1881 Major League Baseball season

February 2025 1881 1881 MLB season National League (NL) Baseball April 30 – September 30, 1881 84 8 Pennant winner NL Chicago White Stockings Providence Grays List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1880 Major League Baseball season 1880 1882 Major League Baseball season 1882 The 1881 major league baseball season was contested from April 30 through September 30, 1881, and saw the Chicago White Stockings as the pennant winner of the sixth season of the National League. There was no postseason. The 1881 season is most known for featuring the first major league grand slam.Charlie Gould of the 1871 Boston Red Stockings of the National Association (NA) hit a grand slam, the NA is not considered a major league by Major League Baseball. Roger Connor of the Troy Trojans hit the walk-off home run at Riverside Park (Greenbush) against the Worcester Worcesters on September 10, leading to an 8–7 victory.Husman John R. September 10, 1881: Roger Connor’s ‘ultimate’ grand slam Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/september-10-1881-roger-connors-ultimate-grand-slam/ 2025-02-12 en-US Over the off-season, the National League dropped the Cincinnati Stars because the team refused to sign a league pledge that banned alcohol in league parks and forbade clubs from renting their parks out on Sundays. The team was replaced by the Detroit Wolverines. 1881 would be the final season of the first National League monopoly-era, as the American Association would be established in 1882. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1881 schedule consisted of 84 games for all eight teams of the National League. Each team was scheduled to play 12 games against the other seven teams in the league. This continued the format put in place since 1879 and would be used until 1883. Opening Day took place on April 30 featuring four teams. The final day of the season was on September 30, featuring all eight teams.1881 Major Leagues Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1881-schedule.shtml 2025-02-13 Baseball Reference en Rule changes The 1881 season saw the following rule changes: The pitching distance from the front of the pitcher's box to the center of home base from 45 feet to 50 feet.Pajot Dennis 1880 Winter Meetings: ‘The Most Harmonious of all the League Meetings’ Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1880-winter-meetings-the-most-harmonious-of-all-the-league-meetings/ 2025-02-13 en-US The number of "fair balls" the batter could choose to take without lowering the number of "unfair balls" in a base on balls was reduced from four to three. Temporary substitute runners were prohibited. Runners were now required to return to their occupied base or risk being putout: Before the umpire called time on any play. When a foul ball was not ruled an out and returned to the pitcher. Umpires must now use their best judgement on the legitimacy of a catch by a fielder, whereas previously, an umpire could take the testimony of bystanders nearest the player attempting the catch to make his decision. Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1881 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1881-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston Red CapsBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds3,000Harry WrightBuffalo BisonsBuffalo, New YorkRiverside Park (Buffalo)UnknownJim O'Rourke baseballChicago White StockingsChicago, IllinoisLakefront Park5,000Cap AnsonCleveland BluesCleveland, OhioNational League ParkUnknownMike McGearyJohn Clapp baseballDetroit WolverinesDetroit, MichiganRecreation ParkUnknownFrank BancroftProvidence GraysProvidence, Rhode IslandMesser Street Grounds6,000Jack FarrellTom York baseballTroy TrojansLansingburgh, New YorkA 1 1Haymakers' GroundsUnknownBob Ferguson infielderGreenbush, New YorkB 1 1Riverside Park (Greenbush)*Unknown*Worcester WorcestersWorcester, MassachusettsAgricultural County Fair GroundsUnknownMike DorganHarry Stovey A 1 In today's Troy, New York. B 1 In today's Rensselaer, New York. Standings National League Chicago White Stockings Tie games Two tie games, which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind occurred throughout the season (though standings were determined by total wins, not winning percentage).The 1881 Season https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1881/Y_1881.htm 2026-03-12 Retrosheet The Cleveland Blues, Providence Grays, Troy Trojans, and Worcester Worcesters had one tie game each. August 18, Providence Grays vs. Worcester Worcesters, tied at 8.1881 Worcester Ruby Legs Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WOR/1881-schedule-scores.shtml 2026-03-11 Baseball Reference en September 15, Cleveland Blues vs. Troy Trojans, tied at 6.1881 Troy Trojans Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TRO/1881-schedule-scores.shtml 2026-03-11 Baseball Reference en Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBuffalo BisonsSam CraneJim O'RourkeCincinnati StarsJohn ClappTeam foldedCleveland BluesJim McCormickMike McGearyProvidence GraysMike DorganJack FarrellWorcester WorcestersFrank BancroftMike Dorgan In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerCleveland BluesMike McGearyJohn ClappProvidence GraysJack FarrellTom YorkWorcester WorcestersMike DorganHarry Stovey League leaders Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. National League start + Hitting leaders1881 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1881-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Cap Anson (CHI) .399 OPS Cap Anson (CHI) .952 HR Dan Brouthers (BUF) 8 RBI Cap Anson (CHI) 82 R George Gore (CHI) 86 H Cap Anson (CHI) 137 break + Pitching leaders1881 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1881-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Larry Corcoran (CHI)Jim Whitney (BSN) 31 L Jim Whitney (BSN) 33 ERA George Weidman (DET) 1.80 K George Derby (DET) 212 IP Jim Whitney (BSN) 552.1 SV Bobby Mathews (BSN/PRO) 2 WHIP George Weidman (DET) 1.043 end Milestones Batters George Gore (CHI): Set a Major League record for most stolen bases in a single game, stealing seven bases against the Providence Grays on June 25.MLB Stolen Bases Records https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stba.shtml 2026-03-12 Baseball Almanac en-us Venues The Detroit Wolverines join the National League and play at Recreation Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Troy Trojans would play their final game at Haymakers' Grounds on September 30 against the Detroit Wolverines, moving to the Troy Ball Clubs Grounds for the start of the 1882 season. The Troy Trojans continue to host a few games at Riverside Park in nearby Greenbush, New York, playing on June 15 and September 10.1881 Log For Riverside Park in Greenbush, NY https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1881/PKL_ALB011881.htm 2026-03-12 Retrosheet Notes See also 1881 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1881 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1881 in baseball