1885 Major League Baseball season

February 2025 1885 1885 MLB season American Association (AA)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 18 – October 5, 1885 (AA) April 30 – October 10, 1885 (NL)World's Championship Series: October 14–24, 1885 112 16 (8 per league) Pennant winner AA St. Louis Browns Cincinnati Red Stockings NL Chicago White Stockings New York Giants World's Championship Series 1885 World Series American Park, Cincinnati, Ohio Recreation Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri West Side Park, Chicago, Illinois Series ended in a tie St. Louis Browns / Chicago White Stockings List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1884 Major League Baseball season 1884 1886 Major League Baseball season 1886 thumb | right | alt=The 1885 Chicago White Stockings (currently 'Chicago Cubs') | The 1885 Chicago White Stockings (currently 'Chicago Cubs') The 1885 major league baseball season began on April 18, 1885. The regular season ended on October 15, with the Chicago White Stockings and the St. Louis Browns as regular season champions of the National League and American Association, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the second World's Championship Series on October 14 and ended with Game 7 on October 24, in what was a best-of-seven-playoff. The White Stockings and Browns ended the series in a disputed tie in seven games. This dispute was due to the Browns not considering their forfeit in Game 2 as a voided game, and as a result, claimed victory. Prior to the 1885 season, the unstable single season Union Association disbanded. The St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association joined the National League, in place of the disbanding Cleveland Blues. The twelve-team American Association would contract down to eight teams, with the Columbus Buckeyes, Indianapolis Hoosiers, and Toledo Blue Stockings folding, while the late-entry Richmond Virginians returned to the Minor Leagues. The National League's New York Gothams renamed as the New York Giants, and the American Association's Brooklyn Atlantics and Louisville Eclipse renamed as the Brooklyn Grays and Louisville Colonels, respectively. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1885 schedule consisted of 112 games for all teams in the American Association and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 16 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place by the National League since the previous season. The American Association, due to downsizing from a twelve-team league to an eight-team league over the off season, took on this format. This would be the final season for this format, as the AA would implement a 140-game format and the NL a 126-game format the following season. American Association Opening Day took place on April 18 featuring four teams, while National League Opening Day took place on April 30, with a game between the Chicago White Stockings and St. Louis Maroons. The American Association would see its final day of the regular season on October 5 with a game between the Brooklyn Grays and Philadelphia Athletics, while the National League would see its final day of the season on October 10, featuring four teams.1885 Major Leagues Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1885-schedule.shtml 2025-02-08 Baseball Reference en The 1885 World's Championship Series took place between October 14 and October 24, though was originally supposed to extend to October 31.The Chicago Champions and St. Louis Browns Play a Tie Game of Ball https://archive.org/details/per_chicago-daily-tribune_the-chicago-daily-tribun_1885-10-15_45/page/n5/mode/2up 2025-02-08 Chicago Tribune 1885-10-15 en Rule changes The 1885 season saw the following rule changes: A granulated substance may be applied up to 18" from the bottom of the bat.MLB Rule Changes https://www.baseball-almanac.com/rulechng.shtml 2025-01-28 Baseball Almanac en-us Chest protectors worn by catchers and umpires came into use. In the National League, home base could be made of marble or whitened rubber. The American Association would make this change in the following year.Baseball History: 19th Century Baseball: The Field: Evolution of the Batter's Area https://www.19cbaseball.com/field-2.html 2025-02-10 www.19cbaseball.com One portion of the bat could be flat (one side). In the National League, the batter's box was extended by one foot in width, on either side of home plate, expanding from three feet wide and one foot from home plate to four feet wide and six inches from home plate. The American Association would follow the following year.Pestana Mark 1884 Winter Meetings: Collapse of the Union, Return of the Prodigals Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1884-winter-meetings-collapse-of-the-union-return-of-the-prodigals/ 2025-02-10 en-US The balk rule was more clearly defined, changing from "A balk is a motion made by the pitcher to deliver the ball to the bat without delivering it," to "when about to deliver the ball to the bat, while standing within the lines of his position, make any one of the series of motions he habitually makes in so delivering the ball to the bat, without delivering it." The American Association abolishes the "foul bound catch" rule, which was when a fielder caught a foul ball on its first bounce. The National League did so previously in 1883.Hershberger Richard The Dropped Third Strike: The Life and Times of a Rule Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-dropped-third-strike-the-life-and-times-of-a-rule/ 2025-02-11 en-US Minimum player salary under the reserve rule was made $1,000 (US 1000 1885 eq). On June 7, the American Association lifted all restrictions on pitching, enabling pitchers to throw above the shoulder during pitch delivery.Baseball History: 19th Century Baseball: The Field: The Pitcher's Area https://www.19cbaseball.com/field-8.html 2025-02-10 www.19cbaseball.com The National League lifted restrictions in 1884. Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1885 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1885-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican Association American Association (1882–1891) American AssociationBaltimore OriolesOxford, MarylandA 1 1Oriole Park5,000Billy BarnieBrooklyn GraysBrooklyn, New YorkB 1 1Washington Park3,000Charlie HackettCharlie Byrne baseballCincinnati Red StockingsCincinnati, OhioAmerican Park3,000Ollie Caylor O. P. CaylorLouisville ColonelsLouisville, KentuckyEclipse Park5,860Jim Hart baseball managerNew York MetropolitansNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds20,709Jim GiffordPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaJefferson Street Grounds15,000Harry StoveyPittsburgh AlleghenysAllegheny, PennsylvaniaC 1 1Recreation Park (Pittsburgh)17,000Horace Phillips baseballSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park6,000Charles ComiskeyNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds3,000John Morrill baseballBuffalo BisonsBuffalo, New YorkOlympic Park5,000Pud GalvinJack Chapman baseballChicago White StockingsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park6,000Cap AnsonDetroit WolverinesDetroit, MichiganRecreation Park (Detroit)UnknownCharlie Morton baseball managerBill Watkins baseballNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds20,709Jim MutriePhiladelphia QuakersPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaRecreation Park6,500Harry WrightProvidence GraysProvidence, Rhode IslandMesser Street Grounds6,000Frank BancroftSt. Louis MaroonsSt. Louis, MissouriUnion Base Ball Park10,000Fred DunlapAlex McKinnon baseball Neutral site games Three teams hosted games at neutral sites, the Buffalo Bisons, Providence Grays, and St. Louis Maroons.1885 Season – 1-Year Park Factors — Seamheads.com Ballparks Database https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1885&tab=pf1&LgID=All 2026-03-11 www.seamheads.com TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedBuffalo BisonsElmira, New YorkMaple Avenue Driving ParkUnknown2Milwaukee, WisconsinWright Street Grounds5,3001Providence Grays1St. Louis MaroonsIndianapolis, IndianaSeventh Street ParkUnknown1 A 1 In today's Baltimore, Maryland. B 1 In today's New York, New York. C 1 In today's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Standings start American Association St. Louis Browns break National League Chicago White Stockings end Tie games 4 tie games (1 in AA, 3 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season. start American Association The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Athletics had one tie game each. August 11, Baltimore Orioles vs. Philadelphia Athletics, tied at 4.1885 Philadelphia Athletics Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHA/1885-schedule-scores.shtml 2026-03-10 Baseball Reference en break National League The St. Louis Maroons had three tie games. The Boston Beaneaters, Chicago White Stockings, and Philadelphia Quakers had one tie game each.1885 St. Louis Maroons Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SLM/1885-schedule-scores.shtml 2026-03-10 Baseball Reference en August 1, Boston Beaneaters vs. St. Louis Maroons, scoreless. September 8, St. Louis Maroons vs. Chicago White Stockings, tied at one. October 2, St. Louis Maroons vs. Philadelphia Quakers, tied at 3. end Postseason Bracket World's Championship Series 7 AA St. Louis Browns 58 4 7 3 2 2 138 NL Chicago White Stockings 58 56* 4 2 97 9 4*Denotes game that St. Louis forfeited to Chicago Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBaltimore MonumentalsBill HendersonTeam foldedBrooklyn GraysGeorge TaylorCharlie HackettBuffalo BisonsJim O'RourkePud GalvinCincinnati Outlaw RedsSam CraneTeam foldedCincinnati Red StockingsPop SnyderOllie CaylorCleveland BluesCharlie HackettTeam foldedColumbus BuckeyesGus SchmelzTeam foldedDetroit WolverinesJack ChapmanCharlie MortonIndianapolis HoosiersBill WatkinsTeam foldedKansas City CowboysTed SullivanTeam foldedLouisville ColonelsMike WalshJim HartMilwaukee BrewersTom LoftusTeam foldedNew York GiantsJohn Montgomery WardJim MutrieNew York MetropolitansJim MutrieJim GiffordPhiladelphia AthleticsLon KnightHarry StoveyRichmond VirginiansFelix MosesTeam foldedSt. Paul SaintsAndrew ThompsonTeam foldedToledo Blue StockingsCharlie MortonTeam foldedWashington Nationals (AA)John BickertonTeam foldedWashington Nationals (UA)Michael ScanlonTeam folded In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBrooklyn GraysCharlie HackettCharlie ByrneBuffalo BisonsPud GalvinJack ChapmanDetroit WolverinesCharlie MortonBill WatkinsSt. Louis MaroonsFred DunlapAlex McKinnon League leaders American Association start + Hitting leaders1885 American Association Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1885-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Pete Browning (LOU) .362 OPS Pete Browning (LOU) .923 HR Harry Stovey (PHA) 13 RBI Frank Fennelly (CIN) 89 R Harry Stovey (PHA) 130 H Pete Browning (LOU) 174 break + Pitching leaders1885 American Association Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1885-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Bob Caruthers (STL) 40 L Hardie Henderson (BAL) 35 ERA Bob Caruthers (STL) 2.07 K Ed Morris (PIT) 298 IP Ed Morris (PIT) 581.0 SV Thomas Burns (BAL) 3 WHIP Ed Morris (PIT) 0.964 end National League start + Hitting leaders1885 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1885-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Roger Connor (NYG) .371 OPS Dan Brouthers (BUF) .951 HR Abner Dalrymple (CHI) 11 RBI Cap Anson (CHI) 108 R King Kelly (CHI) 124 H Roger Connor (NYG) 169 break + Pitching leaders1885 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1885-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W John Clarkson (CHI) 53 L Jim Whitney (BSN) 32 ERA Tim Keefe (NYG) 1.58 K John Clarkson (CHI) 308 IP John Clarkson (CHI) 623.0 SV Fred Pfeffer (CHI)Ed Williamson (CHI) 2 WHIP Lady Baldwin (DET) 0.920 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Dave Orr (NYM): Orr hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on June 12 against the St. Louis Browns.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 George Wood (DET): Wood hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on June 13 against the Chicago White Stockings. Henry Larkin (PHA): Larkin hit for his first cycle and second in franchise history, and the first reverse cycle in major league history on June 16 against Pittsburgh Alleghenys.Huber Mike May 7, 2008: Minnesota's Carlos Gomez hits for reverse natural cycle https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-7-2008-minnesotas-carlos-gomez-hits-for-reverse-natural-cycle/#_ednref8 live https://web.archive.org/web/20201129103433/https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-7-2008-minnesotas-carlos-gomez-hits-for-reverse-natural-cycle/#_ednref8 2020-11-29 2020-12-02 SABR Mox McQuery (DET): McQuery hit for his first cycle and second in franchise history, on September 28 against the Providence Grays. Other batting accomplishments George Strief (PHA): Set a Major League record by hitting four triples in a single game, on June 25 against the Brooklyn Grays.MLB Triples Records https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_trip1.shtml 2026-03-11 Baseball Almanac en-us Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters John Clarkson (CHI): Clarkson threw his first career no-hitter and fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Providence Grays 4–0 on July 27.Wilbert Warren Hageman William Chicago Cubs: Seasons at the Summit, the 50 Greatest Individual Seasons 1997 Sports Publishing LLC 1571671102 6 Charlie Ferguson (PHI): Ferguson threw his first career no-hitter and first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Providence Grays 1–0 on August 29. Ferguson walked two and struck out eight.Pulling Up To Chicago http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1885-08-30/ed-1/seq-7/ The Sun (New York City) 1885-08-30 Venues The Chicago White Stockings leave Lakefront Park (where they played for seven seasons) and move to West Side Park, where they would go on to play for seven seasons, partway through 1891. For various reasons, three teams would play home games at neutral sites: The Buffalo Bisons played a doubleheader on their last day of the season, at Maple Avenue Driving Park in Elmira, New York on October 10.1885 Log For Maple Avenue Driving Park in Elmira, NY https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1885/PKL_ELM011885.htm 2026-03-11 Retrosheet The home of the formerly major league Milwaukee Brewers, Wright Street Grounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin would be the site of two games, both against the nearby Chicago White Stockings. The Buffalo Bisons hosted on September 4, while the Providence Grays hosted on September 25.1885 Log For Wright Street Grounds in Milwaukee, WI https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1885/PKL_MIL021885.htm 2026-03-11 Retrosheet The St. Louis Maroons played at Seventh Street Park in Indianapolis, Indiana (the home of the former Indianapolis Hoosiers) on September 15.1885 Log For Seventh Street Park I in Indianapolis, IN https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1885/PKL_IND021885.htm 2026-03-11 Retrosheet See also 1885 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1885 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1885 in baseball