American Association (19th century) Totally Explained

Everything about American Association 19th Century totally explained

This article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891. For the minor league, which existed from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997, see American Association (20th century). For the independent league, which started play in 2006, see American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
   The American Association (AA) was a baseball major league from 1882 to 1891. During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball. Together with the National League, the American Association participated in an early version of the World Series seven times during their ten-year coexistence. The National League won most of those encounters, while some ended in ties due to disputes or other issues. The only victory for the American Association came in 1886 when the St. Louis Browns (now Cardinals) defeated the Chicago White Stockings (now 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 also put it in better position to survive adverse conditions. 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 unique historical oddity, Brooklyn represented the AA in the 1889 World's Series, switched leagues in the off-season, and represented the NL in 1890. Brooklyn lost the 1889 Series, and the 1890 Series ended in a 3-3-1 draw, left unresolved due to growing animosity between the leagues.
   The living legacy of the old Association is the teams that came over to the National League to stay, the teams now known as the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals.
"Beer and Whiskey League"
The American Association distinguished itself in several ways from what it considered to be the puritanical National League.
   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.
   Living "down" to those expectations, the AA offered cheaper ticket prices and more liberal libations to its patrons. The NL at that time prohibited the sale of alcohol on its grounds. 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 supporters, and which didn't seem to bother the fans of the Association's clubs.
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

Baltimore Orioles (1882-1891)
Cincinnati Red Stockings (1882-1889) (Now the Cincinnati Reds of the National League)
Eclipse of Louisville (1882-1884)
Louisville Colonels (1885-1891)
Philadelphia Athletics (1882-1891)
Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1882-1886) (Now the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League)
St. Louis Brown Stockings (Browns) (1882-1891) (Now the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League)
Columbus Buckeyes (1883-1884)
New York Metropolitans (1883-1887)
Brooklyn Atlantics/Grays/Bridegrooms (1884-1889) (Now the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League)
Indianapolis Hoosiers (1884) (played at Seventh Street Park and Bruce Grounds)
Richmond Virginians (1884) (played at Allen Pasture)
Toledo Blue Stockings (1884)
Washington Statesmen (1884) (played at Athletic Park)
Cleveland Spiders (1887-1888)
Kansas City Cowboys (1888-1889)
Columbus Solons (1889-1891) (played at Recreation Park)
Brooklyn Gladiators (1890)
Rochester Broncos (1890)
Syracuse Stars (1890) (games played at Star Park)
Toledo Maumees (1890)
Boston Reds (1891)
Cincinnati Porkers (1891)
Milwaukee Brewers (1891) (played at Borchert Field)
Washington Statesmen (1891) (played at Boundary Field)
Timeline

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 folding of the AA
AA presidents

H.D. McKnight 1882-1885
Wheeler C. Wyckoff 1886-1889
Zach Phelps 1890
Louis Kramer 1891
Ed Renau 1891
Zach Phelps 1891
References and external links

"American Association Remembered", MLB.com

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