The 1890 major league baseball season began on April 17, 1890. The National League and newly founded Players' League regular seasons ended on October 4, with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Boston Reds as the NL and PL pennant winners, respectively. The American Association regular season ended on October 15 and saw the Louisville Colonels the winners of the AA pennant. The postseason between the AA and NL began with Game 1 of the seventh World's Championship Series on October 17 and ended with Game 7 on October 28. The series ended in a tie, with the Bridegrooms and Colonels each with three wins, and a tie game. The series was unique in that the Bridegrooms reached the series back-to-back, but with each season in a different league, a feat that has not been matched since. The Reds had floated a three-way Championship series with them and the AA & NL pennant winners, though the idea fell on deaf ears.
This was the final season of a dual-league championship until the founding of the modern World Series in between the National League and American League.
The major league world was in turmoil in 1890, as many of the best players had jumped to the "outlaw" Players' League. Although the Brotherhood only lasted the one season, it had a detrimental financial effect on the other two leagues, especially the Association, who would not survive the following season, merging into the National League in December 1891.
Over the prior offseason, the Indianapolis Hoosiers and Washington Nationals of the National League, and Kansas City Cowboys of the American Association folded. The Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Cincinnati Red Stockings (now Reds) transfer from the American Association to the National League, while the Baltimore Orioles departed the AA for the minor league Atlantic Association, leaving four vacancies in the American Association that would be filled by the Brooklyn Gladiators (who would fold in August, being replace by a returning Orioles team), Rochester Broncos, Syracuse Stars, and Toledo Maumees.
Following the 1890 season, the single season Players' League disbanded during the offseason, with most teams either folding or merging with existing American Association and National League teams; the Boston Reds and Philadelphia Athletics would join the AA for the 1891 season, with the latter replacing the financially struggling original AA Philadelphia Athletics.
The major-league status of the Federal League was confirmed by the Special Baseball Records Committee (as convened by then-Commissioner of Baseball William Eckert) in 1969.
Schedule
The 1890 schedule consisted of 140 games for all teams in the American Association, National League, and Players' League, each of which had eight active teams (the Baltimore Orioles would finish the Brooklyn Gladiators' schedule once they folded following their last game on August 25). 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 season and by the National League since the season. This format would last until .
American Association Opening Day took place on April 17 featuring six teams, while National League and Players' League Opening Days took place on April 19, each featuring their eight teams. The American Association would see its final day of the regular season on October 15 with a doubleheader between the Baltimore Orioles and Rochester Broncos. The National League would see its final day of the season on October 4, with a doubleheader between the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Spiders. The Players' League would see its season end on the same day, with all eight teams playing. The 1890 World's Championship Series took place between October 17 and October 28.
Tripleheader The 1890 season featured an extremely rare tripleheader—the first of three in National League and major-league history, when the Brooklyn Bridegrooms hosted the Pittsburgh Alleghenys on September 1 for three games. The Bridegrooms sweep the Alleghenys.
Rule change The 1890 season saw the following rule change: Two substitutes may be used and may enter at any time. Previously, the rules was that a predesignated substitute may be used only at the end of a complete inning.
Teams A dagger (†) denotes a team that folded mid-season A double dagger (‡) denotes a team joined mid-season LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore Orioles‡Baltimore, MarylandOriole Park7,000Brooklyn Gladiators†Ridgewood, New YorkRidgewood Park10,000Columbus SolonsColumbus, OhioRecreation Park (Columbus)6,500Louisville ColonelsLouisville, KentuckyEclipse Park5,860Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaJefferson Street Grounds15,000Rochester BroncosRochester, New YorkCulver FieldUnknownSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park12,000Syracuse StarsSyracuse, New YorkStar ParkUnknownToledo MaumeesToledo, OhioSperanza ParkUnknownBoston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,800Brooklyn BridegroomsBrooklyn, New YorkWashington Park3,000Chicago ColtsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park6,000Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioAmerican Park3,000Cleveland SpidersCleveland, OhioNational League ParkUnknownNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds II15,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia Base Ball Grounds12,500Pittsburgh AlleghenysAllegheny, PennsylvaniaRecreation Park (Pittsburgh)17,000Boston RedsBoston, MassachusettsCongress Street Grounds14,000Brooklyn Ward's WondersBrooklyn, New YorkEastern Park12,000Buffalo BisonsBuffalo, New YorkOlympic ParkUnknownChicago PiratesChicago, IllinoisSouth Side Park6,450Cleveland InfantsCleveland, OhioBrotherhood ParkUnknownNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds III16,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaForepaugh Park5,000Charlie BuffintonPittsburgh BurghersAllegheny, PennsylvaniaExposition Park6,500
Neutral site and Sunday games The Brooklyn Gladiators, Cleveland Spiders, and Pittsburgh Alleghenys played in 17 neutral site games in which they were treated as the home team. Meanwhile, 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 and Players' Leagues) to play at ballparks in a different locality. TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedTypeBrooklyn GladiatorsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds II15,0008Neutral siteMaspeth, New YorkLong Island GroundsUnknown2SundayCleveland SpidersIndianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis ParkUnknown6Neutral siteDetroit, MichiganRecreation Park (Detroit)Unknown1Neutral sitePhiladelphia Athletics (AA)Gloucester City, New JerseyGloucester Point GroundsUnknown13SundayPittsburgh AlleghenysCanton, OhioPastime ParkUnknown1Neutral siteWheeling, West VirginiaIsland GroundsUnknown1Neutral siteRochester BroncosIrondequoit, New YorkWindsor Beach GroundsUnknown6SundaySyracuse StarsThree Rivers, New YorkThree Rivers ParkUnknown5SundaySyracuse, New YorkIron PierUnknown1Sunday
Standings
American Association
National League
Players' League
Tie games 31 tie games (15 in AA, 9 in NL, 7 in PL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season.
American Association Baltimore Orioles, 4 Brooklyn Gladiators, 2 Columbus Solons, 6 Louisville Colonels, 4 Rochester Broncos, 7 St. Louis Browns, 4 Syracuse Stars, 1 Toledo Maumees, 2
National League Boston Beaneaters, 1 Chicago Colts, 3 Cincinnati Reds, 2 Cleveland Spiders, 4 New York Giants, 4 Philadelphia Phillies, 2 Pittsburgh Alleghenys, 2
Players' League Boston Reds, 4 Brooklyn Ward's Wonders, 1 Buffalo Bisons, 2 Chicago Pirates, 1 Cleveland Infants, 1 New York Giants, 1 Philadelphia Athletics, 1 Pittsburgh Burghers, 3
Postseason Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBaltimore OriolesBilly BarnieTeam transferred to minor league Atlantic AssociationBoston BeaneatersJim HartFrank SeleeCincinnati RedsGus SchmelzTom LoftusCleveland SpidersTom LoftusGus SchmelzIndianapolis HoosiersJack GlasscockTeam foldedKansas City CowboysBill WatkinsTeam foldedPittsburgh AlleghenysNed HanlonGuy HeckerSt. Louis BrownsCharles ComiskeyTommy McCarthyWashington NationalsArthur IrwinTeam folded
In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBaltimore OriolesTeam transferred from minor league Atlantic AssociationBilly BarnieBrooklyn GladiatorsJim KennedyTeam foldedCleveland SpidersGus SchmelzRobert LeadleyColumbus SolonsAl BuckenbergerGus SchmelzGus SchmelzPat SullivanPhiladelphia PhilliesHarry WrightJack ClementsJack ClementsAl ReachAl ReachBob AllenSt. Louis BrownsTommy McCarthyJohn KerinsJohn KerinsJames RosemanJames RosemanCount CampauCount CampauJoe GerhardtSyracuse StarsWallace FessendenGeorge Frazier
League leaders Any team shown in indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.
American Association
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Jimmy Wolf (LOU) .363 OPS Denny Lyons (PHA) .992 HR Count Campau (STL) 9 RBI Spud Johnson (COL) 113 R Jim McTamany (COL) 140 H Jimmy Wolf (LOU) 197 SB Tommy McCarthy (STL) 83
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Sadie McMahon (BAL/) 36 L Bob Barr (RCH)John Keefe (SYR) 24 ERA Scott Stratton (LOU) 2.36 K Sadie McMahon (BAL/) 291 IP Sadie McMahon (BAL/) 509.0 SV Herb Goodall (LOU) 4 WHIP Scott Stratton (LOU) 1.065
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Jack Glasscock (NYG) .336 OPS Mike Tiernan (NYG) .880 HR Thomas Burns (BRO)Mike Tiernan (NYG)Walt Wilmot (CHI) 13 RBI Thomas Burns (BRO) 128 R Hub Collins (BRO) 148 H Jack Glasscock (NYG)Sam Thompson (PHI) 172 SB Sam Thompson (PHI) 102
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Bill Hutchinson (CHI) 41 L Amos Rusie (NYG) 34 ERA Billy Rhines (CIN) 1.95 K Amos Rusie (NYG) 341 IP Bill Hutchinson (CHI) 603.0 SV Dave Foutz (BRO)Kid Gleason (PHI)Bill Hutchinson (CHI) 2 WHIP Billy Rhines (CIN) 1.121
Players' League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Pete Browning (CLI) .373 OPS Roger Connor (NYK) .998 HR Hardy Richardson (BSR) 16 RBI Hardy Richardson (BSR) 152 R Hugh Duffy (CPI) 161 H Hugh Duffy (CPI) 191 SB Harry Stovey (BSR) 97
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Mark Baldwin (CPI) 33 L George Haddock (BUF) 26 ERA Silver King (CPI) 2.69 K Mark Baldwin (CPI) 206 IP Mark Baldwin (CPI) 492.0 SV George Hemming (BKW/)Hank O'Day (NYK) 3 WHIP Harry Staley (PBU) 1.213
Milestones Batters Cycles
Mike Tiernan (NYG): Tiernan hit for his second cycle and second in franchise history, on June 28 against the Cincinnati Reds. Bill Van Dyke (TOL): Van Dyke hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on July 5 against the Syracuse Stars. Jumbo Davis (BKG/): Davis hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on July 18 against the Louisville Colonels. Roger Connor (NYK): Connor hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history as a part of the Brooklyn Gladiators, on July 21 against the Buffalo Bisons. Oyster Burns (BRO): Burns hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on August 1 against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. John Reilly (CIN): Reilly hit for his third cycle and fourth in franchise history, on August 6 against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. Farmer Weaver (LOU): Weaver hit for his first cycle and third in franchise history, on August 12 against the Syracuse Stars.
Other hitting accomplishments George Gore / Buck Ewing / Roger Connor (NYK): Become the first trio to hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in a win over the Pittsburgh Burghers on May 31. Mike Griffin (PHQ): Becomes the first player to reach base by way of error in all four at-bats in a game against the Pittsburgh Burghers on June 23. Harry Stovey (BSR): Hit his 100th career home run on July 23 against the Chicago Pirates, becoming the first player to reach this mark.
Pitchers No-hitters