1891 Major League Baseball season

January 2025 1891 1891 MLB season American Association (AA)National League (NL) Baseball April 8 – October 6, 1891 (AA)April 22 – October 3, 1891 (NL) 140 17 (8 active per league, 9 AA total) Pennant winner AA Boston Reds St. Louis Browns NL Boston Beaneaters Chicago Colts List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1890 Major League Baseball season 1890 1892 Major League Baseball season 1892 thumb | right | Boston National League Team, 1891 The 1891 major league baseball season was contested from April 8 through October 6, 1891. It was the final season for the American Association (AA), with the Boston Reds winning the AA pennant. In the National League (NL), in operation since 1876, the Boston Beaneaters won the NL pennant. There was no postseason. The Reds, following the 1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms consecutive pennant wins 1889–1890 in different leagues, also followed such a feat, winning the since folded Players' League's 1890 pennant and becoming the second and last team to win consecutive pennants in different leagues. This was the first season since 1883 which saw no postseason, due to a breakdown in relations between the American Association and National League prior to the start of the season. The next championship series would take place the following season in a unique split season format, due to negotiations during the merger of the AA into the NL. The 1891 season saw the aftermath of the single-season Players' League disbanding during the offseason, with most teams either folding or merging with existing American Association and National League teams; the Boston Reds and Philadelphia Athletics would join the AA for the 1891 season, with the latter replacing the financially struggling original AA Philadelphia Athletics. The unstable American Association would see that 1891 would be its final season, before merging into the National League the following season; the four clubs that would continue on were the Baltimore Orioles, Louisville Colonels, St. Louis Browns, and Washington Statesmen. The other four AA clubs, the Boston Reds, Columbus Solons, Milwaukee Brewers, and Philadelphia Athletics), saw their owners paid $135,000 (US 135000 1892 eq) and their players dispersed to the surviving twelve clubs. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1891 schedule consisted of 140 games for all teams in the American Association and National League, each of which had eight active teams (the Milwaukee Brewers would finish the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers' schedule once they folded following their last game on August 16). Each team was scheduled to play 20 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place by the American Association since the 1886 season and by the National League since the 1888 season, and was the last season this format would be used until the National League contracted from twelve to eight teams in 1900. American Association Opening Day took place on April 8 featuring all eight teams, while National League Opening Day would not take place for another two weeks on April 22, also featuring all eight teams. The American Association would see its final day of the regular season on October 6, while the National would see its final day of the season on October 3.1891 Major Leagues Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1891-schedule.shtml 2025-01-28 Baseball Reference en Rule changes The 1891 season saw the following rule changes: Rule 28 was amended so that now, substituting players could now happen at any point in the game.MLB Rule Changes https://www.baseball-almanac.com/rulechng.shtml 2025-01-28 Baseball Almanac en-usBauer John 1890 Winter Meetings: Three Divides Into Two Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1890-winter-meetings-three-divides-into-two/ 2025-03-26 en-US Large, padded mitts were allowed for catchers. Rule 48, regarding baserunning, was changed to allow a baserunner to prepare to round first base towards second on a hit to the outfield. Previously, a baserunner was to stay within a three-foot space demarcated by the baseline and a parallel line that ran halfway from home plate to first base. Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at A dagger (†) denotes a team that folded mid-season A double dagger (‡) denotes a team joined mid-season LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1891 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1891-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican Association American Association (1882–1891) American AssociationBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandUnion Park6,500Billy BarnieOriole Park*7,000*Boston RedsBoston, MassachusettsCongress Street Grounds14,000Arthur IrwinCincinnati Kelly's Killers†Cincinnati, OhioPendleton Park5,000King KellyColumbus SolonsColumbus, OhioRecreation Park6,500Gus SchmelzLouisville ColonelsLouisville, KentuckyEclipse Park5,860Jack Chapman baseballMilwaukee Brewers‡Milwaukee, WisconsinBrewer Field10,000Charlie CushmanPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaForepaugh Park5,000Bill SharsigGeorge Wood baseballSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park12,000Charles ComiskeyWashington StatesmenWashington, D.C.Boundary Field6,500Sam TrottPop SnyderDan ShannonSandy GriffinNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,800Frank SeleeBrooklyn GroomsBrooklyn, New YorkA 1 1Eastern Park12,000John Montgomery WardChicago ColtsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park*6,000*Cap AnsonSouth Side Park6,450Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioLeague Park (Cincinnati)3,000Tom LoftusCleveland SpidersCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Robert LeadleyPatsy TebeauNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000Jim MutriePhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia Base Ball Grounds12,500Harry WrightPittsburgh PiratesAllegheny, PennsylvaniaB 1 1Exposition Park6,500Ned Hanlon baseballBill McGunnigle Neutral site game The Milwaukee Brewers hosted a neutral site game in Minneapolis, Minnesota against the Columbus Solons. TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedMilwaukee Brewers1891 Season – 1-Year Park Factors — Seamheads.com Ballparks Database https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1891&tab=pf1&LgID=All 2026-02-27 www.seamheads.comMinneapolis, MinnesotaAthletic ParkUnknown1 A 1 In today's New York, New York. B 1 In today's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Standings start American Association Boston Reds break National League Boston Beaneaters end Tie games 19 tie games (12 in AA, 7 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season. start American Association Baltimore Orioles, 4 Boston Reds, 4 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers, 2 Columbus Solons, 1 Louisville Colonels, 2 Philadelphia Athletics, 4 St. Louis Browns, 3 Washington Statesmen, 4 break National League Boston Beaneaters, 2 Chicago Colts, 2 Cincinnati Reds, 1 Cleveland Spiders, 2 New York Giants, 4 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 end Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBoston RedsKing KellyArthur IrwinBrooklyn GroomsBill McGunnigleJohn Montgomery WardBrooklyn Ward's WondersJohn Montgomery WardTeam foldedBuffalo BisonsJay FaatzTeam foldedChicago PiratesCharles ComiskeyTeam foldedCleveland InfantsPatsy TebeauTeam foldedColumbus SolonsPat SullivanGus SchmelzNew York Giants (PL)Buck EwingTeam foldedPhiladelphia Athletics(original AA team)Bill SharsigTeam foldedPhiladelphia Athletics(formerly PL team)Charlie BuffintonBill SharsigPhiladelphia PhilliesBob AllenHarry WrightPittsburgh BurghersNed HanlonTeam foldedPittsburgh PiratesGuy HeckerNed HanlonRochester BroncosPatrick PowersTeam transferred to minor league Western LeagueSt. Louis BrownsJoe GerhardtCharles ComiskeySyracuse StarsWallace FessendenTeam foldedToledo MaumeesCharlie MortonTeam folded In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerCincinnati Kelly's KillersKing KellyTeam foldedCleveland SpidersRobert LeadleyPatsy TebeauMilwaukee BrewersTeam transferred from minor league Western AssociationCharlie CushmanPhiladelphia AthleticsBill SharsigGeorge WoodPittsburgh PiratesNed HanlonBill McGunnigleWashington StatesmenSam TrottPop SnyderPop SnyderDan ShannonDan ShannonSandy Griffin League leaders Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. Any team shown in italics indicates a team a player was on from a different league. Any stat from said different league is not calculated to determine the league leader. American Association start + Hitting leaders1891 American Association Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1891-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Dan Brouthers (BSR) .350 OPS Dan Brouthers (BSR) .983 HR Duke Farrell (BSR) 12 RBI Hugh Duffy (BSR)Duke Farrell (BSR) 110 R Tom Brown (BSR) 177 H Tom Brown (BSR) 189 SB Tom Brown (BSR) 106 break + Pitching leaders1891 American Association Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1891-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Sadie McMahon (BAL) 35 L Kid Carsey (WAS) 37 ERA Ed Crane (CIN/CKE) 2.45 K Jack Stivetts (STL) 259 IP Sadie McMahon (BAL) 503.0 SV Joe Neale (STL) 3 WHIP Charlie Buffinton (BSR) 1.163 end National League start + Hitting leaders1891 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1891-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Billy Hamilton (PHI) .340 OPS Mike Tiernan (NYG) .882 HR Harry Stovey (BSN)Mike Tiernan (NYG) 16 RBI Cap Anson (CHI) 120 R Billy Hamilton (PHI) 141 H Billy Hamilton (PHI) 179 SB Billy Hamilton (PHI) 111 break + Pitching leaders1891 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1891-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Bill Hutchinson (CHI) 44 L Silver King (PIT) 29 ERA John Ewing (NYG) 2.27 K Amos Rusie (NYG) 337 IP Bill Hutchinson (CHI) 561.0 SV John Clarkson (BSN)Kid Nichols (BSN) 3 WHIP Harry Staley (BSN/PIT) 1.213 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Jimmy Ryan (CHI): Ryan hit for his second cycle and second in franchise history, on July 1 against the Cleveland Spiders.http://www.retrosheet.org/cycles.htm Cycles Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2018-06-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20180629045321/http://www.retrosheet.org/cycles.htm live Abner Dalrymple (MIL): Dalrymple hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on September 12 against the Washington Statesmen. Other batting accomplishments Arlie Latham (CIN): Recorded his 500th career stolen base, becoming the first player to reach this mark. It is unknown what day this stolen base occurred.Arlie Latham Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More — Arlie Latham: Standard Batting (1880-1891) https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lathaar01.shtml#1880-1891-sum:players_standard_batting 2026-06-09 Baseball Reference en Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Tom Lovett (BRO): Lovett threw his first career no-hitter and the fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the New York Giants 4–0 on June 22. Lovett walked three and struck out four.Not Even A Base Hit http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1891-06-23/ed-1/seq-4/ The Sun (New York City) 1891-06-23 Amos Rusie (NYG): Rusie threw his first career no-hitter and the first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Brooklyn Grooms 6–0 on July 31. He is the youngest player to accomplish such a feat in major league history. Rusie walked seven and struck out four.Not A Single Hit Off Rusie http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1891-08-01/ed-1/seq-4/ The Sun (New York City) 1891-08-01 Ted Breitenstein (STL): The first player to accomplish this feat, Breitenstein threw his first career no-hitter in his first major league appearance. Breitenstein also threw the first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Louisville Colonels 8–0 in game one of a doubleheader on October 4. Breitenstein walked one and struck out four.Only A Few More Games http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1891-10-05/ed-1/seq-3/ The Sun (New York City) 1891-10-05 Other pitching accomplishments Charles Radbourn (CIN): Became the fourth member of the 300-win club, defeating the Boston Beaneaters on June 2, winning 10–8.Randhawa Manny 300-game winners in MLB history https://www.mlb.com/news/300-win-pitchers-c271491170 2020-05-10 2026-03-09 MLB.com en Home field attendance Only records for National League teams are available. Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gamePhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference68 −12.8%217,282 46.4%3,149New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference71 12.7%210,568247.1%3,052Boston BeaneatersAtlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference8714.5%184,472 25.0%2,527Brooklyn GroomsLos Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference61 −29.1%181,477 49.5%2,521Chicago ColtsChicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference82 −1.2%181,431 76.9%2,708Cleveland SpidersCleveland Spiders Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLV/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference6547.7%132,000178.0%1,913Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference55139.1%128,000 696.8%1,939Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference56 −27.3%97,500 −26.1%1,455 Venues The 1891 season saw five teams relocate to new ballparks, many of which were ballparks of the single-season Players' League the previous season: The Baltimore Orioles leave Oriole Park (where they played for eight seasons) and move to Union Park, where they would go on to play for nine seasons until they folded, following the conclusion of the 1899 season. The Brooklyn Grooms leave Washington Park (where they played for seven seasons) and move to Eastern Park, the former home of the Players' League Brooklyn Ward's Wonders, where they would go on to play for seven seasons through 1897. The Cleveland Spiders leave National League Park (where they played for four seasons) and move to League Park, where they would go on to play for nine seasons until they folded, following the conclusion of the 1899 season. The New York Giants leave the second iteration of the Polo Grounds (where they played for two seasons) and move to the adjacent third iteration of the Polo Grounds, the former home of the Players' League New York Giants, where they would go on to play for 67 seasons through 1957. The Pittsburgh Pirates leave Recreation Park (where they played for seven seasons) and return to the Exposition Park site, playing at its third iteration, the former home of the Players' League Pittsburgh Burghers, where they would go on to play for 19 seasons midway through 1909. The Chicago Colts begin playing at South Side Park, splitting their season from West Side Park. They would play their final game at West Side Park on October 2 against the Cincinnati Reds, permanently moving into South Side Park for the start of the 1892 season. American Park, the home of the Cincinnati Reds, is renamed to League Park. After the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds folded mid-season, the Milwaukee Brewers withdrew from the Western League as a replacement team, playing at Brewer Field. The team plays one of their 21 home games at a neutral site in Athletic Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota. See also 1891 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1891 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1891 in baseball