1888 Major League Baseball season

January 2025 1888 1888 MLB season American Association (AA)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 18 – October 17, 1888 (AA) April 20 – October 13, 1888 (NL)World's Championship Series: October 16–27, 1888 140 16 (8 per league) Pennant winner AA St. Louis Browns Brooklyn Bridegrooms NL New York Giants Chicago White Stockings World's Championship Series 1888 World Series Polo Grounds, New York, New York Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri New York Giants St. Louis Browns List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1887 Major League Baseball season 1887 1889 Major League Baseball season 1889 The 1888 major league baseball season began on April 18, 1888. The regular season ended on October 17, with the New York Giants 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 fifth World's Championship Series on October 16 and ended with Game 10 on October 27, in what was a best-of-eleven-playoff. The Giants defeated the Browns, six games to four, capturing their first World's Championship Series. Over the offseason, the American Association's New York Metropolitans folded, and saw them replaced by the newly enfranchised Kansas City Cowboys. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Grays renamed as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1888 schedule consisted of 140 games for all teams in the American Association and National League, each of which had eight teams. 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 was the first season that the National League adopted the format. This format would last until 1892. American Association Opening Day took place on April 18 featuring all eight teams, while National League Opening Day took place on April 20, also featuring all eight teams. The American Association would see its final day of the regular season on October 15 with a game between the Cleveland Blues and Philadelphia Athletics, while the National League would see its final day of the season on October 13, featuring all eight teams.1888 Major Leagues Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1888-schedule.shtml 2025-01-28 Baseball Reference en The 1888 World's Championship Series took place between October 16 and October 27. Rule changes The 1888 season saw the following rule changes: A batter was credited with a base hit when a runner was hit by his batted ball.MLB Rule Changes https://www.baseball-almanac.com/rulechng.shtml 2025-01-28 Baseball Almanac en-us A batter was credited with a hit when a runner is out for being hit by the batted ball. The base on balls exemption from a time at bat was restored. Rule 50 § 4 was amended allowing a runner to take a base if the ball hits the umpire, while a struck ball hits a base runner after an attempt has been made to field it, the runner shall not be declared out.admin 1887 Winter Meetings: Harmony After a Fire Sale Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1887-winter-meetings-harmony-after-a-fire-sale/ 2025-03-26 en-US Rules distinguishing earned runs from unearned runs were created, mainly that an earned run was defined as one unaided by errors, with an exception for bases on balls; a player that was walked and scores will be counted towards a pitcher's total earned runs.Hershberger Richard How Bases on Balls were Scored: 1864–1888 – Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/how-bases-on-balls-were-scored-1864-1888/ 2025-02-07 en-US Rule 4 changed, changing the total number of strikes needed for a strikeout were reduced from four to three (as they were, prior to 1887. The 1887 batting average rule which included balls in the calculation of the batting average is reversed. Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1888 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1888-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican Association American Association (1882–1891) American AssociationBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandOriole Park5,000Billy BarnieBrooklyn BridegroomsBrooklyn, New YorkA 1 1Washington Park3,000Bill McGunnigleCincinnati Red StockingsCincinnati, OhioAmerican Park3,000Gus SchmelzCleveland BluesCleveland, OhioNational League ParkUnknownJimmy Williams baseball managerTom LoftusKansas City CowboysKansas City, MissouriAssociation Park UnknownDave Rowe baseballSam BarkleyBill Watkins baseballExposition Park*4,000*Louisville ColonelsLouisville, KentuckyEclipse Park5,860Kick KellyMordecai DavidsonJack KerinsPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaJefferson Street Grounds15,000Bill SharsigSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park12,000Charles ComiskeyNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,800John Morrill baseballChicago White StockingsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park6,000Cap AnsonDetroit WolverinesDetroit, MichiganRecreation Park (Detroit)UnknownBill Watkins baseballRobert LeadleyIndianapolis HoosiersIndianapolis, IndianaSeventh Street ParkUnknownHarry SpenceNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds20,709Jim MutriePhiladelphia QuakersPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia Base Ball Grounds12,500Harry WrightPittsburgh AlleghenysAllegheny, PennsylvaniaB 1 1Recreation Park (Pittsburgh)17,000Horace Phillips baseballWashington NationalsWashington, D.C.Swampoodle Grounds6,000Walter HewettTed Sullivan baseball Sunday games Blue laws restricted Sunday activities in several localities, causing several teams of the American Association (which was informally referred to as the "Beer & Whiskey League" due to its openness on alcohol, compared to the National League) to play at ballparks in a different locality. TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedBrooklyn BridegroomsBrooklyn Dodgers – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/team.php?TeamID=BR3 2025-01-30 www.seamheads.comRidgewood, New YorkA 1 2Ridgewood Park10,00020Cleveland BluesCleveland Spiders – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/team.php?TeamID=CL3 2025-02-04 www.seamheads.comBainbridge Township, OhioGeauga Lake GroundsUnknown3Newburgh Township, OhioC 1 1Beyerle's ParkUnknown1Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia Athletics – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/team.php?TeamID=PH4 2025-01-30 www.seamheads.comGloucester City, New JerseyFireworks ParkUnknown2Gloucester Point GroundsUnknown1 A 1 2 In today's New York, New York. B 1 In today's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. C 1 In today's Cleveland, Ohio. Standings start American Association St. Louis Browns break National League New York Giants end Tie games 21 tie games (9 in AA, 12 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season. start American Association Brooklyn Bridegrooms, 3 Cincinnati Red Stockings, 3 Cleveland Blues, 3 Louisville Colonels, 4 Philadelphia Athletics, 3 St. Louis Browns, 2 break National League Boston Beaneaters, 3 Chicago White Stockings, 1 Detroit Wolverines, 3 Indianapolis Hoosiers, 1 New York Giants, 7 Philadelphia Quakers, 2 Pittsburgh Alleghenys, 5 Washington Nationals, 2 end Postseason thumb | right | alt=New York Giants baseball team, 1888 | New York Giants baseball team, 1888 Bracket World's Championship Series 10 AA St. Louis Browns 1 3 2 3 4 5 78 3 14 18 NL New York Giants 2 0 4 6 68 128 5 11 11 7 Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBrooklyn BridegroomsCharlie ByrneBill McGunnigleIndianapolis HoosiersHorace FogelHarry SpenceNew York MetropolitansOllie CaylorTeam foldedPhiladelphia AthleticsCharlie MasonBill SharsigWashington NationalsJohn GaffneyWalter Hewett In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerCleveland BluesJimmy WilliamsTom LoftusDetroit WolverinesBill WatkinsRobert LeadleyKansas City CowboysDave RoweSam BarkleySam BarkleyBill WatkinsLouisville ColonelsKick KellyMordecai DavidsonMordecai DavidsonJohn KerinsWashington StatesmenWalter HewettTed Sullivan League leaders Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. American Association start + Hitting leaders1888 American Association Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1888-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Tip O'Neill (STL) .335 OPS John Reilly (CIN) .864 HR John Reilly (CIN) 13 RBI John Reilly (CIN) 103 R George Pinkney (BRO) 134 H Tip O'Neill (STL) 177 SB Arlie Latham (STL) 109 break + Pitching leaders1888 American Association Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1888-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Silver King (STL) 45 L Henry Porter (KC) 37 ERA Silver King (STL) 1.63 K Ed Seward (PHA) 272 IP Silver King (STL) 584.2 SV John Corkhill (BRO/CIN)Bob Gilks (CLE)Tony Mullane (CIN) 1 WHIP Silver King (STL) 0.874 end National League start + Hitting leaders1888 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1888-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Cap Anson (CHI) .344 OPS Cap Anson (CHI) .899 HR Jimmy Ryan (CHI) 16 RBI Cap Anson (CHI) 84 R Dan Brouthers (DET) 118 H Jimmy Ryan (CHI) 182 SB Billy Hoy (WAS) 82 break + Pitching leaders1888 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1888-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Tim Keefe1 (NYG) 35 L Hank O'Day (WAS) 29 ERA Tim Keefe1 (NYG) 1.74 K Tim Keefe1 (NYG) 335 IP John Clarkson (BSN) 483.1 SV George Wood (PHI) 2 WHIP Tim Keefe (NYG) 0.937 1 National League Triple Crown pitching winner end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Harry Stovey (PHA): Stovey hit for his first cycle and fourth in franchise history, on May 15 against the Baltimore Orioles.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 Sam Barkley (KC): Barkley hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on June 13 against the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Jimmy Ryan (CHI): Ryan hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on July 28 against the Detroit Wolverines. Mike Tiernan (NYG): Tiernan hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on August 25 against the Philadelphia Quakers. Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Adonis Terry (BRO): Terry threw his second career no-hitter and third no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Louisville Colonels 4–0 on May 27. Terry walked three and struck out eight.A Big Day For Terry http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1888-05-28/ed-1/seq-3/ The Sun (New York City) 1888-05-28 Henry Porter (KC): Porter threw his first career no-hitter and first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Baltimore Orioles 4–0 on June 6. Porter walked one and struck out an unknown amount.1888-06-07 Shut Out by the Cowboys https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn90059522/1888-06-07/ed-1/ 2026-03-06 St. Paul Daily Globe 5 en 2168-0116 1775208Catchers Who Caught No Hitters http://bb_catchers.tripod.com/catchers/catchnoh.htm bb_catchers.tripod.com Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers 2012-07-19 August 6, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120806172440/http://bb_catchers.tripod.com/catchers/catchnoh.htm dead Ed Seward (PHA): Seward threw his first career no-hitter and third no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Cincinnati Red Stockings 12–2 on July 26. Seward walked three and struck out six.The Game of His Life http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059522/1888-07-27/ed-1/seq-6/ St. Paul Daily Globe 1888-07-27 Gus Weyhing (PHA): Weyhing threw his first career no-hitter and fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Kansas City Cowboys 4–0 on July 31. Weyhing walked one, hit one by pitch, and stuck out five.Athletic 4; Kansas City 0 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1888-08-01/ed-1/seq-3/ The Sun (New York City) 1888-08-01 Other pitching accomplishments Tim Keefe (NYG): Set a Major League record for most consecutive wins in a single season, at 19. The streak ran from June 23 to August 10. Ed Morris (PIT): Set a Major League record for most consecutive shutouts, setting a National League record at four on September 15. Pud Galvin (PIT): Became the first member of the 300-win club, defeating the Washington Nationals on October 5, winning 5–1.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 Venues The Kansas City Cowboys join the American Association and play at Association Park in Kansas City, Missouri. For the last home game of the season, they permanently left Association Park and move into Exposition Park on September 30. The New York Giants would play their final game at the original Polo Grounds in game 5 of the World's Championship Series on October 20 against the St. Louis Browns, playing at Oakland Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, St. George Cricket Grounds in St. George, New York, and the second Polo Grounds further uptown the following season. The South End Grounds, home of the Boston Beaneaters, saw a completely new structure over the offseason. The team would play their first game at the revamped South End Grounds on May 25. Three teams of the American Association hosted Sunday games: Brooklyn Bridegrooms played 20 games at Ridgewood Park in Ridgewood, New York on April 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24, July 22, 29, August 5, 26, September 2, a doubleheader on September 9, September 16, October 7 and 14.1888 Log For Wallace's Ridgewood Park in New York, NY https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1888/PKL_NYC181888.htm 2026-03-09 Retrosheet It would be the second of three seasons that the team played Sunday games there. Cleveland Blues: played three games at Geauga Lake Grounds in Bainbridge Township, Ohio on July 22, 29 and August 26, as well as one game at Beyerle's Park in Newburgh Township, Ohio on September 2.1888 Log For Geauga Lake Grounds in Geauga Lake, OH https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1888/PKL_GEA011888.htm 2026-03-09 Retrosheet1888 Log For Beyerle's Park in Newburgh Township, OH https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1888/PKL_NEW031888.htm 2026-03-09 Retrosheet Philadelphia Athletics played two games at Fireworks Park in Gloucester City, New Jersey on August 5 and 26, as well as one game at Gloucester Point Grounds, also in Gloucester City on October 14.1888 Log For Fireworks Park in Gloucester City, NJ https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1888/PKL_GLO021888.htm 2026-03-09 Retrosheet1888 Log For Gloucester Point Grounds in Gloucester City, NJ https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1888/PKL_GLO011888.htm 2026-03-09 Retrosheet See also 1888 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1888 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1888 in baseball