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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.
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869 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) 1867–1870,a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati businessmen and English-born ballplayer Harry Wright shaped as much as anyone. Major League Baseball recognized those events officially by sponsoring a centennial of professional baseball in 1969.
William Henry "Harry" Wright was an English-born professional baseball player,manager,and developer. He assembled,managed,and played center field for baseball's first fully professional team,the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings. He is credited with introducing innovations such as backing up infield plays from the outfield and shifting defensive alignments based on hitters' tendencies. For his contributions as a manager and developer of the game,he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953 by the Veterans Committee. Wright was also the first to make baseball into a business by paying his players up to seven times the pay of the average working man. He is the oldest former professional player in the Hall:a few other inductees were born before him,but none of them played professionally.
Douglas L. Allison was an American Major League Baseball player. He began his career as a catcher for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings,the first fully professional baseball team. Allison was one of the first catchers to stand directly behind the batter,as a means to prevent baserunners from stealing bases. He was considered a specialist,at a time when some of the better batsmen who manned the position normally rested,or substituted at other fielding positions. Allison became the earliest known player to use a type of baseball glove when he donned buckskin mittens to protect his hands in 1870.
Calvin Alexander McVey was an American professional baseball player during the 1860s and 1870s. McVey's importance to the game stems from his play on two of the earliest professional baseball teams,the original Cincinnati Red Stockings and the National Association Boston Red Stockings. He also played on the inaugural National League pennant-winning team,the 1876 Chicago White Stockings.
The Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia was a prominent National Association,and later National League,professional baseball team that played in the second half of the 19th century.
The National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) was the first organization governing American baseball.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1869 throughout the world.
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 called the field on the corner of Marcy Avenue and Rutledge Street home;however,the Eckford of Brooklyn were the most famous tenant. They played more games than any other club that year (7) and won the "national" championship,repeating the feat in 1863. During that two year period,the Eckfords won 22 straight matches which was the longest undefeated and untied streak to date. In the late 1860s,they were one of the pioneering professional clubs,although probably second to Mutual of New York at the home park. In its final season,Eckford entered the second championship of the National Association,the first professional baseball league in America,so it is considered a major league club by those who count the NA as a major league.
The Middletown Mansfields were an early baseball team in Middletown,Connecticut that existed from 1866 to 1872.
Asahel "Asa" Brainard,nicknamed "Count",was the ace pitcher of the original Cincinnati Red Stockings,the first fully professional baseball team,after having pitched for the Excelsior club of Brooklyn,New York.
Charles James Sweasy,born Swasey,played second base for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings,the first fully professional baseball team. He returned to Cincinnati in 1876,hired by the new club that was a charter member of the National League. In the meantime he played for six teams during the five seasons of the National Association,so he may be considered one of the first "journeyman" ballplayers. A right-handed thrower and batter,he almost exclusively played second base.
George Zettlein was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1871 to 1876 for the Chicago White Stockings,Troy Haymakers,Brooklyn Eckfords,Philadelphia White Stockings of the National Association (NA),and the Philadelphia Athletics (1860–1876) of the National League.
Alfred W. "Count" Gedney,was an American professional baseball player. During four seasons in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players,1872 to 1875,he played left field for four teams,the Troy Haymakers,Brooklyn Eckfords,New York Mutuals,and Philadelphia Athletics.
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.
William Andrew Allison was an American professional baseball player. In the National Association he was a substitute infielder for the 1872 Brooklyn Eckfords He was the younger brother of Eckfords teammate Andy Allison.
James C. A. Snyder was an American professional baseball player. In the National Association he was the regular shortstop of the 1872 Brooklyn Eckfords.
Joseph Kernan was an American professional baseball player. He played second base and center field in two games for the 1873 Baltimore Marylands. He was a Baltimore native like most of his Maryland teammates.
Francis Pidgeon Sr. was an American baseball pitcher. He played for Eckford of Brooklyn from 1855 to 1862,and was one of the club's founders. Pidgeon has been called one of the top pitchers of the era,and participated in New York-area all-star games in 1858. Playing as an amateur,Pidgeon vigorously opposed payments to baseball players and authored a law banning them in the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP). After professionalism began spreading,he left the Eckford club before sponsoring an unsuccessful resolution opposing player pay in 1870. Pidgeon worked as a contractor before being hit by a train and killed in 1884.
References
- ↑ Wright, Marshall D. The National Association of Base Ball Players, 1857–1870. Jefferson NC: McFarland & Co. 2000. Page 304.
Coverage of NABBP play, even the list of a player's teams, is generally limited to the record that Wright has published, which is compiled from various sources and commonly limited to regular and important substitute players.
