American Association (1882–1891)

{{About|the former baseball league that existed from 1882 to 1891||American Association (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox sports league

|sport = Baseball

|founded = {{baseball year|1882}}

|folded = {{baseball year|1891}}

|teams = 25 (total)
12 (at peak)

|country = United States

|champion = Boston Reds (1)

|most_champs = St. Louis Browns (4)

}}

The American Association of Base Ball Clubs (AA) was a professional baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from {{baseball year|1882}} to {{baseball year|1891}}. Together with the National League (NL), founded in {{baseball year|1876}}, the AA participated in an early version of the World Series{{efn|The modern version of the World Series began in 1903.}} seven times versus the champion of the NL in an interleague championship playoff tournament. At the end of its run, several AA franchises joined the NL. After 1891, the NL existed alone, with each season's champions being awarded the Temple Cup (1894–1897).

During its existence, the AA was often simply referred to as "the Association" in the media, in contrast to the NL, which was sometimes called "the League". It was also sometimes called the "Beer and Whiskey League".

History

File:1885 St. Louis Brown Stockings with Sportsman's Park in background. Chris Von der Ahe and Charles Comiskey featured.jpg of the American Association]]

File:John Alexander Bid McPhee, 2nd Base, Cincinnati, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes MET DP845623.jpg]]

The American Association (AA) distinguished itself in several ways from what it considered to be the puritanical National League (NL). The new league established teams in what the NL leaders pejoratively called "river cities", including Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville and St. Louis, with the inherent implication of lower morality or social standards in those cities. In contrast to the NL, the AA offered cheaper ticket prices, Sunday games and alcoholic beverages to its patrons.{{cite journal|title=Not Bad for A Beer League|last=Shipley|first=Robert E.|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|journal=The National Pastime|url=http://research.sabr.org/journals/files/SABR-National_Pastime-15.pdf|location=Cleveland, Ohio|volume=15|date=Summer 1995|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304112906/http://research.sabr.org/journals/files/SABR-National_Pastime-15.pdf|archive-date=2012-03-04}}{{rp|p.55}}

On November 8, 1881, at the Gibson House in Cincinnati, it was decided that individual teams in the league-to-be would operate their own affairs and set their own admission prices,The Encyclopedia of Louisville, John E. Kleber under an agreement called the "guarantee system". The NL at that time prohibited the sale of alcohol on its grounds, while the AA had no such restrictions, especially as several of its teams were backed by breweries and distilleries. The AA became known as "The Beer and Whiskey League", another pejorative term applied by NL owners, which did not seem to bother the fans of the Association's clubs.

Beginning in 1884 and continuing through 1890, the champion of the AA met the champion of the NL in an early version of the World Series. These early Series were less organized than the modern version, with as few as three games played and as many as fifteen, and the contests of 1885 and 1890 ending in disputed ties. The NL won four of these Series, while the AA won only one, in 1886 when the St. Louis Browns (now the St. Louis Cardinals) defeated the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs).

Over its lifetime, the AA was weakened by several factors. One was the tendency of some of its teams to jump to the NL. The consistently stronger NL was in better position to survive adverse conditions. Some owners of AA teams also owned a NL team.{{rp|p.58}} The most significant blow to the AA was dealt by the Players' League, a third major league formed in 1890, which siphoned off talent and gate receipts. In a rare historical oddity, the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) won the league's championship and represented the AA in the 1889 World Series, switched to the NL during the off-season, and then repeated the same feat. Though during the initial offseason between 1891 and 1892, the Association was looking to expand (including the approval of a Chicago-based team on October 23), the league formally dissolved on December 18, 1891, at 11:10 AM, having officially merged with the National League (with the new formal name, the "National League and American Association of Baseball Clubs".{{Cite web |last=Best |first=Jason |title=1891 Winter Meetings: The Making of the Big League – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/1891-winter-meetings-the-making-of-the-big-league/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |language=en-US}}

No player who spent the majority of his career in the AA is in the baseball Hall of Fame, although Bid McPhee of the Cincinnati Reds played eight of his eighteen seasons in the AA before the Reds moved to the National League. The living legacy of the old Association is the group of teams that came over to the National League to stay. The Pirates moved to the NL after the 1886 season, the Bridegrooms/Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds after the 1889 season, and the Browns/Cardinals after the American Association folded following the 1891 season. Following the reorganization and contraction of the NL from 12 teams down to 8 in 1900, half of the eight surviving teams were former members of the AA. Several of the AA's home-field venues survived into the 1960s: The ballpark used by the 1891 Washington club evolved into Griffith Stadium; the home of the St. Louis Browns, Sportsman's Park; and the city block occupied by the Reds, which evolved into Crosley Field. Other than the clubs themselves, Crosley Field was the last physical remnant of the AA—it was the home field of the Cincinnati Reds until mid-season 1970 and was razed in April 1972.

During the AA's existence, several teams defected over to the NL, and at the AA's demise in 1891 four additional clubs joined the NL. From 1892 to 1899, when the NL consisted of 12 teams, 7 of them had been former AA clubs. Four former AA clubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates (defected to the NL in 1887), the Cincinnati Reds (defected to the NL in 1889), the Los Angeles Dodgers (defected in 1890) and the St. Louis Cardinals (joined the NL after the AA demise in 1891), have posted more than 10,000 all-time major-league victories.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/|title=MLB Teams and Baseball Encyclopedia - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=7 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808123843/http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ |archive-date=8 August 2010}}

AA statistics are recognized by Major League Baseball (MLB), the AA being one of six leagues deemed "major" by the Special Baseball Records Committee of Major League Baseball in 1969.{{cite news |url=https://www.artvoice.com/2020/12/16/major-league-baseball-finally-elevates-the-negro-leagues-to-major-league-officially-recognizing-their-statistical-records/ |title=Major League Baseball finally elevates the Negro Leagues to "Major League" officially recognizing their statistical records |website=artvoice.com |date=December 16, 2020 |access-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184435/https://www.artvoice.com/2020/12/16/major-league-baseball-finally-elevates-the-negro-leagues-to-major-league-officially-recognizing-their-statistical-records/}}{{efn|The other five leagues recognized as major in 1969 were the National League, American League, Union Association (1884), Players' League (1890), and Federal League (1914–1915). In late 2020, several leagues within Negro league baseball were also recognized.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-officially-designates-the-negro-leagues-as-major-league |title=MLB officially designates the Negro Leagues as 'Major League' |website=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |date=December 16, 2020 |access-date=July 4, 2021}}}}

Pennant winners of the AA

1882 Cincinnati Red Stockings
1883 Philadelphia Athletics
1884 New York Metropolitans (lost World Series, 3–0, to Providence NL)
1885 St. Louis Browns (tied World Series, 3–3–1, with Chicago NL)
1886 St. Louis Browns (won World Series, 4–2, over Chicago NL)
1887 St. Louis Browns (lost World Series, 10–5, to Detroit NL)
1888 St. Louis Browns (lost World Series, 6–2, to New York NL)
1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms (lost World Series, 6–3, to New York NL)
1890 Louisville Colonels (tied World Series, 3–3–1, with Brooklyn NL)
1891 Boston Reds

American Association franchises

class="wikitable"

Franchise

|Franchise name with all recorded nicknames

Years

|Years that the franchise were active in the AA

Home-field

|The home-field ballpark(s) in which the franchise played

Titles

|How many league titles the franchise won in the AA

style="background-color: #bbeeff"|†

|Franchise later joined the National League

style="background-color: #ffffbb"|§

|Franchise transferred in from the Players' League

Franchise	Years	Home-field	Titles	class="unsortable"\| Notes	class="unsortable"\| Ref
class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
bgcolor=#bbeeff\| Baltimore Orioles^†	1882–1891	Newington Park/Oriole Park I, II, III	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/FR_BLN.htm\|title=Baltimore Orioles (1882-1899) franchise index\|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/PK_BAL02.htm\|title=Newington Park in Baltimore, MD \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/PK_BAL03.htm\|title=Oriole Park I in Baltimore, MD \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/PK_BAL06.htm\|title=Oriole Park II in Baltimore, MD \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor=#bbeeff\| Cincinnati Red Stockings^†	1882–1889	Bank Street Grounds/League Park I	align=center\|1	This franchise currently exists as the Cincinnati Reds	align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/FR_CIN.htm\|title=Cincinnati Reds (1882-2008) franchise index\|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/PK_CIN03.htm\|title=Bank Street Grounds in Cincinnati, OH \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/PK_CIN04.htm\|title=League Park I in Cincinnati, OH \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor=#bbeeff\| Louisville Colonels^†	1882–1891	Eclipse Park I	align=center\|1		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/FR_LS3.htm\|title=Louisville Colonels (1882-1899) franchise index \| access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/PK_LOU02.htm\|title=Eclipse Park I in Louisville, KY \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Philadelphia Athletics	1882–1890	Oakdale Park/Jefferson Street Grounds	align=center\|1		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/FR_PH4.htm\|title=Philadelphia Athletics (1882-1890) franchise index\|access-date=2009-04-05\|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628032451/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/FR_PH4.htm\|archive-date=2017-06-28}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/PK_PHI03.htm\|title=Oakdale Park in Philadelphia, PA \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/PK_PHI01.htm\|title=Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia, PA. \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor=#bbeeff\|Pittsburgh Alleghenys^†	1882–1886	Exposition Park I, II/Recreation Park	align=center\|0	This franchise currently exists as the Pittsburgh Pirates	align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/FR_PIT.htm\|title=Pittsburgh Pirates (1882-2008) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/PK_PIT02.htm\|title=Exposition Park I in Pittsburgh, PA \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/PK_PIT04.htm\|title=Recreation Park in Pittsburgh, PA \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor=#bbeeff\|St. Louis Brown Stockings/Browns^†	1882–1891	Sportsman's Park I	align=center\|4	This franchise currently exists as the St. Louis Cardinals	align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/FR_SLN.htm\|title=St. Louis Cardinals (1882-1890) franchise index \| access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/PK_STL03.htm\|title=Sportsman's Park I in St. Louis, MO \| access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Columbus Buckeyes	1883–1884	Recreation Park I	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/FR_CL5.htm\|title=Columbus Buckeyes (1883-1884) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/PK_COL01.htm\|title=Recreation Park I in Columbus, OH \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
New York Metropolitans	1883–1887	Polo Grounds I/Metropolitan Park/St. George Cricket Grounds	align=center\|1		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/N/FR_NY4.htm\|title=New York Metropolitans (1883-1887) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/N/PK_NYC03.htm\|title=Polo Grounds I (Southeast Diamond) in New York, NY \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/N/PK_NYC06.htm\|title=Metropolitan Park in New York \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1886/TNY401886.htm\|title=St. George Cricket Grounds in St. George, NY \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor=#bbeeff\|Brooklyn Atlantics/Grays/Bridegrooms^†	1884–1889	Washington Park/Ridgewood Park II	align=center\|1	This franchise currently exists as the Los Angeles Dodgers	align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/FR_LAN.htm\|title=Los Angeles Dodgers (1882-2008) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/N/PK_NYC05.htm\|title=Washington Park I in Brooklyn, NY \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/N/PK_NYC18.htm\|title=Ridgewood Park II in New York, NY \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Indianapolis Hoosiers	1884	Seventh Street Park I/Bruce Grounds	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/I/FR_IN2.htm\|title=Indianapolis Blues (1884) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/I/PK_IND02.htm\|title=Seventh Street Park I in Indianapolis, IN \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/I/PK_IND03.htm\|title=Bruce Grounds in Indianapolis, IN \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Richmond Virginians	1884	Allen Pasture	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/FR_RIC.htm\|title=Richmond Virginias (1884) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/PK_RIC02.htm\|title=Allens Pasture in Richmond, VA \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Toledo Blue Stockings	1884	League Park	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/T/FR_TL1.htm\|title=Toledo Blue Stockings (1884) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/T/PK_TOL01.htm\|title=League Park in Toledo, OH \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Washington Nationals	1884	Athletic Park	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/W/FR_WS7.htm\|title=Washington Nationals (1884) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/W/PK_WAS04.htm\|title=Athletic Park in Washington, DC \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor=#bbeeff\|Cleveland Forest Citys/Blues^†	1887–1888	Kennard Street Park	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/FR_CL4.htm\|title=Cleveland Spiders (1887-1899) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/PK_CLE03.htm\|title=League Park II in Cleveland, OH \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Kansas City Cowboys	1888–1889	Association Park/Exposition Park	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/K/FR_KC2.htm\|title=Kansas City Cowboys (1888-1899) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/K/PK_KAN02.htm\|title=Association Park in Kansas City, MO \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/K/PK_KAN03.htm\|title=Exposition Park in Kansas City, MO \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Columbus Solons	1889–1891	Recreation Park II	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/FR_CL6.htm\|title=Columbus Solons (1889-1891) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/PK_COL02.htm\|title=Recreation Park II in Columbus, OH \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Brooklyn Gladiators	1890	Ridgewood Park II/Polo Grounds III	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/FR_BR4.htm\|title=Brooklyn Gladiators (1890) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/N/PK_NYC09.htm\|title=Polo Grounds III in New York \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Rochester Broncos/Hop Bitters	1890	Culver Field I/Polo Grounds III	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/FR_RC2.htm\|title=Rochester Hop Bitters (1890) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/PK_ROC01.htm\|title=Culver Field I in Rochester, NY \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Syracuse Stars	1890	Star Park II	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/FR_SR2.htm\|title=Syracuse Stars (1890) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/PK_SYR02.htm\|title=Star Park II in Syracuse, NY \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Toledo Maumees	1890	Speranza Park	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/T/FR_TL2.htm\|title=Toledo Maumees (1890) franchise index \| access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/T/PK_TOL03.htm\|title=Speranza Park in Toledo, OH \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor="#ffffbb"\|Boston Reds^§	1891	Congress Street Grounds	align=center\|1	Transferred from the Players' League after 1890 season	align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/FR_BS2.htm\|title=Boston Reds (1890-1891) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/PK_BOS04.htm\|title=Congress Street Grounds in Boston, MA \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Cincinnati Kelly's Killers	1891	East End Park	align=center\|0	Also referred to as the Reds and the Porkers	align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/FR_CN3.htm\|title=Cincinnati Kelly's Killers (1891) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/PK_PEN01.htm\|title=East End Park in Cincinnati, OH \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
Milwaukee Brewers	1891	Athletic Park	align=center\|0	Transferred to the Western League in 1892.	align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/FR_ML3.htm\|title=Milwaukee Brewers (1891) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/PK_MIL03.htm\|title=Athletic Park in Milwaukee, WI \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor="#ffffbb"\|Philadelphia Athletics^§	1891	Forepaugh Park	align=center\|0	Transferred from the Players' League after 1890 season	align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/FR_PHP.htm\|title=Philadelphia Athletics (1890-1891) franchise index \| access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/PK_PHI07.htm\|title=Forepaugh Park in Philadelphia, PA \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}
bgcolor=#bbeeff\|Washington Statesmen^†	1891	Boundary Field	align=center\|0		align=center\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/W/FR_WSN.htm\|title=Milwaukee Brewers (1891) franchise index \|access-date=2009-04-05 \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/W/PK_WAS06.htm\|title=Boundary Field in Washington, DC \|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc}}

Timeline

The first line is the formation of the American Association (AA) in 1882, and the second marks the end of the American Association.

World's Championship Series championships are shown with a "•", American Association Pennants in non-World Championship Series seasons are shown with a "#", and American Association Pennant winners who tied or lost the World Championship Series are shown with a "^".

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at:02/11/1881 color:lineColor #Formation of AA

at:18/12/1891 color:lineColor #NL Merger

BarData =

bar:BAL #Baltimore Orioles (1891) (NL)

bar:CINR #Cincinnati Red Stockings (1889) (NL)

bar:LOU #Louisville Eclipse/Colonels (1891) (NL)

bar:PHI #Philadelphia Athletics (1891)

bar:PIT #Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1886 (NL)

bar:SLB #St Louis Brown Stockings (1891) (NL)

bar:NYM #New York Metropolitans (1887)

bar:COL #Columbus Buckeyes (1884)

bar:BRK #Brooklyn Atlantics/Grays/Bridegrooms (1889) (NL)

bar:TLB #Toledo Blue Stockings (1884)

bar:IND #Indianapolis Hoosiers (1884)

bar:WAS #Washington Nationals (1884)

bar:RCHM #Richmond Virginians (1884)

bar:CLE #Cleveland Spiders (1887–1888) (NL)

bar:KCC #Kansas City Cowboys (1888–1889)

bar:CLB #Columbus Solons (1889–1891)

bar:SYR #Syracuse Stars (1890)

bar:TLM #Toledo Maumees (1890)

bar:RCHT #Rochester Broncos (1890)

bar:BKN #Brooklyn Gladiators (1890)

bar:BOS #Boston Reds (1891)

bar:PHI2 #Philadelphia Athletics (1891)

bar:WSH #Washington Statesmen (1891)

bar:CINP #Cincinnati Kelly's Killers(1891)

bar:MIL #Milwaukee Brewers (1891)

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Define $DownRight = anchor:till align:left shift:(2,-10)

Define $champ = text:"•" textcolor:white fontsize:XL shift:(5,-5)

Define $champ2 = text:"#" textcolor:white shift:(5,1)

Define $champ3 = text:"^" textcolor:white fontsize:L shift:(5,-5)

PlotData =

color:inactive

textcolor:black

width:20

fontsize:S

mark:(line,black)

anchor:middle # other options are anchor:from anchor:till

align:center # other options are align:left align:right

shift:(0,-5)

---Charter Members of the AA in 1882

bar:BAL from:02/11/1881 till:29/11/1889 color:orange text:"Baltimore Orioles"

bar:BAL from:29/11/1889 till:27/08/1890 color:nl1 text:"(AA~minors)" $Up

bar:BAL from:27/08/1890 till:18/12/1891 color:orange text:"Baltimore~Orioles" $Up

bar:BAL from:18/12/1891 till:end color:nl1 text:"(NL)"

bar:CINR from:02/11/1881 till:14/11/1889 color:darkred text:"Cincinnati Red Stockings" textcolor:white

bar:CINR from:14/11/1889 till:end color:nl1 text:"Cincinnati Reds (NL)"

at:CINR at:02/09/1882 $champ2 mark:(line, darkred)

bar:LOU from:02/11/1881 till:01/01/1885 color:black text:"Louisville~Eclipse" textcolor:white $Up

bar:LOU from:01/01/1885 till:18/12/1891 color:gray text:"Louisville~Colonels" textcolor:white $Up

bar:LOU from:18/12/1891 till:end color:nl1 text:"(NL)"

at:LOU at:24/09/1890 $champ3 mark:(line, gray)

bar:PHI from:02/11/1881 till:24/11/1890 color:skyblue text:"Philadelphia Athletics"

at:PHI at:30/08/1883 $champ2 mark:(line, skyblue)

bar:PIT from:02/11/1881 till:17/11/1886 color:yellow text:"Pittsburgh Alleghenys"

bar:PIT from:17/11/1886 till:01/01/1891 color:nl1 text:"(NL)"

bar:PIT from:01/01/1891 till:end color:nl1 text:"Pittsburgh~Pirates (NL)" $Up

bar:SLB from:02/11/1881 till:01/01/1883 color:vegasgold text:"St. Louis~Brown Stockings" $Up

bar:SLB from:01/01/1883 till:18/12/1891 color:brown text:"St. Louis Browns" textcolor:white $Down

bar:SLB from:18/12/1891 till:end color:nl1 text:"(NL)"

at:SLB at:24/09/1885 $champ3 mark:(line, brown)

at:SLB at:23/09/1886 $champ mark:(line, brown)

at:SLB at:26/09/1887 $champ3 mark:(line, brown)

at:SLB at:27/09/1888 $champ3 mark:(line, brown)

---1883

bar:COL from:13/12/1882 till:07/11/1884 color:navy text:"Columbus~Buckeyes" textcolor:white $Up

bar:NYM from:01/01/1880 till:13/12/1882 color:nl1 text:"(Independent)"

bar:NYM from:13/12/1882 till:20/10/1887 color:black text:"New York~Metropolitans" textcolor:white $Up

at:NYM at:25/09/1883 $champ3 mark:(line, black)

---1884

bar:BRK from:01/01/1883 till:12/12/1883 color:nl1 text:"Brooklyn~Grays (IA)" $Up

bar:BRK from:12/12/1883 till:01/01/1885 color:blue text:"Brooklyn~Atlantics" $Up

bar:BRK from:01/01/1885 till:01/01/1888 color:gray text:"Brooklyn Grays" textcolor:white

bar:BRK from:01/01/1888 till:14/11/1889 color:navy text:"Brooklyn Bridegrooms" textcolor:white $Down

bar:BRK from:14/11/1889 till:01/01/1891 color:nl1 text:"(NL)"

bar:BRK from:01/01/1891 till:end color:nl1 text:"Brooklyn Grooms (NL)"

at:BRK at:29/09/1889 $champ3 mark:(line, navy)

bar:TLB from:01/01/1883 till:12/12/1883 color:nl1 text:"(NwL)"

bar:TLB from:12/12/1883 till:01/01/1885 color:skyblue text:"Toledo Blue~Stockings" $Up

bar:TLB from:01/01/1885 till:01/01/1886 color:nl1 text:"(minor~league)" $Up

bar:IND from:12/12/1883 till:10/12/1884 color:sand text:"Indianapolis~Hoosiers" $Up

bar:WAS from:12/12/1883 till:02/08/1884 color:blue text:"Washington~Nationals" $Up

bar:RCHM from:01/01/1884 till:05/08/1884 color:nl1 text:"(EL)"

bar:RCHM from:05/08/1884 till:10/12/1884 color:gold text:"Richmond Virginians" $Right

---1887

bar:CLE from:15/12/1886 till:21/11/1888 color:blue text:"Cleveland~Blues" textcolor:white $Up

bar:CLE from:21/11/1888 till:end color:nl1 text:"Cleveland Spiders (NL)"

---1888

bar:KCC from:17/01/1888 till:15/11/1889 color:iceblue text:"Kansas City~Cowboys" $Up

---1889

bar:CLB from:05/12/1888 till:15/12/1891 color:red text:"Columbus~Solons" $Up

---1890

bar:SYR from:01/01/1885 till:01/01/1886 color:nl1 text:"(NYSL)"

bar:SYR from:01/01/1886 till:01/01/1888 color:nl1 text:"(IL)"

bar:SYR from:01/01/1888 till:06/01/1890 color:nl1 text:"(IA)"

bar:SYR from:06/01/1890 till:14/01/1891 color:yellow text:"Syracuse~Stars" $Up

bar:TLM from:01/01/1888 till:01/01/1889 color:nl1 text:"(TSL)"

bar:TLM from:01/01/1889 till:06/01/1890 color:nl1 text:"(IA)"

bar:TLM from:06/01/1890 till:14/01/1891 color:kelleygreen text:"Toledo~Maumees" $Up

bar:RCHT from:01/01/1889 till:06/01/1890 color:nl1 text:"Rochester~Jingoes (IA)" $Up

bar:RCHT from:06/01/1890 till:14/01/1891 color:darkred text:"Rochester~Broncos" textcolor:white $Up

bar:RCHT from:14/01/1891 till:15/12/1891 color:nl1 text:"Rochester~Hop Bitters (EA)" $Up

bar:BKN from:09/01/1890 till:27/08/1890 color:purple text:"Brooklyn~Gladiators" $Up

---1891

bar:PHI2 from:01/01/1890 till:15/01/1891 color:nl1 text:"Philadelphia~Quakers (PL)" $Up

bar:PHI2 from:15/01/1891 till:15/12/1891 color:skyblue text:"Philadelphia~Athletics (2)" $Up

bar:BOS from:01/01/1890 till:15/01/1891 color:nl1 text:"(PL)"

bar:BOS from:15/01/1891 till:15/12/1891 color:red text:"Boston~Reds" $Up

at:BOS at:06/09/1891 $champ2 mark:(line, red)

bar:WSH from:15/01/1891 till:18/12/1891 color:blue text:"Washington~Statesmen" textcolor:white $Up

bar:WSH from:18/12/1891 till:end color:nl1 text:"Washington~Senators (NL)" $Up

bar:CINP from:14/03/1891 till:16/08/1891 color:pink text:"Cincinnati~Kelly's Killers" $Up

bar:MIL from:01/01/1886 till:01/01/1888 color:nl1 text:"(NwL)"

bar:MIL from:01/01/1888 till:18/08/1891 color:nl1 text:"(WL)"

bar:MIL from:18/08/1891 till:15/12/1891 color:vegasgold text:"Milwaukee~Brewers" $Up

bar:MIL from:15/12/1891 till:07/07/1892 color:nl1 text:"(WL)"

The 1884 Washington Statesmen were replaced during the season by the Richmond Virginians.
For the 1891 season, the Philadelphia Athletics were replaced by the Philadelphia Quakers of the Player's League.
The 1891 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers folded during the season and were replaced by the Milwaukee Brewers.
All non-American Association labels not labeled "NL" (National League) or "PL" (Players' League) are minor league teams.

1882 – AA forms with six teams
1883 – AA expands to eight teams
1884 – AA expands to twelve teams in response to Union Association threat
1885 – AA returns to eight teams
1887 – Allegheny ("Pittsburgh Alleghenys") leave AA to join NL
1889 – Cleveland Spiders leave AA to join NL
1890 – Cincinnati Red Stockings and Brooklyn Bridegrooms leave AA to join NL
1892 – Baltimore Orioles, Louisville Colonels, St. Louis Browns, and Washington Senators join National League after the merger of the AA into the NL. Boston Reds, Columbus Solons, Philadelphia Athletics fold, and Milwaukee Brewers reverts to a minor league team.

AA presidents

H. D. McKnight (1882–1885)
Wheeler C. Wyckoff (1886–1889)
Zach Phelps (1890)
Allen W. Thurman (1890–1891)
Louis Kramer (1891)
Ed Renau (1891)
Zach Phelps (1891)

Notes

References

;General

{{cite book | author=Nemec, David | title=The Beer and Whisky League : The Illustrated History of the American Association—Baseball's Renegade Major League | location=Guilford | publisher=The Lyons Press | year=2004 | isbn=1-59228-188-5}}
{{cite book | author=Pietrusza, David | title=The Formation, Sometimes Absorption and Mostly Inevitable Demise of 18 Professional Baseball Organizations, 1871 to Present | publisher= Jefferson (NC): McFarland & Company | year=1991 | isbn=0-89950-590-2}}

;Specific

External links

[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070501&content_id=1940267&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin "American Association Remembered"], MLB.com

Category:Sports leagues established in 1882

Category:1882 establishments in the United States

Category:1891 disestablishments in the United States

Category:Defunct major baseball leagues in the United States

Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines