become the first players to score 500 career runs.
• Henry Wharton (NYM) records a league-record 175 stolen bases, 61 more than second-place Vincent O’Toole (DET).

[Haystacks]

Chicago Red Stockings Become the Red Caps

For the 1884 season, the Chicago White Stockings replace their previously worn cream-white caps with cardinal red headwear.

The move was motivated purely to add a splash of colour to their uniform, which until now had been almost completely cream-white apart from the red "C" monogram upon the cap.

The new headwear proves so eye-catching that fanatics and writers alike immediately—and almost unilaterally—begin to refer to the club as the Chicago Red Caps.

[Haystacks]

Season of 1884
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Off-Season Summary

Much to the relief of the Association's Executive Committee, the 1883-84 off-season was uneventful – the most notable rule change was the lifting of restrictions on the delivery of a pitcher, allowing throws to be made from above the shoulder.
Roster limits were increased to 20 to help teams be better prepared for the longer schedule and road trips. Most organizations now move to using a pitching rotation of three rather than two — James Hall’s 503 innings pitched in 1883 may never be surpassed unless the schedule grows further.
The evolution of team nicknames continues, with the Chicago White Stockings being commonly referred to as the “Red Caps” as they don bright new headwear.
The Saint Louis Brown Stockings are now known widely as the “Browns”, a change primarily rooted in the shorthand of the printed press. In Baltimore Blue Stockings follow suit, now commonly known as the “Blue Sox.”

Season Summary

Both the Eastern and Western Leagues remained tightly contested right up until September.
By September 1, the New York Mutuals and Boston Whalers sat tied at 48–33, the Baltimore Blue Sox three games back, and the New York Union five. The Philadelphia clubs and Washington remained locked in a struggle to avoid the bottom of the standings.
At the same time, in the West, the Chicago Packers stood proud with a record of 50–33, half a game ahead of the Colonels. Close behind were the Originals and Red Caps.
Over September, the Packers would ultimately fall behind, losing all four of their meetings with Louisville. In the Eastern League, the Mutuals held firm, as the Whalers and Blue Sox dropped off in form in the final stretch.

League Standings

EASTERN LEAGUE
W   L   PCT   GB
New York Mutuals        70  42  .625   -
Boston Whalers          65  47  .580   5.0
Baltimore Blue Sox      62  50  .554   8.0
New York Union          59  53  .527   11.0
Brooklyn Atlantics      56  56  .500   14.0
Philidelphia Olympics   51  61  .455   19.0
Washington Senators     47  65  .420   23.0
Philadelphia Quakers    38  74  .339   32.0

WESTERN LEAGUE
W   L   PCT   GB
Louisville Colonels     69  43  .616   -
Chicago Packers         66  46  .589   3.0
Chicago Red Caps        62  50  .554   7.0
Cincinnati Originals    61  51  .545   8.0
Milwaukee Creams        51  61  .455   18.0
Detroit Wolverines      50  62  .446   19.0
St. Louis Browns        49  63  .438   20.0
Cleveland Lakeshores    40  72  .357   29.0

National Championship Series
Eastern Pennant: New York Mutuals
Western Pennant: Louisville Colonels
Result: Louisville win the series, 4–3
Series Silver Ball: Henry Green, 3B, Louisville

Batting Leaders – Combined

AVG
1. Peter Johnson (NYM)   .337
2. Henry Green (LOU)     .329
3. Edward King (LOU)     .324
4. Johannes Beekhof (LOU).312
4. Robert Solis (PHO)    .312

HR
1. Edward Moore (CHI)    28
2. Joseph Harris (BRK)   21
3. William Taylor (SLB)  20
4. Sincere McTizic (CIN) 19
5. Moses Fleetwood (WAS) 16

RBI
1. Sincere McTizic (CIN) 100
2. Edward Moore (CHI)     95
3. James Bauer (CIN)      80
3. Rudolph Drezner (DET)  80
5. Henry Green (LOU)      76

Pitching Leaders – Combined

W
1. George Hill (NYM)     26
1. Frank Johnson (LOU)   26
3. Henry Astor (BOS)     24
3. Caleb White (CHI)     24

ERA
1. Henry Bush (CHP)      2.04
2. Frank Johnson (LOU)   2.05
3. Henry Brown (NYU)     2.12
4. Robert Clayton (SLB)  2.13
5. Frank Wilson (BAL)    2.15

K
1. James Hall (NYM)      329
2. Robert Wilson (WAS)   258
3. Henry Hall (CHI)      249
4. John Hill (NYM)       230
5. James Wright (BOS)    211

Awards & Honors

Most Distinguished Player Medal, Eastern League: Henry Wharton, CF, New York Mutuals – AVG .305 | Hits 151 | RBIs 51 (2 in a row, 3 total).
Most Distinguished Player Medal, Western League: Johannes Beekhof, CF, Louisville – AVG .312 | Hits 151 | RBIs 60 (4 in a row).

Season Notes

An article in the New York Globe lamenting the Mutuals’ recent success – four pennants in six seasons – states:
“The New York Club are not just the dominant force in the metropolis, but the whole Eastern League.”
This is credited as the first instance of the organization being referred to as the Metropolitans.

October 14 – John Hill (Mutuals) records the first 15-strikeout game in Association history, pitching 11 innings against Baltimore.

Joseph Harris (Brooklyn), Edward Moore (Cincinnati), and William Taylor (Saint Louis) become the first three players to record 20 or more home runs in a season.

Sincere McTizic (Cincinnati) records 100 RBIs.

Milestones

05/03/1884  Joseph Wells     100 Wins (Louisville)
05/06/1884  James Hall       150 Wins (New York)
05/14/1884  Henry Wharton    400 SB (New York)
05/22/1884  Edward Schmidt   400 SB (Cincinnati)
06/06/1884  Sincere McTizic  500 RBI (Cincinnati)
06/07/1884  Henry Brown      1000 K (Baltimore)
06/07/1884  Wyatt Green      500 Runs (Boston)
06/10/1884  William Rossi    100 Wins (New York)
06/15/1884  Samuel Moore     100 Wins (Cincinnati)
06/24/1884  Lemuel Thompson  500 Runs (Baltimore)
06/25/1884  Henry Bush       100 Wins (Chicago)
07/16/1884  Johannes Beekhof 400 SB (Louisville)
07/16/1884  George Nelson    500 Runs (Cincinnati)
07/18/1884  Jack McCaffrey   500 Runs (Boston)
07/22/1884  James Hall       1500 K (New York)
07/26/1884  Samuel O'Brien   500 Runs (Baltimore)
07/30/1884  William Harris   500 RBI (Detroit)
08/01/1884  Vincent O'Toole  700 SB (Detroit)
08/05/1884  John Hill        1000 K (New York)
08/06/1884  Frank Brown      500 Runs (Chicago)
08/17/1884  Arturo Irias     500 Runs (Boston)
08/26/1884  Daniel Soden     300 SB (Cincinnati)
08/31/1884  Elijah Anderson  500 Runs (Brooklyn)
08/31/1884  Charles Cartwright 500 SB (Chicago)
09/09/1884  Robert Olson     200 SB (Cincinnati)
09/09/1884  William Wilson   200 SB (Milwaukee)
09/23/1884  Robert Wilson    1000 K (Washington)
09/26/1884  Edward Moore     100 Wins (Brooklyn)
10/03/1884  John Bullock     100 Wins (New York)
10/07/1884  Edward Schmidt   500 SB (Cincinnati)
10/08/1884  Henry Wharton    500 SB (New York)
10/11/1884  Robert Clayton   100 Wins (St. Louis)
10/17/1884  William Nelson   500 Runs (Milwaukee)
10/19/1884  Johannes Beekhof 500 Runs (Louisville)