1890 Major League Baseball season

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1890 MLB season
League American Association (AA)
National League (NL)
Players' League (PL)
Sport Baseball
DurationRegular season:
  • April 17 – October 15, 1890 (AA)
  • April 19 – October 4, 1890 (NL, PL)
World's Championship Series (AA vs. NL):
  • October 17–28, 1890
Number of games140
Number of teams25 (8 active per league, 9 AA total)
Pennant winner
AA champions Louisville Colonels
  AA runners-up Columbus Solons
NL champions Brooklyn Bridegrooms
  NL runners-up Chicago Colts
PL champions Boston Reds
  PL runners-up Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
World's Championship Series
ChampionsSeries ended in a tie
  Runners-up Brooklyn Bridegrooms / Louisville Colonels
MLB seasons
Locations of teams for the 1890 American Association season
ButtonRed.svg American Association
Locations of teams for the 1890 National League season
ButtonBlue.svg National League
Locations of teams for the 1890 Players' League season
ButtonGreen.svg Players' League

The 1890 major league baseball season began on April 17, 1890. The National League and newly-founded Players' League regular seasons ended on October 4, with the Boston Beaneaters and Boston Reds as the NL and PL pennant winners, respectively. The American Association regular season ended on October 15 and saw the Louisville Colonels the winners of the AA pennant. The postseason between the AA and NL began with Game 1 of the seventh World's Championship Series on October 17 and ended with Game 7 on October 28. The series ended in a tie, with the Bridegrooms and Colonels each with three wins, and a tie game. The series was unique in that the Bridegrooms reached the series back-to-back, but with each season in a different league, a feat that has not been matched since. The Reds had floated a three-way Championship series with them and the AA & NL pennant winners, though the idea fell on deaf ears.

Contents

This was the final season of a dual-league championship until the founding of the modern World Series in 1903 between the National League and American League.

The major league world was in turmoil in 1890, as many of the best players had jumped to the "outlaw" Players' League. Although the Brotherhood only lasted the one season, it had a detrimental financial effect on the other two leagues, especially the Association, who would not survive the following season, merging into the National League in December 1891.

Over the prior offseason, the Indianapolis Hoosiers and Washington Nationals of the National League, and Kansas City Cowboys of the American Association folded. The Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Cincinnati Red Stockings (now Reds) transfer from the American Association to the National League, while the Baltimore Orioles departed the AA for the minor league Atlantic Association, leaving four vacancies in the American Association that would be filled by the Brooklyn Gladiators (who would fold in August, being replace by a returning Orioles team), Rochester Broncos, Syracuse Stars, and Toledo Maumees.

Following the 1890 season, the single season Players' League disbanded during the offseason, with most teams either folding or merging with existing American Association and National League teams; the Boston Reds and Philadelphia Athletics would join the AA for the 1891 season, with the latter replacing the financially struggling original AA Philadelphia Athletics.

The major-league status of the Federal League was confirmed by the Special Baseball Records Committee (as convened by then-Commissioner of Baseball William Eckert) in 1969. [1]

Schedule

The 1890 schedule consisted of 140 games for all teams in the American Association, National League, and Players' League, each of which had eight active teams (the Baltimore Orioles would finish the Brooklyn Gladiators' schedule once they folded following their last game on August 25). Each team was scheduled to play 20 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place by the American Association since the 1886 season and by the National League since the 1888 season. This format would last until 1892.

American Association Opening Day took place on April 17 featuring six teams, while National League and Players' League Opening Days took place on April 19, each featuring their eight teams. The American Association would see its final day of the regular season on October 15 with a doubleheader between the Baltimore Orioles and Rochester Broncos. The National League would see its final day of the season on October 4, with a doubleheader between the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Spiders. The Players' League would see its season end on the same day, with all eight teams playing. [2] The 1890 World's Championship Series took place between October 17 and October 28.

Rule change

The 1890 season saw the following rule change:

Teams

A dagger (†) denotes a team that folded mid-season
A double dagger (‡) denotes a team joined mid-season

LeagueTeamCityStadiumCapacityManager [4]
American Association Baltimore Orioles‡ Baltimore, Maryland Oriole Park 7,000 Billy Barnie
Brooklyn Gladiators† Ridgewood, New York Ridgewood Park 10,000 Jim Kennedy
Columbus Solons Columbus, Ohio Recreation Park (Columbus) 6,500 Al Buckenberger
Gus Schmelz
Pat Sullivan
Louisville Colonels Louisville, Kentucky Eclipse Park 5,860 Jack Chapman
Philadelphia Athletics Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jefferson Street Grounds 15,000 Bill Sharsig
Rochester Broncos Rochester, New York Culver Field Unknown Patrick Powers
St. Louis Browns St. Louis, Missouri Sportsman's Park 12,000 Tommy McCarthy
John Kerins
James Roseman
Count Campau
Joe Gerhardt
Syracuse Stars Syracuse, New York Star Park Unknown George Frazier
Wallace Fessenden
Toledo Maumees Toledo, Ohio Speranza Park Unknown Charlie Morton
National League Boston Beaneaters Boston, Massachusetts South End Grounds 6,800 Frank Selee
Brooklyn Bridegrooms Brooklyn, New York Washington Park 3,000 Bill McGunnigle
Chicago Colts Chicago, Illinois West Side Park 6,000 Cap Anson
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati, Ohio American Park 3,000 Tom Loftus
Cleveland Spiders Cleveland, Ohio National League Park Unknown Gus Schmelz
Robert Leadley
New York Giants New York, New York Polo Grounds II 15,000 Jim Mutrie
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds 12,500 Harry Wright
Jack Clements
Al Reach
Bob Allen
Pittsburgh Alleghenys Allegheny, Pennsylvania Recreation Park (Pittsburgh) 17,000 Guy Hecker
Players' League Boston Reds Boston, Massachusetts Congress Street Grounds 14,000 King Kelly
Brooklyn Ward's Wonders Brooklyn, New York Eastern Park 12,000 John Ward
Buffalo Bisons Buffalo, New York Olympic Park Unknown Jack Rowe
Jay Faatz
Chicago Pirates Chicago, Illinois South Side Park 6,450 Charles Comiskey
Cleveland Infants Cleveland, Ohio Brotherhood Park Unknown Henry Larkin
Patsy Tebeau
New York Giants New York, New York Polo Grounds III 16,000 Buck Ewing
Philadelphia Athletics Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Forepaugh Park 5,000 Jim Fogarty
Charlie Buffinton
Pittsburgh Burghers Allegheny, Pennsylvania Exposition Park 6,500 Ned Hanlon

Sunday games

Blue laws restricted Sunday activities in several localities, causing several teams of the American Association (which was informally referred to as the "Beer & Whiskey League" due to its openness on alcohol, compared to the National and Players' Leagues) to play at ballparks in a different locality.

TeamCityStadiumCapacityGames played
Brooklyn Gladiators [5] New York, New York Polo Grounds II 15,0008
Maspeth, New York Long Island Grounds Unknown2
Philadelphia Athletics [6] Gloucester City, New Jersey Gloucester Point Grounds Unknown13
Rochester Broncos [7] Irondequoit, New York Windsor Beach Grounds Unknown6
Syracuse Stars [8] Three Rivers, New York Three Rivers Park Unknown5
Syracuse, New York Iron Pier Unknown1

Standings

American Association

American Association
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Louisville Colonels 8844.667—57‍–‍1331‍–‍31
Columbus Solons 7955.5901047‍–‍2232‍–‍33
St. Louis Browns 7858.5741245‍–‍2533‍–‍33
Toledo Maumees 6864.5152040‍–‍2728‍–‍37
Rochester Broncos 6363.5002240‍–‍2223‍–‍41
Baltimore Orioles 1519.441248‍–‍117‍–‍8
Syracuse Stars 5572.43330½30‍–‍3025‍–‍42
Philadelphia Athletics 5478.4093436‍–‍3618‍–‍42
Brooklyn Gladiators 2673.26345½15‍–‍2211‍–‍51

National League

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Brooklyn Bridegrooms 8643.667—58‍–‍1628‍–‍27
Chicago Colts 8353.6106½48‍–‍2435‍–‍29
Philadelphia Phillies 7853.595954‍–‍2124‍–‍32
Cincinnati Reds 7755.58310½50‍–‍2327‍–‍32
Boston Beaneaters 7657.5711243‍–‍2333‍–‍34
New York Giants 6368.4812437‍–‍2726‍–‍41
Cleveland Spiders 4488.33343½30‍–‍3714‍–‍51
Pittsburgh Alleghenys 23113.16966½14‍–‍259‍–‍88

Players' League

Players' League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Boston Reds 8148.628—48‍–‍2133‍–‍27
Brooklyn Ward's Wonders 7656.5766½46‍–‍1930‍–‍37
New York Giants 7457.565847‍–‍1927‍–‍38
Chicago Pirates 7562.5471046‍–‍2329‍–‍39
Philadelphia Athletics 6863.5191435‍–‍3033‍–‍33
Pittsburgh Burghers 6068.46920½37‍–‍2823‍–‍40
Cleveland Infants 5575.42326½31‍–‍3024‍–‍45
Buffalo Bisons 3696.27346½23‍–‍4213‍–‍54

Postseason

Bracket

World's Championship Series
         
AA Louisville Colonels 0 3 7852 96
NL Brooklyn Bridegrooms 985784 78 2

Managerial changes

Off-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager
Baltimore Orioles Billy Barnie Team transferred to minor league Atlantic Association
Boston Beaneaters Jim Hart Frank Selee
Cincinnati Reds Gus Schmelz Tom Loftus
Cleveland Spiders Tom Loftus Gus Schmelz
Indianapolis Hoosiers Jack Glasscock Team folded
Kansas City Cowboys Bill Watkins Team folded
Pittsburgh Alleghenys Ned Hanlon Guy Hecker
St. Louis Browns Charles Comiskey Tommy McCarthy
Washington Nationals Arthur Irwin Team folded

In-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager
Baltimore Orioles Team transferred from minor league Atlantic Association Billy Barnie
Brooklyn Gladiators Jim Kennedy Team folded
Cleveland Spiders Gus Schmelz Robert Leadley
Columbus Solons Al Buckenberger Gus Schmelz
Gus Schmelz Pat Sullivan
Philadelphia Phillies Harry Wright Jack Clements
Jack Clements Al Reach
Al Reach Bob Allen
St. Louis Browns Tommy McCarthy John Kerins
John Kerins James Roseman
James Roseman Count Campau
Count Campau Joe Gerhardt
Syracuse Stars Wallace Fessenden George Frazier

League leaders

Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.

American Association

Hitting leaders [9]
StatPlayerTotal
AVG Jimmy Wolf (LOU).363
OPS Denny Lyons (PHA).992
HR Count Campau (STL)9
RBI Spud Johnson (COL)113
R Jim McTamany (COL)140
H Jimmy Wolf (LOU)197
SB Tommy McCarthy (STL)83
Pitching leaders [10]
StatPlayerTotal
W Sadie McMahon (BAL/ PHA )36
L Bob Barr (ROC)
John Keefe (SYR)		24
ERA Scott Stratton (LOU)2.36
K Sadie McMahon (BAL/ PHA )291
IP Sadie McMahon (BAL/ PHA )509.0
SV Herb Goodall (LOU)4
WHIP Scott Stratton (LOU)1.065

National League

Players' League

Hitting leaders [13]
StatPlayerTotal
AVG Pete Browning (CLI).373
OPS Roger Connor (NYP).998
HR Hardy Richardson (BSR)16
RBI Hardy Richardson (BSR)152
R Hugh Duffy (CHP)161
H Hugh Duffy (CHP)191
SB Harry Stovey (BSR)97
Pitching leaders [14]
StatPlayerTotal
W Mark Baldwin (CHP)33
L George Haddock (BUF)26
ERA Silver King (CHP)2.69
K Mark Baldwin (CHP)206
IP Mark Baldwin (CHP)492.0
SV George Hemming (BWW/ CLI )
Hank O'Day (NYP)		3
WHIP Harry Staley (PIB)1.213

Home field attendance

Only records for National League teams are available.

Team nameWins%±Home attendancePer game
Philadelphia Phillies [15] 7823.8%148,3661,952
Boston Beaneaters [16] 76−8.4%147,5392,235
Cincinnati Reds [17] 771.3%131,9801,808
Brooklyn Grooms [18] 86−7.5%121,4121,641
Chicago Colts [19] 8323.9%102,5361,386
New York Giants [20] 63−24.1%60,667919
Cleveland Spiders [21] 44−27.9%47,478678
Pittsburgh Alleghenys [22] 23−62.3%16,064402

References

  1. ↑ Thorn, John (May 4, 2015). "Why Is the National Association Not a Major League … and Other Records Issues". Our Game. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  2. ↑ "1890 Major Leagues Schedule". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  3. ↑ "MLB Rule Changes | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ "1890 Major League Managers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Brooklyn Gladiators – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Philadelphia Athletics – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Rochester Hop Bitters – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Syracuse Star – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ "1890 American Association Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ "1890 American Association Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ "1890 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  12. ↑ "1890 National League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  13. ↑ "1890 Players League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ "1890 Players League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  20. ↑ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Cleveland Spiders Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
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