American Association (19th Century)

From BR Bullpen

The first American Association ran from 1882 to 1891 and is considered a major league. It was founded as a cheaper alternative to the National League, charging 25 cents admission usually instead of the 50 cents common in the NL. Additionally, Sunday baseball was allowed and beer was served in the stands, both a contrast with the tighter-laced NL. The AA placed teams in Cincinnati (deserted by the NL due to its love of Sunday ball and beer) and other huge non-NL cities like New York and Philadelphia.

The AA quickly became competitive with the NL, achieving something akin to parity within a few years. Charles Comiskey, player/manager of the St. Louis Browns in the AA led his team to four consecutive league titles - 1885 through 1888 - also winning the AA's only World Series crown in 1886.The league couldn't keep pace - internal squabbles and NL pressure kept sending AA teams over to the older rival; Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia all broke from the league by 1890, leaving it in mostly second-tier cities like Columbus, Louisville or Toledo. By 1890, the AA was not even the 2nd-best major league, ranking behind the Players League and NL. When numerous AA stars began making promises to sign with NL clubs in 1892, the AA stopped its challenge and merged with its rival, officially closing its doors on December 18, 1891. Several AA rules were put into place in the new merged league, including cheaper tickets, permitting Sunday ball where allowed by local law (and if the clubs agreed to it) and the right to sell alcohol at games. The AA pioneered the practice of awarding first base to hit batters in 1884 - the NL would not follow suit till 1888. The AA also was the first league to have paid umpires.

Contents 1 Cities Represented 1.1 1882-1891 2 Teams and Statistics 2.1 1882-1891 3 World Series Records 4 Sources

[edit] Cities Represented

[edit] 1882-1891

American Association franchises

Baltimore Orioles (1882-1891)
Boston Reds (1891)
Brooklyn Gladiators (1890)
Brooklyn Atlantics / Brooklyn Grays / Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1884-1889)
Cincinnati Red Stockings (1882-1889) Cincinnati (1891)
Cleveland Spiders (1887-1888)
Columbus Buckeyes (1883-1884) Columbus Solons (1889-1891)
Indianapolis Hoosiers (1884)
Kansas City Cowboys (1888-1889)
Louisville Eclipse (1882-1884) Louisville Colonels (1885-1891)
Milwaukee Brewers (1891)
New York Metropolitans (1883-1887)
Philadelphia Athletics (1882-1891)
Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1882-1887)
Richmond Virginians (1884)
Rochester Broncos (1890)
St. Louis Brown Stockings St. Louis Browns (1882-1891)
Syracuse Stars (1890)
Toledo Blue Stockings (1884) Toledo Maumees (1890)
Washington Statesmen (1891-1894)

[edit] Teams and Statistics

[edit] 1882-1891

1882 American Association
President: Denny McKnight

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Cincinnati Red Stockings	55	25	.688	-	Pop Snyder
Philadelphia Athletics	41	34	.547	11.5	Juice Latham
Louisville Eclipse	42	38	.525	13.0	Denny Mack
Pittsburgh Alleghenys	39	39	.500	15.0	Al Pratt
St. Louis Brown Stockings	37	43	.462	18.0	Ned Cuthbert
Baltimore Orioles	19	54	.260	32.5	Henry Myers

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Pete Browning	Louisville	BA	.378		Will White	Cincinnati	W	40
Ed Swartwood	Pittsburgh	Runs	86		Tony Mullane	Louisville	SO	170
Hick Carpenter	Cincinnati	Hits	120		Denny Driscoll	Pittsburgh	ERA	1.21
Oscar Walker	St. Louis	HR	7		Will White	Cincinnati	Pct	.769; 40-12

1883 American Association
President: Denny McKnight

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Philadelphia Athletics	66	32	.673	0	Lew Simmons
St. Louis Browns	65	33	.663	1	Ted Sullivan / Charlie Comiskey
Cincinnati Red Stockings	61	37	.622	5	Pop Snyder
New York Metropolitans	54	42	.563	11	Jim Mutrie
Louisville Eclipse	52	45	.536	13.5	Phil Reccius / Leech Maskrey / Joe Gerhardt
Columbus Senators	32	65	.330	33.5	Horace Phillips
Pittsburgh Alleghenies	31	67	.316	35	Al Pratt / Ormond Butler / Joe Battin
Baltimore Orioles	28	68	.292	37	Billy Barnie

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Ed Swartwood	Pittsburgh	BA	.356		Will White	Cincinnati	W	43
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	Runs	110		Tim Keefe	New York	SO	361
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	Hits	148		Will White	Cincinnati	ERA	2.09
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	HR	14		Tony Mullane	St. Louis	Pct	.700; 35-15

1884 American Association
President: Denny McKnight

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
New York Mets	75	32	.701	0	Jim Mutrie
Columbus Senators	69	39	.639	6.5	Gus Schmelz
Louisville Eclipse	68	40	.630	7.5	Joe Gerhardt / Mike Walsh
St. Louis Browns	67	40	.626	8	Jimmy Williams
Cincinnati Reds	68	41	.624	8	Will White / Pop Snyder
Baltimore Orioles	63	43	.594	11.5	Billy Barnie
Philadelphia Athletics	61	46	.570	14	Charlie Mason / Bill Sharsig
Toledo Blue Stockings	46	58	.442	27.5	Charlie Morton
Brooklyn Atlantics	40	64	.385	33.5	George Taylor
Pittsburgh Alleghenies	30	78	.278	45.5	Battin / Creamer / McKnight / Ferguson / Phillips
Indianapolis Hoosiers	29	78	.271	46	Jim Gifford / Bill Watkins
Richmond Virginians #	12	30	.286	NA	Felix Moses
Washington Nationals #	12	51	.190	NA	Holly Hollingshead

#Washington disbanded August 2 and was replaced by Richmond August 5. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	BA	.404		Guy Hecker	Louisville	W	52
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	Runs	126		Guy Hecker	Louisville	SO	385
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	Hits	179		Jack Lynch	New York	Pct	.725; 37-14
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	HR	11		John Reilly	Cincinnati	HR	11

1885 American Association
President: Denny McKnight

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
St. Louis Browns	79	33	.705	0	Charlie Comiskey
Cincinnati Reds	63	49	.563	16	O.P. Caylor
Pittsburgh Alleghenies	56	55	.505	22.5	Horace Phillips
Philadelphia Athletics	55	57	.491	24	Lon Knight / Charlie Mason / Bill Sharsig
Brooklyn Grays	53	59	.473	26	Joe Doyle / Charlie Hackett / Charlie Byrne
Louisville Colonels	53	59	.473	26	Jim Hart
New York Mets	44	64	.407	33	Jim Gifford
Baltimore Orioles	41	68	.376	36.5	Billy Barnie

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Pete Browning	Louisville	BA	.362		Bob Caruthers	St. Louis	W	40
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	Runs	130		Ed Morris	Pittsburgh	SO	298
Pete Browning	Louisville	Hits	174		Bob Caruthers	St. Louis	ERA	2.07
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	HR	13		Bob Caruthers	St. Louis	Pct	.755; 40-13

1886 American Association
President: Wheeler C. Wyckoff

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
St. Louis Browns	93	46	.669	0	Charlie Comiskey
Pittsburgh Alleghenies	80	57	.584	12	Horace Phillips
Brooklyn Grays	76	61	.555	16	Charlie Byrne
Louisville Colonels	66	70	.485	25.5	Jim Hart
Cincinnati Reds	65	73	.471	27.5	O.P. Caylor
Philadelphia Athletics	63	72	.467	28	Lew Simmons / Bill Sharsig
New York Mets	53	82	.393	38	Jim Gifford / Bob Ferguson
Baltimore Orioles	48	83	.366	41	Billy Barnie

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Guy Hecker	Louisville	BA	.342		Dave Foutz	St. Louis	W	41
Arlie Latham	St. Louis	Runs	152		Ed Morris	Pittsburgh	W	41
Dave Orr	New York	Hits	193		Matt Kilroy	Baltimore	SO	513
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	HR	7		Dave Foutz	St. Louis	ERA	2.11
Bid McPhee	Cincinnati	HR	7		Dave Foutz	St. Louis	Pct	.719; 41-16
Dave Orr	New York	HR	7

1887 American Association
President: Wheeler C. Wyckoff

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
St. Louis Browns	95	40	.704	0	Charlie Comiskey
Cincinnati Reds	81	54	.600	14	Gus Schmelz
Baltimore Orioles	77	58	.570	18	Billy Barnie
Louisville Colonels	76	60	.559	19.5	John Kelly
Philadelphia Athletics	64	69	.481	30	Frank Bancroft / Bill Sharsig
Brooklyn Grays	60	74	.448	34.5	Charlie Byrne
New York Mets	44	89	.331	50	Bob Ferguson / Dave Orr / O.P. Caylor
Cleveland Blues	39	92	.298	54	Jimmy Williams

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Tip O'Neill	St. Louis	BA	.435		Matt Kilroy	Baltimore	W	46
Tip O'Neill	St. Louis	Runs	167		Toad Ramsey	Louisville	SO	355
Tip O'Neill	St. Louis	Hits	225		Elmer Smith	Cincinnati	ERA	2.94
Tip O'Neill	St. Louis	HR	14		Bob Caruthers	St. Louis	Pct	.763; 29-9

1888 American Association
President: Wheeler C. Wyckoff

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
St. Louis Browns	92	43	.681	0	Charlie Comiskey
Brooklyn Bridegrooms	88	52	.629	6.5	Bill McGunnigle
Philadelphia Athletics	81	52	.609	10	Bill Sharsig
Cincinnati Reds	80	54	.597	11.5	Gus Schmelz
Baltimore Orioles	57	80	.416	36	Billy Barnie
Cleveland Blues	50	82	.379	40.5	Jimmy Williams / Tom Loftus
Louisville Colonels	48	87	.356	44	John Kerins / Mordecai Davidson
Kansas City Cowboys	43	89	.326	47.5	Dave Rowe / Sam Barkley / Bill Watkins

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Tip O'Neill	St. Louis	BA	.335		Silver King	St. Louis	W	45
George Pinkney	Brooklyn	Runs	134		Ed Seward	Philadelphia	SO	272
Tip O'Neill	St. Louis	Hits	177		Silver King	St. Louis	ERA	1.64
John Reilly	Cincinnati	RBI	103		Nat Hudson	St. Louis	Pct	.714; 25-10
John Reilly	Cincinnati	HR	13

1889 American Association
President: Wheeler C. Wyckoff

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Brooklyn Bridegrooms	93	44	.679	0	Bill McGunnigle
St. Louis Browns	90	45	.667	2	Charlie Comiskey
Philadelphia Athletics	75	58	.564	16	Bill Sharsig
Cincinnati Reds	76	63	.547	18	Gus Schmelz
Baltimore Orioles	70	65	.519	22	Billy Barnie
Columbus Senators	60	78	.435	33.5	Al Buckenberger / Tom Loftus
Kansas City Cowboys	55	82	.401	38	Bill Watkins
Louisville Colonels	27	111	.196	66.5	Dude Esterbrook / Wolf / Shannon / Chapman

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Tommy Tucker	Baltimore	BA	.372		Bob Caruthers	Brooklyn	W	40
Mike Griffin	Baltimore	Runs	152		Mark Baldwin	Columbus	SO	368
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	Runs	152		Jack Stivetts	St. Louis	ERA	2.25
Tommy Tucker	Baltimore	Hits	196		Bob Caruthers	Brooklyn	Pct	.784; 40-11
Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	RBI	119		Harry Stovey	Philadelphia	HR	19
Bug Holliday	Cincinnati	HR	19

1890 American Association
President: Zach Phelps

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Louisville Colonels	88	44	.667	0	206,208	Jack Chapman
Columbus Senators	79	55	.590	10	NA	Al Buckenberger / Gus Schmelz
St. Louis Browns	78	58	.574	12	140,000	Tommy McCarthy / Chief Roseman / Campau
Toledo Maumees	68	64	.515	20	70,000	Charlie Morton
Rochester Hop Bitters	63	63	.500	22	NA	Pat Powers
Syracuse Stars	55	72	.433	30.5	NA	George Frazer
Philadelphia Athletics	54	78	.409	34	134,000	Bill Sharsig
Brooklyn / Baltimore#	41	92	.308	47.5	71,500	Dude Esterbrook / Jim Kennedy / Billy Barnie

#Brooklyn (26-73) was replaced by Baltimore August 26. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jimmy Wolf	Louisville	BA	.363		Sadie McMahon	Brook/Bal/Phil	W	36
Jim McTamany	Columbus	Runs	140		Sadie McMahon	Brook/Bal/Phil	SO	291
Jimmy Wolf	Louisville	Hits	197		Scott Stratton	Louisville	ERA	2.36
Count Campau	St. Louis	HR	10		Scott Stratton	Louisville	Pct	.708; 34-14

1891 American Association
Presidents:Louis Kramer / Ed Renau / Zach Phelps

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Boston Reds	93	42	.689	0	188,000	Arthur Irwin
St. Louis Browns	86	52	.623	8.5	245,000	Charlie Comiskey
Baltimore Orioles	72	63	.533	21	165,000	Billy Barnie / George Van Haltren
Philadelphia Athletics	73	66	.525	22	186,000	Bill Sharsig / George Wood / Billy Barnie
Cincinnati / Milwaukee #	64	72	.471	29.5	119,000	King Kelly / Charlie Cushman
Columbus Senators	61	76	.445	33	115,000	Gus Schmelz
Louisville Colonels	55	84	.396	40	155,000	Jack Chapman
Washington Senators	43	92	.319	50	123,000	Sam Trott / Pop Snyder / Shannon / Griffin

#Cincinnati (43-57) was replaced by Milwaukee August 18. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Dan Brouthers	Boston	BA	.350		Sadie McMahon	Baltimore	W	34
Tom Brown	Boston	Runs	177		George Haddock	Boston	W	34
Tom Brown	Boston	Hits	189		Jack Stivetts	St. Louis	SO	259
Duke Farrell	Boston	RBI	110		Cannonball Crane	Cin/Mil	ERA	2.45
Duke Farrell	Boston	HR	12		Charlie Buffinton	Boston	Pct	.757; 28-9

[edit] World Series Records

YR	AA CHAMPION	SERIES RESULTS
1882	Cincinnati Red Stockings	No Series
1883	Philadelphia Athletics	No Series
1884	New York Metropolitans	(lost, 3-0 to Providence NL)
1885	St. Louis Browns	(tied, 3-3-1 with Chicago NL)
1886	St. Louis Browns	(won, 4-2 over Chicago NL)
1887	St. Louis Browns	(lost, 10-5 to Detroit NL)
1888	St. Louis Browns	(lost, 6-2 to New York NL)
1889	Brooklyn Bridegrooms	(lost, 6-3 to New York NL)
1890	Louisville Colonels	(tied, 3-3-1 with Brooklyn NL)
1891	Boston Reds	No Series

The American Association (AA) was a baseball major league from 1882 to 1891. During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball. Together with the National League, the American Association participated in an early version of the World Series seven times during their ten-year coexistence. The National League won most of those encounters, while some ended in ties due to disputes or other issues. The only victory for the American Association came in 1886 when the St. Louis Browns defeated the Chicago White Stockings.

[edit] Sources

• The Beer and Whisky League by David Nemec
• The Encyclopedia of Minor league Baseball: Second Edition.