Champions

Major League Baseball

National League National League often refers to: *National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada *National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...

: Chicago White Stockings * American Association: St. Louis Browns ;World Series Post-season playoff: the Chicago White Stockings played the St. Louis Browns, which ended with both teams going 3–3–1 in a best-of-seven series. Game 1 finished in a tie called after eight innings due to darkness; Game 2 was awarded to Chicago by forfeit after six innings because St. Louis refused to continue after disputing an umpiring decision. Both teams dispute the series and claim the championship.

Minor League Baseball

* Canadian League: Clippers of Hamilton * Eastern League: Washington Nationals * New England League: Lawrence * New York State League: Syracuse

College baseball

*Inter-Collegiate Association:

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

*Northwestern College Base Ball Association:

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...

Statistical leaders

Major league baseball final standings

American Association final standings

National League final standings

Notable seasons

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

first baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...

Roger Connor Roger Connor (July 1, 1857 – January 4, 1931) was an American 19th-century Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He played for several teams, but his longest tenure was in New York, where he was responsible for the New York Gothams becoming kno ...

led the NL in

batting average Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic. Cricket In cricket, a player's batting average is ...

(.371),

on-base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) measures how frequently a batting (baseball), batter reaches base (baseball), base. An official Major League Baseball (MLB) statistic since 1984, it is sometimes referred to as on-base average (OBA ...

(.435), hits (169), and

total bases In baseball statistics, total bases is the number of bases a player gains with hit (baseball), hits. It is a weighted sum with values of 1 for a single (baseball), single, 2 for a double (baseball), double, 3 for a triple (baseball), triple and 4 ...

(225). He was second in the

(NL) in

slugging percentage In baseball statistics, slugging percentage (SLG) is a measure of the batting productivity of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at-bats, through the following formula, where ''AB'' is the number of at-bats for a given player, an ...

(.495) and adjusted OPS+ (200)."1885 National League Batting Leaders"
baseball.reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2021. * Buffalo Bisons first baseman Dan Brouthers led the NL in slugging percentage (.543) and adjusted OPS+ (203). He was second in the NL in batting average (.359), on-base percentage (.408), hits (146), and total bases (221). *Chicago White Stockings pitcher John Clarkson had a win–loss record of 53–16 and led the NL in innings pitched (623), wins (53), shutouts (10), and strikeouts (308). He was third in the NL in earned run average (1.85) and adjusted ERA+ (163)."1885 National League Pitching Leaders"
baseball.reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2021.

Events

January–March

*January 3 – The Cleveland Blues release all of their players as they prepare to disband. *January 6 – Henry Lucas, the man behind the failed

Union Association The Union Association was an American professional baseball league which competed with Major League Baseball, lasting for just the 1884 season. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season. Seven of the twelv ...

in , purchases the remaining assets of the Cleveland Blues as he prepares for his St. Louis Maroons to join the

. *January 10 – The

accepts the formal withdrawal of the Cleveland Blues and admits the St. Louis Maroons, the champions of the

in . *January 15 – The

holds a meeting in which only the Kansas City Cowboys and the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

attend. The decision is made to formally shut down the league. *February 11 – The original configuration of the Western League is formed.

April–June

*April 3 – The

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 York M ...

of the American Association, run by John Day, release Tim Keefe and

Dude Esterbrook Thomas John "Dude" Esterbrook (June 20, 1857 – April 30, 1901) was an American Major League Baseball player from Staten Island, New York who played the majority of his games at Third baseman, third base, but did play many games at First baseman ...

for them to be acquired by the

, also run by Day. *April 29 – After being shut out for the 2nd straight game, players on the

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� ...

are fined $25 each by their manager O. P. Caylor. *May 7 – The St. Louis Browns take over 1st place in the American Association with a 13–1 win over the

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, they became the Oakland ...

and will remain there for the rest of the season. *May 27 – John Montgomery Ward of the

graduates from the

Columbia Law School Columbia Law School (CLS) is the Law school in the United States, law school of Columbia University, a Private university, private Ivy League university in New York City. The school was founded in 1858 as the Columbia College Law School. The un ...

. *June 2 – The

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) 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 America ...

defeat the St. Louis Browns 7–1 to break the Browns 17-game winning streak. *June 7 – The American Association removes all restrictions on overhand pitching. *June 12 – Dave Orr, first baseman for the American Association

, hits for the cycle. New York defeats the St. Louis Browns, 17–8. *June 13 – Detroit Wolverines outfielder George Wood hits for the cycle in a 17–9 loss to the Chicago White Stockings. *June 16 – Henry Larkin of the American Association

hits for the cycle in a 14–1 win over the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. *June 17 – "Phenomenal" Smith loses his first start as a Brooklyn Gray by a score of 18–5 after his teammates commit 14 errors behind him, including 7 by shortstop Germany Smith. "Phenomenal"'s boast of being so good that he could win by himself doesn't sit well with the other Brooklyn players, who are fined $500 for their intentional poor play. In the interests of team chemistry, Smith is immediately released. *June 25 – 10 different players collect at least 2 hits each for the Brooklyn Grays in their 21–14 win over the

. George Strief of Philadelphia sets a major league record by hitting 4 triples in the game.

July–September

*July 1 – Tom Burns of the Chicago White Stockings hits a home run that is estimated at 500 feet in a Chicago win. *July 2 – Sam Thompson makes his major league debut for the Detroit Wolverines. *July 3 – Jim McCormick of the

Providence Grays The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at the Messer Street Grounds in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National ...

wins his 200th career game for his first victory of the season. Six days later he will be sold to the Chicago White Stockings where he will win 20 games. *July 4 – Owen Keenan of the

Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, 11th-most populous city in Ohio with a population of 60,068 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Mahoning ...

club beats New Castle in both games of a doubleheader, pitching one game right-handed and the other game left-handed. *July 11 – After winning 175 games while pitching over 2,300 innings for the Chicago White Stockings since , pitcher Larry Corcoran is released after straining his arm muscles so badly that he is unable to throw. Corcoran will only pitch 54 more innings and win 2 more games for the remainder of his career. *July 12 – The Buffalo Bisons sell Pud Galvin to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys for $5,000. *July 27 – John Clarkson, amid a 53-win season, pitches a no-hitter for the Chicago White Stockings. *July 29 – Henry Larkin ties the record by hitting 4 doubles in a game. *August 16 – Louis Henke dies of a ruptured liver, sustained in an on-field collision in a Southern League game the previous day. *August 18 – Jack Farrell of the

is suspended without pay for shouting obscenities at fans in Providence. *August 26 –

of the

starts a first-inning triple play. 12 days later, Connor would be involved in another first-inning triple play. *August 27 – Paul Hines is released by the

after they accuse him of intentionally playing poorly. *August 29 – Charlie Ferguson of the Philadelphia Quakers pitches a no-hitter in a 1–0 win over the

. *August 29 – The St. Louis Browns win the American Association pennant with a 16–9 win over the

Louisville Colonels The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association (AA) throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891. They were known as the Louisville Eclipse from 1882 to 1884, and as th ...

. *September 11 – The

suspend Charles Radbourn and Jerry Denny after a 9–1 loss. *September 17 – The Detroit Wolverines purchase controlling ownership in the Buffalo Bisons in a move that will be overturned by the

. *September 19 – With former Buffalo players Dan Brouthers, Hardy Richardson, Jack Rowe and Deacon White in uniform for the Detroit Wolverines, the

orders their game against the

forfeited if they play. Detroit sits the 4 new players and loses to the Giants 6–5. The 4 return to Buffalo to finish the season. *September 28 – Detroit Wolverines first baseman Mox McQuery hits for the cycle against the

. Detroit wins, 14–2. *September 30 – The Chicago White Stockings clinch the

pennant with a 2–1 win over the

October–December

*October 1 – The first all-black professional team is formed by Frank P. Thompson. Originally known as the Athletics, they will soon change their name to the Cuban Giants. *October 3 – Playing in an exhibition game against Newark of the Eastern League, the American Association

are no-hit by the former (and future) big-leaguer, John "Phenomenal" Smith. *October 7 – Fred Shaw of the

throws a 5-inning no-hitter before 12 fans in Buffalo in the first game of a double-header against the Bisons. Shaw beats them again in another 5-inning game in the nightcap. *October 10 **The

sweep the Buffalo Bisons in a double-header in the Bisons' last day in the major leagues. Buffalo finishes the season with a 17-game winless streak, only managing 1 tie in the season's last 3 weeks. **Joe Gerhardt, second baseman of the

finishes the season with a .155 batting average while shortstop Charlie Bastian of the Philadelphia Quakers ends the year with a .167 average. Both players set still-standing records for the lowest batting average in a season (with a minimum of 350 at-bats) for their respective positions. *October 17 – The

sets a minimum player salary of $1,000 and a maximum of $2,000 for the season. *October 22 John Montgomery Ward, along with several teammates, forms the Brotherhood of Professional Baseball Players, the first union in professional sports history. The Brotherhood would ultimately result in the

Players' League The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League (PL), was a short-lived but star-studded American professional baseball league of the 19th century. The PL was formed by the Brotherhood of Pr ...

in . *October 24 – The final game of the 1885 World Series is played. The St. Louis Browns defeat the Chicago White Stockings 13–4 to tie the series at 3 wins each, with game 1 having ended in a tie. *December 4 – The

are sold to Canadian-born millionaire Erastus Wiman for $25,000. *December 24 – The St. Louis Browns sell the reserve rights of Sam Barkley to fellow American Association member

for $1,000.

Births

*January 2 – Chick Autry *January 5 – Art Fletcher *January 15 – Grover Lowdermilk *January 21 – Benny Meyer *January 27 – Tom Baird *February 1 – Pete Harrison *February 3 – Slim Sallee *February 17 – Steve Evans *April 13 ** Vean Gregg ** Red Killefer *April 20 – Ted Easterly *May 18 – Cy Barger *May 23 – Hugh Bradley *June 7 – Dan McGeehan *June 11 – Chris Mahoney *July 9 – Buck Herzog *July 17 – Les Wilson *August 4 – Tex Jones *August 7 – Joe Hewitt *September 3 – Ed Konetchy *September 12 – Fred Luderus *September 22 – Walter Lonergan *September 22 – Jimmy Walsh *September 28 –

Wilbur Good Wilbur David "Lefty" Goode (September 28, 1885 – December 30, 1963) was an American outfielder for the New York Highlanders (1905), Cleveland Naps (1908–1909), Boston Doves, Boston Doves/Rustlers (1910–1911), Chicago Cubs (1911–1915), Ph ...

*October 6 – John Knight *October 14 – Ivy Olson *November 15 – Pat Ragan *December 4 – Shano Collins *December 6 – Jack Stansbury *December 11 – Fred Anderson *December 20 – Joe Wilhoit

Deaths

*February 10 – Al Hall (baseball), Al Hall, age unknown, center fielder for the Troy Trojans (MLB team), Troy Trojans. *February 12 – Nealy Phelps, 44, played 12 career games over 5 seasons for 3 teams in 2 leagues. *March 13 – Herman Dehlman, 32?, first baseman for Brooklyn and St. Louis Brown Stockings, St. Louis teams in the National Association who led the league in walks in . *August 12 – Dick Cramer, age unknown, played 2 games for the New York Gothams. *November 30 – Dan Cronin (baseball), Dan Cronin, 28, played 2 games in the

in .

References

Sources

External links

1885 National League season at Baseball-Reference.com1885 American Association season at Baseball-Reference.comCharlton's Baseball Chronology at BaseballLibrary.comYear by Year History at Baseball-Almanac.comRetrosheet.org
{{Year in baseball, this year=1885