Statistical leaders
| National Association | |||
| Type | Name | Stat | |
| AVG | Ross Barnes BOS | .431 | |
| HR | Lip Pike BAL | 4 | |
| RBI | Deacon White BOS | 77 | |
| Wins | Al Spalding BOS | 41 | |
| ERA | Cherokee Fisher PHI | 1.81 | |
| Strikeouts | Bobby Mathews NYM | 79 | |
The following are the baseball events of the year 1873 throughout the world.
| National Association | W | L | GB | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Red Stockings | 43 | 16 | – | .729 |
| Philadelphia White Stockings | 36 | 17 | 4.0 | .679 |
| Baltimore Canaries | 34 | 22 | 7.5 | .607 |
| New York Mutuals | 29 | 24 | 11.0 | .547 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 28 | 23 | 11.0 | .549 |
| Brooklyn Atlantics | 17 | 37 | 23.5 | .205 |
| Washington Blue Legs | 8 | 31 | 25.0 | .205 |
| Elizabeth Resolutes | 2 | 21 | 23.0 | .087 |
| Baltimore Marylands | 0 | 6 | 16.5 | .000 |
| National Association | |||
| Type | Name | Stat | |
| AVG | Ross Barnes BOS | .431 | |
| HR | Lip Pike BAL | 4 | |
| RBI | Deacon White BOS | 77 | |
| Wins | Al Spalding BOS | 41 | |
| ERA | Cherokee Fisher PHI | 1.81 | |
| Strikeouts | Bobby Mathews NYM | 79 | |
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP), often known simply as the National Association (NA), was the first fully-professional sports league in baseball. The NA was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season. It succeeded and incorporated several professional clubs from the previous National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) of 1857–1870, sometimes called "the amateur Association". In turn, several NA clubs created the succeeding National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, which joined with the American League of Professional Base Ball Clubs to form Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1903.
Robert Vavasour Ferguson was an American infielder, league official, manager and umpire in the early days of baseball, playing both before and after baseball became a professional sport. In addition to playing and managing, he served as president of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players from 1872 through 1875, the sport's first entirely professional league. His character and unquestioned honesty were highly regarded during a period in baseball history where the game's reputation was badly damaged by gamblers and rowdy behavior by players and fans. However, his bad temper and stubbornness were traits that created trouble for him at times during his career, and caused him to be disliked by many. His nickname, "Death to Flying Things", was derived from his greatness as a defensive player.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1901 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1882 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1896 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1889 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1888 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1887 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1886 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1885 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1883 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1875 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1874 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1872 throughout the world.
The New York Mutuals base ball team was one of only three teams to have played in all five seasons of the National Association's existence (1871–75). In 1873 the team finished the season in fourth place with 29 wins and 24 losses, eleven games behind pennant winning Boston Red Stockings. They won 22 out of 31 home games, played at Union Grounds in Brooklyn and 7 of 22 away from home. The team batting average was .281, fifth best in the NA. They led the league in fewest strikeouts with 22, and fewest opponents runs.
Nathaniel Woodhull "Nat" Hicks was an American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for six seasons, two in the National League. Hicks was one of the first catchers to stand directly behind the batter, which allowed future Hall of Fame pitcher, Candy Cummings to develop the first curveball used in baseball. Hicks was a popular and highly regarded player during his time in baseball, but injuries sustained over the course of his career cut his playing time short.
The 1873 Boston Red Stockings season was the third season of the franchise. They won their second consecutive National Association championship.
Albert Thake was an English professional baseball left fielder for the Brooklyn Atlantics of the National Association. Joining the team in 1872, he played 18 games for them, batting .295 with 14 runs scored, 23 hits, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 0 home runs, 15 runs batted in (RBI), and 2 stolen bases. Thake died on September 1, 1872, when he drowned off the coast of Fort Hamilton while fishing.
John F. McMullin was an American professional baseball player. During the first professional league season in 1871, he was the only regular left-handed pitcher, while in later seasons he mainly played the outfield. After playing almost every game throughout the five National Association seasons (1871–1875), he did not play a single game in the National League that succeeded it. He died in his native Philadelphia five years later, only 32 years old.