September 21, 1861: Harry Wright plays his first base ball game as a professional

In the early 1860s, issues of the New York Clipper, the self-proclaimed…
John "Bud" Fowler, SABR's 2020 Overlooked 19th Century Legend who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2022 (NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME LIBRARY)

May 17, 1878: Bud Fowler becomes the first Black player in Organized Baseball

Professional baseball leagues began in 1871 with the founding…

May 1, 1883: Mickey Welch wins first game in New York Giants franchise history

Two major-league teams based in New York City debuted in 1883.…

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

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

September 29, 1880: Metropolitan club opens new Polo Grounds with a win

The first professional baseball game played in Manhattan took…

April 26, 1901: Baltimore Orioles win home opener in a new major league

In late January of 1901, American League President Ban Johnson…

June 27, 1893: Chicago welcomes Brooklyn to World’s Fair and new ballpark

“With the dedication ceremonies of the World’s Columbian…

August 6, 1890: Farm boy Cy Young arrives in major leagues

“You ought to have seen it. Mr. Young, formerly of Canton,…

April 19, 1890: Debut of the Players League

The Players League opened the 1890 season with seven of eight…

August 14, 1888: Tim Keefe finally loses and “Casey at the Bat” premieres

The record for consecutive games won by a pitcher in a single…

October 23-25, 1884: The first “World Series”

This chapter is not about a single game. Instead, it is about…

May 1, 1884: Fleet Walker’s major-league debut

Although the misconception has long been debunked by baseball…

May 2, 1882: The Beer and Whiskey League: Day One

The inaugural American Association season opened on May 2, 1882,…

June 21, 1879: The cameo of William Edward White

William Edward White's 1879 appearance for Providence made…

June 2, 1879: Lee Richmond’s no-hit debut

When the National Association’s last place Worcester club…

July 23, 1870: The first ‘Chicago’ game

Given the powerhouse teams that represented the Windy City in…

October 7, 1867: Candy Cummings debuts the curve

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