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

Given the powerhouse teams that represented the Windy City in…

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…
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August 9, 1872: Eckfords halt 3-month skid with help of familiar reinforcements

In major-league history, 10 teams have lost their first 11 regular-season…

Summer 1874: New game in the Old Country: U.S. teams tour England

It has been stated that America and England are two countries…

April 29, 1875: Boston Red Stockings blow out Washington in 22-5 win

On April 28, 1875, the Richmond Daily Dispatch announced to its…

May 18, 1875: Boston rivalry with Hartford heats up in Red Stockings’ win

In the 1870s it was Hartford, not New York, that was Boston’s…

May 29, 1875: The first recorded no-hitter: Princeton vs. Yale

“Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Tiger! Hish! Boom! Ha!” According…

June 3, 1875: The unbeatable Boston Red Caps

The best winning percentage the New York Yankees ever enjoyed…

June 5, 1875: Boston Red Stockings’ record streak stopped in St. Louis

After beginning the 1875 National Association season with victories…

June 19, 1875: The ‘Model’ Game: Hartford vs. Chicago

The Chicago Tribune called it “The Most Brilliant Contest in…