19th-century National League teams

June 2013 February 2013 The following is a list of United States Major League Baseball teams that played in the National League during the 19th century. None of these teams, other than Athletic and Mutual, had actual names during this period; sportswriters however often applied creative monickers which are still, mistakenly, used today as "team names" following a convention established in 1951. Surviving teams Major league Boston: "Red Stockings, "Red Caps," "Beaneaters" 1876–1900 – now Atlanta Braves Brooklyn: "Grays," "Bridegrooms," "Grooms," "Superbas," "Robins," "Trolley Dodgers" 1890–1900 – transferred from the American Association; now Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago "White Stockings": 1876–1900 – now known as the Cubs Cincinnati: "Red Stockings" or "Reds" 1890–1900 – transferred from the American Association New York: occasionally "Gothams," more often "Giants" 1883–1900 – later the New York Giants and now San Francisco Giants Philadelphia 1883–1900 – very occasionally tagged "Quakers" 1883–1890, most often "Philadelphias" in the style of the day, shortened to "Phillies." Pittsburgh: 1887–1900 founded as Allegheny (a Pittsburgh suburb) and referred to in typical manner as "Alleghenys" 1883-1890, dubbed "Pirates" from 1891 – transferred from the American Association St. Louis "Brown Stockings or "Browns," later "Red Stockings" or "Reds" 1892–1900 – transferred from the American Association; now known as the Cardinals. Minor league Buffalo Bisons 1879–1885 – moved to the minors in 1886 and played in Buffalo until 1970 before several moves. Suspended operations in 1973. A current minor league team bearing the "Buffalo Bisons" name, dating to 1979, claims this team as part of their official history. Defunct teams Baltimore Orioles 1892-1899 - transferred from the American Association Cincinnati Red Stockings 1876–1879 Cleveland Blues 1879–1884 Cincinnati Stars 1880 Cleveland Spiders 1889–1899 – transferred from the American Association; the 1899 Cleveland Spiders hold the record for the worst winning percentage in the history of Major League Baseball Detroit Wolverines 1881–1888 Hartford Dark Blues 1876–1877 – transferred from National Association; based in Brooklyn in 1877 Indianapolis Blues 1878 St. Louis Maroons/Black Diamonds/Indianapolis Hoosiers 1885–1889 – transferred from the Union Association in 1885; moved to Indianapolis where often called Hoosiers in 1887 Kansas City Cowboys 1886 Louisville Grays 1876–1877 Louisville Colonels 1892–1899 – transferred from the American Association Milwaukee Grays (or Cream Citys) 1878 Mutual of New York 1876 – transferred from National Association Athletic of Philadelphia 1876 – transferred from National Association Providence Grays 1878–1885 St. Louis Brown Stockings 1876–1877 – transferred from National Association Syracuse Stars 1879 Troy Trojans 1879–1882 Washington Nationals (1886–1889) Washington Senators (1891–1899) Worcester Ruby Legs 1880–1882 Timeline Franchises by Year 1876 Boston Chicago Cincinnati Hartford Louisville Mutual Athletic St. Louis Between 1876 and 1877 seasons Drop: Mutual and Athletic 1877 Boston Chicago Cincinnati Hartford (played most games in Brooklyn) Louisville St. Louis Between 1877 and 1878 seasons Drop: Hartford, Louisville and St. Louis Add: Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Providence 1878 Boston Chicago Cincinnati Indianapolis Milwaukee Providence Between 1878 and 1879 seasons Drop: Indianapolis and Milwaukee Add: Buffalo, Cleveland, Syracuse and Troy 1879 Boston Chicago Cincinnati Providence Buffalo Cleveland Syracuse Troy Between 1879 and 1880 seasons Drop: Syracuse Add: Worcester 1880 Boston Chicago Cincinnati Providence Buffalo Cleveland Troy Worcester Between 1880 and 1881 seasons Drop: Cincinnati Add: Detroit 1881 Boston Chicago Providence Buffalo Cleveland Troy Worcester Detroit Between 1881 and 1882 seasons Drop:none Add: none 1882 Boston Chicago Providence Buffalo Cleveland Troy Worcester Detroit Between 1882 and 1883 seasons Drop: Troy and Worcester Add: New York and Philadelphia 1883 Boston Chicago Providence Buffalo Cleveland Detroit New York Philadelphia Between 1883 and 1884 seasons Drop: none Add: none 1884 Boston Chicago Providence Buffalo Cleveland Detroit New York Philadelphia Between 1884 and 1885 seasons Drop: Cleveland Add: St. Louis from the Union Association 1885 Boston Chicago Providence Buffalo Detroit New York Philadelphia St. Louis Between 1885 and 1886 seasons Drop: Buffalo and Providence Add: Kansas City and Washington 1886 Boston Chicago Detroit New York Philadelphia St. Louis Kansas City Washington Between 1886 and 1887 seasons Drop: Kansas City Add: Pittsburgh (from the American Association) Move: St. Louis to Indianapolis 1887 Boston Chicago Detroit New York Philadelphia Washington Indianapolis Pittsburgh Between 1887 and 1888 seasons Drop: none 1888 Boston Chicago Detroit New York Philadelphia Washington Indianapolis Pittsburgh Between 1888 and 1889 seasons Drop: Detroit Add: Cleveland from the American Association 1889 Boston Chicago New York Philadelphia Washington Indianapolis Pittsburgh Cleveland Between 1889 and 1890 seasons Drop: Indianapolis and Washington Add: Brooklyn and Cincinnati (both from the American Association) 1890 Boston Chicago New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Cleveland Brooklyn Cincinnati Between 1890 and 1891 seasons Drop: none Add: none 1891 Boston Chicago New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Cleveland Brooklyn Cincinnati Between 1891 and 1892 seasons Drop: none Add: Baltimore, Louisville, St. Louis and Washington (all from the American Association) 1892–1899 Boston Chicago New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Cleveland Brooklyn Cincinnati Baltimore Louisville St. Louis Washington This lineup of teams remained the same from 1892 to the end of the 1899 season. After the 1899 season Baltimore, Cleveland, Louisville and Washington were dropped from the National League. 1900 Boston Chicago New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Brooklyn Cincinnati St. Louis This lineup remained the same until Boston relocated to Milwaukee in 1953. See also List of National League pennant winners History of baseball team nicknames References John Thorn Palmer, Pete 1999 Total Baseball 6th Total Sports 978-1-892129-03-1 etal Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines Category:Defunct Major League Baseball teams Category:National League (baseball)