October 3, 1867: “The First Colored Baseball Championship”

"Championship” is often a fluid concept when applied to 19th-century…

October 7, 1867: Candy Cummings debuts the curve

One of the oldest, most venerable weapons in the pitcher’s…

June 15, 1869: A cunning play saves Cincinnati’s streak

Tuesday dawned gray and damp in New York City. But the sun broke…

August 26, 1869: Cincinnati Red Stockings: Unbeaten, But Tied

By August 1869 the Cincinnati Red Stockings had become the top…

September 3, 1869: Inter-racial baseball in Philadelphia

Frederick Douglass said no city was more prejudiced against colored…

June 14, 1870: The Atlantic Storm: Red Stockings suffer first defeat

A July 2, 1870 Harpers Weekly illustration of the game. “Friend…

July 23, 1870: The first ‘Chicago’ game

1870 New York Mutuals. Back row: Candy Nelson, Phonney Martin,…

November 1, 1870: The birth of the National Association

Modern sports fans take for granted that a champion will be crowned…

April 6, 1871: Boston Red Stockings take the field for the first time

“Well, back in 1871, my great-great-grandmother had a boardinghouse…

May-June 1871: The Boston Red Stockings’ homestand from hell

Losses in May and June count as much as those in September; just…

May 4, 1871: Association Ball: Kekionga vs. Forest City

On the rainy evening of March 17, 1871, delegates from 10 professional…

May 16, 1871: Troy Haymakers spoil Boston Red Stockings’ first home opener

“The game between the Red Stockings and Haymakers this afternoon,…

June 21, 1871: Boston’s Albert Spalding tosses first shutout of the season

On May 4, 1871, the Fort Wayne Kekiongas1 opened the inaugural…

July 4, 1871: Boston defeats Washington on Fourth of July

The July 4 game was played neither in Boston nor in Washington,…

August 3, 1871: Cuban baseball pioneer Steve Bellán has the game of his life

Esteban “Steve” Bellán was the first Latin-born player in…

September 2, 1871: Red Stockings beat up Forest Citys pitchers for 31 runs

The 1871 Cleveland Forest Citys, who committed 18 errors that…

September 9, 1871: Red Stockings rally in 9th to defeat rival Athletics

Having won seven of their nine previous matches, including a…