June 19, 1886: Chicago White Stockings snap Detroit Wolverines’ 18-game home winning streak
In 1886 Chicago’s population was five times greater than that…
June 12, 1885: Dave Orr records cycle, 6-hit game in Metropolitans’ win over Browns
About 1,500 spectators turned out to the Polo Grounds for an…
October 5, 1884: Maroons’ Sweeney, Boyle combine to toss and lose rain-shortened Union Association no-hitter
The first and only season of the Union Association was coming…
July 19, 1886: Washington’s plucky ‘Pony’ Madigan is a phenom at 17, out of the majors at 18
William J. Madigan, nicknamed “Pony” for his youth and…
June 13, 1885: Detroit’s George Wood hits for the cycle but White Stockings wallop Wolverines
The Chicago White Stockings built a dynasty in the first decade…
October 18, 1886: Chicago’s John Clarkson ‘calcimines’ the Browns in World Series opener
The 1886 Chicago White Stockings successfully defended their…
September 28, 1885: Mox McQuery ‘hit for the whole diamond’ as Wolverines set scoring record over Grays
Approximately 400 spectators turned out at Detroit’s Recreation…
May 24, 1886: Fred Dunlap hits for the cycle, records 16 chances at second base
About 3,000 spectators filled the Union Grounds1 in St. Louis…
August 21, 1886: Jack Rowe hits for the cycle as Wolverines extend first-place lead over White Stockings
The Chicago White Stockings had won the 1885 National League…
July 24, 1886: Adonis Terry throws a no-hitter for Brooklyn … or does he?
On July 24, 1886, Adonis Terry hurled a 1-0 no-hitter for the…
June 8, 1885: Presto Change! Cannonball Morris dominates after overhand pitching is suddenly legalized
Ulysses S. Grant said, “I know of no method to secure the repeal…
September 23, 1886: Chippy McGarr hits for the cycle as Athletics upset first-place Browns
At close of play on September 20, 1886, the St. Louis Browns…
April 22, 1886: Visiting Athletics walk off Metropolitans in inaugural game at St. George Grounds
On April 22, 1886, construction wrapped up on New York’s home…
August 8, 1886: Louisville Slugger Pete Browning has his ‘batting clothes on’ and hits for a natural cycle
One of the rarest occurrences in baseball is the natural cycle.…
April 20, 1886: The triumphant return of Tony Mullane
On the afternoon of April 20, 1886, some 3,500 fans gathered…
June 25, 1885: Helped by a lively ball, Philadelphia’s George Strief hits four triples
The Patent Plastic Composition Ball manufactured by A.J. Reach…
June 16, 1885: Henry Larkin becomes first MLB player to hit for reverse natural cycle
In the first game of the season played in Philadelphia between…
May 1, 1886: Al Atkinson throws second career no-hitter
From 1875 to 1899 there were 50 complete-game no-hitters thrown…
October 23, 1886: Curt Welch’s winning slide
After the 1885 season the two major-league pennant winners, the…
October 3, 1886: Matt Kilroy, strikeout king
In 1886 the pitcher’s box was made a foot deeper and the rule…
August 15, 1886: Guy Hecker: hitting pitcher
At a game on a pleasant afternoon at Eclipse Park in Louisville,…
July 21, 1886: “A Glorious Victory”: Cuban Giants beat the Red Stockings
Formed by Frank P. Thompson, headwaiter of the Argyle Hotel in…
September 29-October 3, 1885: White Stockings cap a pennant chase
The 1885 National League pennant race was a battle between two…
October 23-25, 1884: The first “World Series”
This chapter is not about a single game. Instead, it is about…