National Association (1879–1880)

The National Association (formally, the National Base Ball Association) was a professional baseball league that played during the 1879 and 1880 seasons. While not considered a major league, it operated before the formal establishment of minor league baseball. It should not be confused with the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, the first fully-professional sports league in baseball, which operated several years prior.

For other baseball organizations with similar names, see National Association.
National Association
ClassificationMinor league
SportBaseball
Founded1879
Ceased1880
No. of teams9 (1879), 4 (1880)
CountryUnited States

History

The National Association originated in March 1879, taking National Base Ball Association its formal name.[1] Newspapers of the era referred to it more succinctly as the National Contest or National Championship, not to be confused with the National League, which was known simply as the League.

The National Association was essentially a continuation of the International Association for Professional Base Ball Players,[2] which had lost its final Canadian team.

1879

Teams from nine cities competed during the 1879 season:[3] Teams of this era were commonly referred to simply by their city, such as "the Holyokes" or "the Worcesters".

Standings published in early October 1879, with the season "regarded as virtually closed", were:[4]

TeamWonLostWin %Played
Albany2513.65838
Washington2316.59039
Holyoke2316.59039
Worcester1923.45242
New Bedford1230.28642
Springfield1614.53330
Manchester78.46715
Rochester69.40015
Utica35.3758

1880

Teams from four cities competed during the 1880 season:[5]

  • Albany, New York
  • Baltimore, Maryland
  • Rochester, New York (known as the "Hop Bitters")
  • Washington, D.C. (known as the "Nationals")

The season began on May 1, with Albany and Washington playing to a 4–4 draw in 11 innings in Albany.[6] Rochester did not join the association until June.[7] By early August, Baltimore had dropped out, with records of contests played between the remaining three teams published as:[8]

TeamWonLostWin %Played
Washington168.66724
Albany713.35020
Rochester68.42914

Games were played as late as the first week in September, with Washington defeating Rochester, 4–2, in a game played in Baltimore on September 2.[9]

References
  1. "(untitled)". Boston Evening Transcript. March 22, 1879. p. 2. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  2. "Base Ball Convention". The Pittsfield Sun. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. February 28, 1879. p. 1. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  3. "1879 National Association". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  4. "The National Contest". The Boston Globe. October 5, 1879. p. 2. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  5. "1880 National Association". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  6. "The Base Ball Season Opened". The Sun. New York City. May 2, 1880. p. 1. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  7. "The New Hop Bitters Nine Admitted to the National Association". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. June 6, 1880. p. 4. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  8. "The National Championship". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. August 9, 1880. p. 3. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  9. "Sports and Pastimes: Base Ball". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 3, 1880. p. 1. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
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