![Of the 13 members of the Yeddo Royal Japanese Troupe, eight of them — including a 10-year-old boy — were among the first Japanese to play baseball in the U.S. Yamamoto Kinjiro, third from right, played third base for the Japanese team, and was called the “Belle of Japan” because he walked on a tightrope wearing a woman’s costume, a common performance in 19th-century Japan. Courtesy of the Thanatos Archive.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/4-Yeddo_Royal_full-495x400.jpg)
June 14, 1872: Early Baseball Encounters in the West: The Yeddo Royal Japanese Troupe Play Ball in America
Of the 13 members of the Yeddo Royal Japanese Troupe, eight…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1871-Philadelphia-Athletics.png)
October 30, 1871: Berkenstock returns after 4-year absence to help Philadelphia win first league championship
Major League Baseball dates its inception to 1876, but nearly…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/images/GouldCharlie.jpg)
July 29, 1872: Boston overcomes 7-run deficit to win in extra innings
The Boston Red Stockings burst out of the gate in 1872, winning…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/53-CalfIsland.jpg)
July 20, 1872: Boston Red Stockings take a rest and then 19-game winning streak ends
On July 13, 1872, the New York Clipper reported as follows:…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/images/Al%20Spalding%20Rockford%20FC%20us%20GAR.jpg)
June 12, 1872: Boston Red Stockings bury the Philadelphia Athletics
Wednesday, June 12, 1872, was a hot, sultry day at the South…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/Fraley_Rogers.png)
June 10, 1872: Boston Red Stockings win extra-inning game in controversial fashion
Boston’s Red Stockings were 11-1 when they arrived at Brooklyn’s…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/18720511%20BOS%20NYM%20Sign.png)
May 11, 1872: Ninth-inning comeback gives Red Stockings victory in home opener
Newspapers were full of superlatives following the Boston Red…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/49-ChicagoFire.jpg)
September 29, 1871: Chicago beats Boston in last baseball game before the Great Fire
The Chicago Tribune described the Chicago White Stockings as…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/WrightHarry.png)
September 13, 1871: In rare relief appearance, Harry Wright saves the day for Boston
The game to be played on Wednesday, September 13, 1871, between…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/1871-Boston-Red-Stockings.jpg)
May-June 1871: The Boston Red Stockings’ homestand from hell
Losses in May and June count as much as those in September; just…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/1871-Boston-Red-Stockings.jpg)
April 6, 1871: Boston Red Stockings take the field for the first time
“Well, back in 1871, my great-great-grandmother had a boardinghouse…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/images/Al%20Spalding%20Rockford%20FC%20us%20GAR.jpg)
September 9, 1871: Red Stockings rally in 9th to defeat rival Athletics
Having won seven of their nine previous matches, including a…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/Boston%20Red%20Stockings%202.png)
September 2, 1871: Red Stockings beat up Forest Citys pitchers for 31 runs
The 1871 Cleveland Forest Citys, who committed 18 errors that…
July 4, 1871: Boston defeats Washington on Fourth of July
The July 4 game was played neither in Boston nor in Washington,…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/Esteban%20%2522Steve%2522%20Bellan.png)
August 3, 1871: Cuban baseball pioneer Steve Bellán has the game of his life
Esteban “Steve” Bellán was the first Latin-born player in…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/images/GouldCharlie.jpg)
September 5, 1871: ‘Bushel Basket’ Gould hits first grand slam in professional baseball history
The grand slam. It is one of the most exciting, dramatic, and…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/images/Al%20Spalding%20Rockford%20FC%20us%20GAR.jpg)
June 21, 1871: Boston’s Albert Spalding tosses first shutout of the season
On May 4, 1871, the Fort Wayne Kekiongas1 opened the inaugural…
![](https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/Boston%20Red%20Stockings.png)
May 16, 1871: Troy Haymakers spoil Boston Red Stockings’ first home opener
“The game between the Red Stockings and Haymakers this afternoon,…
May 5, 1871: Red Stockings win first regular-season game in Boston baseball history
“This sort of thing isn’t done in England, you know, where…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1871-Philadelphia-Athletics.png)
October 30, 1871: The first pennant race: Chicago White Stockings vs. Philadelphia Athletics
When the professional clubs met to form their own association…
![](http://dev.sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/White-Deacon.png)
May 4, 1871: Association Ball: Kekionga vs. Forest City
On the rainy evening of March 17, 1871, delegates from 10 professional…
![](http://dev.sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Foley-Tom.png)
November 1, 1870: The birth of the National Association
Modern sports fans take for granted that a champion will be crowned…
![](http://dev.sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1870-NY-Mutuals-REA.png)
July 23, 1870: The first ‘Chicago’ game
Given the powerhouse teams that represented the Windy City in…
![](http://dev.sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1870-07-02-Atlantics-vs-Red-Stockings.png)
June 14, 1870: The Atlantic Storm: Red Stockings suffer first defeat
A July 2, 1870 Harpers Weekly illustration of the game. “Friend…