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…

September 14, 1878: Farewell to old-style ball

On September 14, 1878, more than 3,000 screaming supporters shoved…

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

When the National Association’s last place Worcester club…

June 21, 1879: The cameo of William Edward White

William Edward White's 1879 appearance for Providence made…

June 12, 1880: Baseball perfection by Lee Richmond

“The most wonderful game on record.”1 That’s how contemporary…

June 17, 1880: Perfection revisited by John Ward

Two perfect games within a week defies all odds.1 But that is…

August 19, 1880: Larry Corcoran throws first career no-hitter

“The Reds were woefully weak with the willow, not being able…

September 2, 1880: Night baseball at Nantasket Beach

Today many major league baseball games are played under artificial…

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

The first professional baseball game played in Manhattan took…

June 25, 1881: George Gore’s theft spree

The Chicago White Stockings were the most powerful team in the…

June 26, 1881: Mullane vs. Reccius for 18 innings

For sheer head-to-head doggedness, few pitching matchups in baseball…

September 10, 1881: Roger Connor’s ‘ultimate’ grand slam

Nearly half a century before baseball borrowed the expression…

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

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

May 10, 1882: Pittsburgh hosts its first major-league game

The charter Allegheny club of the fledgling American Association…

July 18, 1882: Tony Mullane goes both ways

You have to wonder what kind of mind-altering substance could…

August 17, 1882: Radbourn The Slugger

1882 Providence Grays. Back: Paul Hines, Jerry Denny, Hoss…

September 13, 1882: The innovative mind of King Kelly

In his year-end assessment of baseball in 1882, Henry Chadwick…

October 6, 1882: The first meeting of champions

It’s hard to imagine big-league baseball without a series at…

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.…