Champions

National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...

: Chicago White Stockings *

Eastern Championship Association The Eastern Championship Association was an independent minor baseball league that played in the 1881 season, as an early minor league. The league franchises were based in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. Teams were permitted to play n ...

New York Metropolitans The Metropolitan Club (New York Metropolitans or the Mets) was a 19th-century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887. (The ''New York Metropolitan Baseball Club'' was the name chosen in 1961 for the New Yor ...

Inter-league playoff: New York Mets (ECA) def. Chicago (NL), 2 games to 1.

National League final standings

Statistical leaders

Events

January

*January 11 – The first of a series of baseball games played on ice is played in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

. This will become a regular event in the Chicago area.

February

*February 7 – The Providence Grays sign Charley Radbourn. Radbourn played for the

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen F ...

1880 Events January–March * January 22 – Toowong State School is founded in Queensland, Australia. * January – The international White slave trade affair scandal in Brussels is exposed and attracts international infamy. * February � ...

, but only played the field in 6 games and did not pitch at all due to an arm injury. *February 22 –

George Wright George Wright may refer to: Politics, law and government * George Wright (MP) (died 1557), MP for Bedford and Wallingford * George Wright (governor) (1779–1842), Canadian politician, lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island * George Wright ...

signs a contract to play for the Boston Red Caps after sitting out the

season. Wright will only play part-time in order to devote more time to his sporting goods business. *February 25 – Jim O'Rourke signs a contract with the

after spending most of his career playing for the Boston Red Caps.

March

*March 8 – The

agrees on an 84-game schedule for the upcoming season. The owners are polled and pick the Chicago White Stockings as the pre-season favorite to win the pennant. *March 9 – The

releases a list of 23 umpires approved to call league games.

April

*April 11 – The Eastern Association is formed and includes the New York Metropolitans, The Washington Nationals and Brooklyn Atlantics, all teams that have regularly played competitively against

teams. *April 27 – With pitcher George Bradley already out with pneumonia, the

Detroit Wolverines The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th-century Major League Baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant (and winning the p ...

lose their other hurler Bill Sweeney to a

pulmonary hemorrhage Pulmonary hemorrhage (or pulmonary haemorrhage) is an acute bleeding from the lung, from the upper respiratory tract and the trachea, and the pulmonary alveoli. When evident clinically, the condition is usually massive.

. Neither pitcher will ever play a single game for the Wolverines.

May

*May 14 –

Charley Jones Charles Wesley Jones (born Benjamin Wesley Rippay on April 30, 1852 – June 6, 1911) was an American left fielder in the National Association and Major League Baseball who hit 56 home runs and batted .298 during his twelve-year career. He wa ...

wins a judgement against the Boston Red Caps for his unpaid salary due from

in an

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

court.

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...

law enforcement will take the money from the Red Caps share of gate receipts when Boston plays in Cleveland. *May 20 – Mike "King" Kelly scores the go-ahead run by cutting short the distance rounding the bases. Kelly doesn't come close to touching third while the umpire is looking a different direction. Kelly then pulls off the hidden ball trick in the 9th inning to preserve the win for the Chicago White Stockings. *May 28 – A man is arrested for trying to bribe John Clapp of the Cleveland Blues to throw a game. Clapp will acquire the nickname "Honest John" because he went to the police after the bribe offer was made.

June

*June 1 – Tommy Bond is released by the Boston Red Caps after starting the season 0–3. After averaging nearly 500 innings pitched per season over the last 7 years, Bond's arm is no longer what it once was. Bond will never regain his once-dominating form. *June 18 – The Washington Nationals of the Eastern League disband, citing lack of interest after being rejected to join the

. *June 20 – A new team is formed in

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...

after the demise of the previous

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

team. This new club will succeed and become the modern-day

. *June 25 –

George Gore George F. Gore (May 3, 1854 – September 16, 1933), nicknamed "Piano Legs", was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for 14 seasons, eight for the Chicago White Stockings, five for the New York Giants, one for the St. ...

of the Chicago White Stockings sets a major league record by stealing 7 bases in one game. Billy Hamilton will tie this record in

1894 Events January–March * January 4 – A military alliance is established between the French Third Republic and the Russian Empire. * January 7 – William Kennedy Dickson receives a patent for motion picture film in the United S ...

July

*July 2 – The Boston Red Caps lose to the

to drop to last place in the

. It is the first time in club history that they have occupied the cellar. *July 4 –

Mickey Welch Michael Francis Welch (July 4, 1859 – July 30, 1941), nicknamed "Smiling Mickey", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He stood tall and weighed . He was the third pitcher to accumulate 300 career victories. Welch was born in Brooklyn, New Y ...

of the

Troy Trojans The Troy Trojans are the sports teams of Troy University. They began playing in the NCAA's Division I-A in 2001, became a football only member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2004, and joined that conference for all other sports in 2005. Troy Unive ...

beats the

in both games of a double-header, giving him 16 straight wins against the Bisons. *July 20 – The

finish off a sweep of the first-place Chicago White Stockings to pull within 3½ games of Chicago. *July 21 – The Cleveland Blues lose 4–0 in an exhibition game to

Akron Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city ...

in a game that only takes 1 hour and 18 minutes to play.

August

*August 21 – The Eclipse club refuses to play against the Chicago Whites in

Louisville Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border. ...

because of a black player named

Fleet Walker Fleet may refer to: Vehicles * Fishing fleet * Naval fleet *Fleet vehicles, a pool of motor vehicles *Fleet Aircraft, the aircraft manufacturing company Places Canada * Fleet, Alberta, Canada, a hamlet England * The Fleet Lagoon, at Chesil Bea ...

on the Chicago team. Walker will go on to play for the

Toledo Blue Stockings The Toledo Blue Stockings formed as a minor league baseball team in Toledo, Ohio, in 1883. They won the Northwestern League championship in 1883. Their home ballpark was League Park. The following year, they joined the major league American Assoc ...

in the

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

in 1884 and is generally regarded as the first black player in major league baseball. *August 27 –

Tony Mullane Anthony John Mullane (January 30, 1859 – April 25, 1944), nicknamed "Count" and "The Apollo of the Box", was an Irish Major League Baseball player who pitched for seven teams during his 13-season career. He is best known as an ambidextrous p ...

makes his major league debut for the

and beats the first place Chicago White Stockings 9–1. Despite the win, Mullane will be released within a month by the Wolverines. He will go on to post 284 career wins.

September

*September 3 – Lip Pike of the

Worcester Ruby Legs The Worcester Worcesters were a 19th-century Major League Baseball team from 1880 to 1882 in the National League. The team is referred to, at times, as the Brown Stockings or the Ruby Legs; however, no contemporary sources from the time exist th ...

makes 3 errors in the 9th inning which gives the Boston Red Caps 2 runs and a 3–2 victory. Worcester accuses Pike of throwing the game and immediately suspends him. Pike will only play in 1 more game in his career, in 1887. *September 10 – With the

trailing 7–4, the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the 9th,

Roger Connor Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...

hits the first grand slam in

history for an 8–7 victory. *September 12 – Chub Sullivan, who was captain of the

before falling ill in the spring, dies in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

at the age of 25. *September 15 –

Davy Force David W. "Davy" Force (July 27, 1849 – June 21, 1918) was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. From 1871 through 1886, he played in the National Association with the Washington Olympics (1871), Troy Haymakers (1872), Baltimore Canaries (1 ...

of the

turns 2 unassisted double plays, participates in 2 other double plays and starts a triple play for the Bisons. Despite his feat, Buffalo loses in 12 innings, 7–6 to the

. *September 16 – The Chicago White Stockings win their 2nd straight pennant with a 4–0 win over the Boston Red Caps. *September 25 – The

announces that all 8 teams will return for the

1882 Events January–March * January 2 ** The Standard Oil Trust is secretly created in the United States to control multiple corporations set up by John D. Rockefeller and his associates. ** Irish-born author Oscar Wilde arrives in t ...

season. This is the first time that the major leagues have had the same teams in 2 consecutive seasons. *September 27 – The

lose to the champion Chicago White Stockings 10–8 in a heavy rain storm in front of 12 spectators, setting a record for the least attended game. *September 29 – The

issues a list of 10 blacklisted players who will require unanimous league approval for reinstatement. The reason given for the blacklisting is "confirmed dissipation and general insubordination."

October

*October 8 – Chris von der Ahe takes control of the St. Louis Browns. The Browns join the soon to be formed

, become a dominant team and eventually join the

and still exist today as the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

. *October 10 – Initiated by backers of the new

Cincinnati Red Stockings The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first all-professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) 1867� ...

club, the first meetings are held in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

of what would become the

. *October 15 – Denny McKnight organizes the Allegheny Baseball Club of Pittsburgh in anticipation of playing in the new

. The team, still in existence today, will become known as the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

. *October 16 – The Mystics win the California League championship by defeating Oakland 12–10.

November

*November 2 – The

, the first competing Major League, is officially founded with the motto ''Liberty to All''. The six Clubs members are the

Brooklyn Atlantics The Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn ("Atlantic" or the "Brooklyn Atlantics") was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty. The team was also the first baseball club to visit the White House in 1865 at the invitation of President A ...

, Eclipse of Louisville,

Philadelphia Athletics The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and became the Kansas City Athletics. Following another move in 1967, the team became the Oakla ...

Pittsburgh Alleghenys The following is a history of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. Franchise beginnings (1870s-1899) Early baseball in Pittsburgh and the American Association The earliest mention of "base ball" in the region was found in the journal ...

and

St. Louis Brown Stockings The St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1875 to 1877, which competed on the cusps of the existences of two all-professional leagues—the National Association (NA) and the National Leagu ...

. The Brooklyn club will be replaced by the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...

before the start of the first season in 1882. *November 3 – The

elects Denny McKnight as president. The new league will have no reserve clause and will allow Sunday games, liquor sales and 25¢ tickets, all in opposition to

policies, in an effort to take the established major league head-on.

December

*December 22 – Longtime Boston Red Stockings/ Boston Red Caps manager

Harry Wright William Henry "Harry" Wright (January 10, 1835 – October 3, 1895) was an English-born American professional baseball player, manager, and developer. He assembled, managed, and played center field for baseball's first fully professional team, t ...

signs a contract to manage the Providence Grays for the

season.

Births

January–April

*January 21 – Arch McCarthy *January 22 –

Ira Thomas Ira Felix Thomas (January 22, 1881 – October 11, 1958) was an American professional baseball player. He played all or part of ten seasons of Major League Baseball, all in the American League, with the New York Highlanders (1906–07), Detroit Ti ...

*February 2 –

Orval Overall Orval Overall (February 2, 1881 – July 14, 1947) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a member of the Chicago Cubs dynasty of the early 1900s, making eight appearances for the Cubs in the World Series, including five as the ...

*February 27 – Walter Moser *February 28 – Terry Turner *March 1 – Al Shaw *March 23 –

Gavvy Cravath Clifford Carlton "Gavvy" Cravath (March 23, 1881 – May 23, 1963), also nicknamed "Cactus", was an American right fielder and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies. One of the sport's most ...

*April 12 – Harry Ostdiek *April 22 – Neal Ball

May–August

*May 14 –

Ed Walsh Edward Augustine "Big Ed" Walsh (May 14, 1881 – May 26, 1959) was an American pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1906 to 1912, he had several seasons where he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Injuries shortened his c ...

*May 28 – King Brady *June 5 – Beany Jacobson *June 17 – Claude Rossman *July 6 – Walter Carlisle *July 6 – Roy Hartzell *July 18 –

Larry McLean Larry is a masculine given name in English, derived from Lawrence or Laurence. It can be a shortened form of those names. Larry may refer to the following: People Arts and entertainment *Larry D. Alexander, American artist/writer *Larry Boone ...

*July 21 – Johnny Evers *July 31 –

Bob Unglaub Robert Alexander Unglaub (July 31, 1880 – November 29, 1916) was an American first baseman, utility infielder and manager in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Highlanders, Boston Americans, and Washington Senators. He batte ...

*August 22 – Howie Camnitz *August 28 –

Dode Paskert George Henry "Dode" Paskert (August 28, 1881 – February 12, 1959) was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1907 through 1921 for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs. Career Born in Clevel ...

September–December

*September 9 – Harry Cross *September 10 – Tony Tonneman *October 18 – Hans Lobert *November 10 – Jack Hoey *December 20 –

Branch Rickey Wesley Branch Rickey (December 20, 1881 – December 9, 1965) was an American baseball player and sports executive. Rickey was instrumental in breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing black player Jackie Robinson. He also creat ...

Deaths

*February 6 – Ham Allen, 34, batted .273 for the 1872

Middletown Mansfields The Middletown Mansfields were an early baseball team in Middletown, Connecticut that existed from 1866 to 1872. Formation In the summer of 1866, a ballclub was established at Middletown's Douglas Pump Company by the factory owner's son, sixteen-ye ...

. *March 1 –

Hugh Campbell Hugh Campbell (born May 21, 1941) is a former American football and Canadian football player, coach, and executive. He served as a head coach in three different professional gridiron football leagues: the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Unit ...

, 34?, pitcher for the 1873 Elizabeth Resolutes. *April 11 – John McMullin, 32?, outfielder in the National Association from 1871–1875 who batted .346 for the 1874

. *April 21 –

Josh Snyder Joshua Snyder (1844–1881), was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in Major League Baseball for the 1872 Brooklyn Eckfords Eckford of Brooklyn, or simply Eckford, was an American baseball club from 1855 to 1872. When the Unio ...

, 37, left fielder for the 1872

Brooklyn Eckfords Eckford of Brooklyn, or simply Eckford, was an American baseball club from 1855 to 1872. When the Union Grounds opened on May 15, 1862 for baseball in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it became the first enclosed baseball grounds in America. Three clubs cal ...

. *April 21 – James Sumner, 29, umpire in National league from 1876 to 1878. *May 10 – Fraley Rogers, 30?, outfielder for the Boston Red Stockings from 1872–1873. *May 13 – Mort Rogers, ?, umpire in the National Association from 1871 to 1872. *July 11 – Steve Dignan, 22, played in 11 games for two teams in 1880. *September 7 –

Red Woodhead James "Red" Woodhead (July 9, 1851 – September 7, 1881) was an American professional baseball player. He played one game for the 1873 Baltimore Marylands of the National Association, three seasons for the Manchesters of the International Ass ...

, 30, third baseman for the 1879 Syracuse Stars. *September 12 – Chub Sullivan, 25, first baseman who played from 1877–1880. *October 7 –

Mike Brannock Michael J. Brannock (October 25, 1851 – October 7, 1881) was a third baseman in the National Association for the Chicago White Stockings in 1871, and later played for another incarnation of the Chicago White Stockings in 1875, predecesso ...

, 29, played parts of two seasons with Chicago White Stockings in the 1870s. *November 11 –

Clipper Flynn William "Clipper" Flynn (April 29, 1849 – November 5, 1881) was an American professional baseball player who played in the National Association as a first baseman for the 1871 Troy Haymakers The Troy Haymakers were an American profession ...

, 32, hit .338 in his only full season in 1871.

External links

1881 season at Baseball-Reference.comCharlton's Baseball Chronology at BaseballLibrary.comYear by Year History at Baseball-Almanac.comRetrosheet.org
{{Year in baseball, this year=1881