The 1891 major league baseball season was contested from April 8 through October 6, 1891. It was the final season for the American Association (AA), with the Boston Reds winning the AA pennant. In the National League (NL), in operation since 1876, the Boston Beaneaters won the NL pennant. There was no postseason. The Reds, following the 1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms consecutive pennant wins 1889–1890 in different leagues, also followed such a feat, winning the since folded Players' League's 1890 pennant and becoming the second and last team to win consecutive pennants in different leagues.
This was the first season since which saw no postseason, due to a breakdown in relations between the American Association and National League prior to the start of the season. The next championship series would take place the following season in a unique split season format, due to negotiations during the merger of the AA into the NL.
The 1891 season saw the aftermath of the single-season Players' League disbanding 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 unstable American Association would see that 1891 would be its final season, before merging into the National League the following season; the four clubs that would continue on were the Baltimore Orioles, Louisville Colonels, St. Louis Browns, and Washington Statesmen. The other four AA clubs, the Boston Reds, Columbus Solons, Milwaukee Brewers, and Philadelphia Athletics), saw their owners paid $135,000 () and their players dispersed to the surviving twelve clubs.
Schedule
The 1891 schedule consisted of 140 games for all teams in the American Association and National League, each of which had eight active teams (the Milwaukee Brewers would finish the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers' schedule once they folded following their last game on August 16). 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, and was the last season this format would be used until the National League contracted from twelve to eight teams in .
American Association Opening Day took place on April 8 featuring all eight teams, while National League Opening Day would not take place for another two weeks on April 22, also featuring all eight teams. The American Association would see its final day of the regular season on October 6, while the National would see its final day of the season on October 3.
Rule changes The 1891 season saw the following rule changes: Rule 28 was amended so that now, substituting players could now happen at any point in the game. Large, padded mitts were allowed for catchers. Rule 48, regarding baserunning, was changed to allow a baserunner to prepare to round first base towards second on a hit to the outfield. Previously, a baserunner was to stay within a three-foot space demarcated by the baseline and a parallel line that ran halfway from home plate to first base.
Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at A dagger (†) denotes a team that folded mid-season A double dagger (‡) denotes a team joined mid-season LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandUnion Park6,500Oriole Park*7,000*Boston RedsBoston, MassachusettsCongress Street Grounds14,000Cincinnati Kelly's Killers†Cincinnati, OhioPendleton Park5,000Columbus SolonsColumbus, OhioRecreation Park6,500Louisville ColonelsLouisville, KentuckyEclipse Park5,860Milwaukee Brewers‡Milwaukee, WisconsinBrewer Field10,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaForepaugh Park5,000St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park12,000Washington StatesmenWashington, D.C.Boundary Field6,500Boston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,800Brooklyn GroomsBrooklyn, New YorkEastern Park12,000Chicago ColtsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park*6,000*South Side Park6,450Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioLeague Park (Cincinnati)3,000Cleveland SpidersCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia Base Ball Grounds12,500Pittsburgh PiratesAllegheny, PennsylvaniaExposition Park6,500 Neutral site game The Milwaukee Brewers hosted a neutral site game in Minneapolis, Minnesota against the Columbus Solons. TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedMilwaukee BrewersMinneapolis, MinnesotaAthletic ParkUnknown1
Standings
American Association
National League
Tie games 19 tie games (12 in AA, 7 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season.
American Association Baltimore Orioles, 4 Boston Reds, 4 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers, 2 Columbus Solons, 1 Louisville Colonels, 2 Philadelphia Athletics, 4 St. Louis Browns, 3 Washington Statesmen, 4
National League Boston Beaneaters, 2 Chicago Colts, 2 Cincinnati Reds, 1 Cleveland Spiders, 2 New York Giants, 4 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 2
Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBoston RedsKing KellyArthur IrwinBrooklyn GroomsBill McGunnigleJohn Montgomery WardBrooklyn Ward's WondersJohn Montgomery WardTeam foldedBuffalo BisonsJay FaatzTeam foldedChicago PiratesCharles ComiskeyTeam foldedCleveland InfantsPatsy TebeauTeam foldedColumbus SolonsPat SullivanGus SchmelzNew York Giants (PL)Buck EwingTeam foldedPhiladelphia Athletics(original AA team)Bill SharsigTeam foldedPhiladelphia Athletics(formerly PL team)Charlie BuffintonBill SharsigPhiladelphia PhilliesBob AllenHarry WrightPittsburgh BurghersNed HanlonTeam foldedPittsburgh PiratesGuy HeckerNed HanlonRochester BroncosPatrick PowersTeam transferred to minor league Western LeagueSt. Louis BrownsJoe GerhardtCharles ComiskeySyracuse StarsWallace FessendenTeam foldedToledo MaumeesCharlie MortonTeam folded
In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerCincinnati Kelly's KillersKing KellyTeam foldedCleveland SpidersRobert LeadleyPatsy TebeauMilwaukee BrewersTeam transferred from minor league Western AssociationCharlie CushmanPhiladelphia AthleticsBill SharsigGeorge WoodPittsburgh PiratesNed HanlonBill McGunnigleWashington StatesmenSam TrottPop SnyderPop SnyderDan ShannonDan ShannonSandy Griffin
League leaders Any team shown in indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. Any team shown in italics indicates a team a player was on from a different league. Any stat from said different league is not calculated to determine the league leader.
American Association
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Dan Brouthers (BSR) .350 OPS Dan Brouthers (BSR) .983 HR Duke Farrell (BSR) 12 RBI Hugh Duffy (BSR)Duke Farrell (BSR) 110 R Tom Brown (BSR) 177 H Tom Brown (BSR) 189 SB Tom Brown (BSR) 106
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Sadie McMahon (BAL) 35 L Kid Carsey (WAS) 37 ERA Ed Crane (CIN/) 2.45 K Jack Stivetts (STL) 259 IP Sadie McMahon (BAL) 503.0 SV Joe Neale (STL) 3 WHIP Charlie Buffinton (BSR) 1.163
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Billy Hamilton (PHI) .340 OPS Mike Tiernan (NYG) .882 HR Harry Stovey (BSN)Mike Tiernan (NYG) 16 RBI Cap Anson (CHI) 120 R Billy Hamilton (PHI) 141 H Billy Hamilton (PHI) 179 SB Billy Hamilton (PHI) 111
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Bill Hutchinson (CHI) 44 L Silver King (PIT) 29 ERA John Ewing (NYG) 2.27 K Amos Rusie (NYG) 337 IP Bill Hutchinson (CHI) 561.0 SV John Clarkson (BSN)Kid Nichols (BSN) 3 WHIP Harry Staley (BSN/) 1.213
Milestones Batters Cycles
Jimmy Ryan (CHI): Ryan hit for his second cycle and second in franchise history, on July 1 against the Cleveland Spiders. Abner Dalrymple (MIL): Dalrymple hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on September 12 against the Washington Statesmen.
Other batting accomplishments Arlie Latham (CIN): Recorded his 500th career stolen base, becoming the first player to reach this mark. It is unknown what day this stolen base occurred.
Pitchers No-hitters
Tom Lovett (BRO): Lovett threw his first career no-hitter and the fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the New York Giants 4–0 on June 22. Lovett walked three and struck out four. Amos Rusie (NYG): Rusie threw his first career no-hitter and the first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Brooklyn Grooms 6–0 on July 31. He is the youngest player to accomplish such a feat in major league history. Rusie walked seven and struck out four. Ted Breitenstein (STL): The first player to accomplish this feat, Breitenstein threw his first career no-hitter in his first major league appearance. Breitenstein also threw the first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Louisville Colonels 8–0 in game one of a doubleheader on October 4. Breitenstein walked one and struck out four.
Other pitching accomplishments Charles Radbourn (CIN): Became the fourth member of the 300-win club, defeating the Boston Beaneaters on June 2, winning 10–8.
Home field attendance Only records for National League teams are available. Team nameWinsHome attendancePhiladelphia Phillies68 −12.8%217,282 46.4%3,149New York Giants71 12.7%210,568247.1%3,052Boston Beaneaters8714.5%184,472 25.0%2,527Brooklyn Grooms61 −29.1%181,477 49.5%2,521Chicago Colts82 −1.2%181,431 76.9%2,708Cleveland Spiders6547.7%132,000178.0%1,913Pittsburgh Pirates55139.1%128,000 696.8%1,939Cincinnati Reds56 −27.3%97,500 −26.1%1,455
Venues The 1891 season saw five teams relocate to new ballparks, many of which were ballparks of the single-season Players' League the previous season: The Baltimore Orioles leave Oriole Park (where they played for eight seasons) and move to Union Park, where they would go on to play for nine seasons until they folded, following the conclusion of the season. The Brooklyn Grooms leave Washington Park (where they played for seven seasons) and move to Eastern Park, the former home of the Players' League Brooklyn Ward's Wonders, where they would go on to play for seven seasons through . The Cleveland Spiders leave National League Park (where they played for four seasons) and move to League Park, where they would go on to play for nine seasons until they folded, following the conclusion of the season. The New York Giants leave the second iteration of the Polo Grounds (where they played for two seasons) and move to the adjacent third iteration of the Polo Grounds, the former home of the Players' League New York Giants, where they would go on to play for 67 seasons through . The Pittsburgh Pirates leave Recreation Park (where they played for seven seasons) and return to the Exposition Park site, playing at its third iteration, the former home of the Players' League Pittsburgh Burghers, where they would go on to play for 19 seasons midway through .
The Chicago Colts begin playing at South Side Park, splitting their season from West Side Park. They would play their final game at West Side Park on October 2 against the Cincinnati Reds, permanently moving into South Side Park for the start of the season.
American Park, the home of the Cincinnati Reds, is renamed to League Park.
After the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds folded mid-season, the Milwaukee Brewers withdrew from the Western League as a replacement team, playing at Brewer Field. The team plays one of their 21 home games at a neutral site in Athletic Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
See also 1891 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)
References
External links 1891 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference