National League

National League | Standings | Chicago Club | West Side Park | 16″ Softball

On 17 March 1871, in New York City, an authorized delegation from leading base-ball clubs determined on a “National game.” and formulated sundry fixtures, the chief of which was a series of “championship games.” During the existence of this Association, the Chicago Club (alias “White Stockings”) ceased to be represented during the years 1872 and 1873 – the Great Fire of 1871, by its stern realities, compelling attention to matters other than pastimes.

During the existence of the Association, the competing clubs were as follows:

Chicago, 1871, 1874-1875
Athletic, of Philadelphia, 1871-1875
Boston, 1871-1875
Mutual, of New York City, 1871-1875
Olympic, of Washington, DC, 1871-1872
Haymakers, of Troy, NY, (styled “Troy” in 1872), 1871-1872
Cleveland (alias Forest City). 1871-1872
Kekiongs, of Fort Wayne, IN, 1871
Rockford (IL), 1871
Lord Baltimore, 1872-1874
Atlantic, 1872-1875
Mansfield (Ohio), 1872
Eckford, 1872
National. of Washington, DC, 1872
Philadelphia, 1873-1875
Washington, 1873, 1875
Resolute, of Elizabeth, NJ, 1873
Maryland, of Baltimore, 1873
Hartford, 1874-1875
St. Louis Brown Stockings, New Haven, St. Louis Red Stockings, Philadelphia Centennial, and Keokuk Western entered in 1875

In 1875, the National Association Clubs numbered thirteen, of only four were members at the time of its organization in 1871. Circumstances produced demoralization and ended in the extinction of the Association. On 2 February 1875, the National Base-Ball League was organized, also in New York City. The clubs represented at the convention were the Chicago, Boston, Athletic and Mutual clubs; the Hartford, St. Louis, Louisville and Cincinnati clubs made the complement of contestants in the first League season.

William A. Hulbert, of this city, was the prime promoter, and is styled the “father of the League.” He was its first and only president until his death, 10 April 1882. Mr. Hulbert is buried in Graceland Cemetery. Due to the National Association’s lack of a definite structure, which culminated in a free-agency type case that revolved around multiple contracts signed by Chicago White Stockings shortstop Davy Force, Hulbert formed the National League.

In addition to the monument erected by his family, the National League have appropriately marked his last resting place by a granite monument bearing the name of every League club, and typical of the National game he loved and served so well.
spaldingball
The League clubs have been as follows (as of 1886):

Chicago, 1876-1886
Boston 1876-1886
New York, 1876, 1883-1886
Philadelphia, 1876, 1883-1886
St Louis, 1876-1877, 1885-1886
Cincinnati, 1876, 1878-1880
Hartford, 1876-1877
Louisville, 1876-1877
Providence, 1878-1885
Indianapolis, 1878
Milwaukee, 1878
Buffalo, 1879
Cleveland, 1870-1884
Troy City, 1879-1882
Syracuse, 1879
Worchester, 1880-1882
Detroit, 1881-1886