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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)
American Association (20th century)

The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Minor league baseball#AAA level of baseball in the United States from to and to ....
. For the independent league, which started play in 2006, see American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.

The American Association (AA) was a baseball
Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport of nine players each. The goal of baseball is to score run by hitting a thrown Baseball with a baseball bat and touching a series of four markers called base arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond. Players on one team take turns hitting against...
 major league from 1882 to 1891. During that time, it challenged the National League
National League

The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest existent professional team sports league....
 for dominance of professional baseball.






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Encyclopedia


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)
American Association (20th century)

The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Minor league baseball#AAA level of baseball in the United States from to and to ....
. For the independent league, which started play in 2006, see American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.

The American Association (AA) was a baseball
Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport of nine players each. The goal of baseball is to score run by hitting a thrown Baseball with a baseball bat and touching a series of four markers called base arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond. Players on one team take turns hitting against...
 major league from 1882 to 1891. During that time, it challenged the National League
National League

The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest existent professional team sports league....
 for dominance of professional baseball. Together with the National League
National League

The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest existent professional team sports league....
, the American Association participated in an early version of the World Series
World Series

The World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball, the culmination of the sport's playoff each October. Since the Series takes place in mid-autumn, sportswriters many years ago dubbed the event the Fall Classic, a usage reflected in the logo for the 2008 World Series; it is also sometimes known as the October Clas...
 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
St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the National League Central in the National League of Major League Baseball....
 (now Cardinals) defeated the Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members and currently the two-time defending champions of the National League Central of Major League Baseball's National League....
 (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 was in better position to survive adverse conditions. The most significant blow to the AA was dealt by the Players' League
Players League

The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century....
, a third major league formed in 1890
1890 in baseball

Champions*1890 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Louisville Colonels 3, 1 tie*National League: Los Angeles Dodgers*American Association : Louisville Colonels...
, which siphoned off talent and gate receipts.

In a unique historical oddity, Brooklyn represented the AA in the 1889
1889 in baseball

Champions*1889 World Series: San Francisco Giants 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 3*National League: San Francisco Giants*American Association : Los Angeles Dodgers...
 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 group of teams that came over to the National League to stay, the teams now known as the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. They play in the National League Central of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions and played in the first one....
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. They are members of the National League Central of the National League....
, Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of names before becoming the Brooklyn Dodgers circa 1911....
 and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the National League Central in the National League of Major League Baseball....
.

Several of the AA's home field venues survived into the 1960s: The ballpark used by the 1891 Washington club, which evolved into Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium

Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, at the corner of Georgia Avenue and W Street, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had stood on the site, built in 1891....
; the home of the St. Louis Browns, Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park

Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball stadium structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. All but one of them resided on the same piece of land: the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city....
; and the city block occupied by the Reds, which evolved into Crosley Field
Crosley Field

Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League Cincinnati Reds from 1912 in baseball through June 24, 1970 and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the AFL II and AFL III ....
. Crosley was the last physical remnant of the AA to go, other than the clubs themselves, when it was replaced by a new stadium in mid-1970.

"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. On November 8, 1881, at the Gibson House
Gibson House (Cincinnati)

The Gibson House was a well known and well regarded hotel, the precursor of the Hotel Gibson. The Gibson House was located on Main St. between 4th & 5th until the 1970s....
 in Cincinnati, it was decided that individual teams in the newly formed league would operate its own affairs and setting its own admission prices, under an agreement call the guarantee system. 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 did not seem to bother the fans of the Association's clubs.

Revival effort

During the offseason of 1900, there was an effort to revive the American Association after three of the four AA teams that had been taken in by the National League in 1892 (Baltimore, Washington
Washington

Washington is a U.S. state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory which had been ceded by Britain in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty as settlement of the Oregon Boundary Dispute....
, and Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville is Kentucky's largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Kentucky. The city's estimated population as of 2006 is listed as 557,789, with a population of 1,233,733 in the Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area....
), as well as the NL's Cleveland club, were dropped by the National League. That effort was ended with the emergence of the American League
American League

The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada....
.

Pennant winners of the AA

  • 1882 Cincinnati Red Stockings
    Cincinnati Reds

    The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. They are members of the National League Central of the National League....
  • 1883 Philadelphia Athletics
    Philadelphia Athletics (American Association)

    The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional baseball team, one of six charter members of the American Association , a 19th-century Major League Baseball, which began play in 1882 in baseball as a rival to the National League....
  • 1884 New York Metropolitans
    New York Metropolitans

    The Metropolitan Club was a 19th century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887. Metropolitan Baseball Club of New York was the name originally chosen in 1960 for the current day New York Mets franchise, although the legal name has changed since then....
     (lost World Series, 3-0 to Providence NL)
  • 1885 St. Louis Browns
    St. Louis Cardinals

    The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the National League Central in the National League of Major League Baseball....
     (tied World Series, 3-3-1 with Chicago NL)
  • 1886 St. Louis Browns
    St. Louis Cardinals

    The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the National League Central in the National League of Major League Baseball....
     (won World Series 4-2 over Chicago NL)
  • 1887 St. Louis Browns
    St. Louis Cardinals

    The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the National League Central in the National League of Major League Baseball....
     (lost World Series 10-5 to Detroit NL)
  • 1888 St. Louis Browns
    St. Louis Cardinals

    The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the National League Central in the National League of Major League Baseball....
     (lost World Series 6-2 to New York NL)
  • 1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms
    Los Angeles Dodgers

    The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of names before becoming the Brooklyn Dodgers circa 1911....
     (lost World Series 6-3 to New York NL)
  • 1890 Louisville Colonels
    Louisville Colonels

    The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 in baseball until 1891 in baseball, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels ; they then joined the National League after the AA folded and played through t...
     (tied World Series 3-3-1 with Brooklyn NL)
  • 1891 Boston Reds
    Boston Reds

    The Boston Reds were a 19th century baseball team located in Boston, Massachusetts that played in the Players League in 1890 and in the American Association in 1891....


American Association franchises

  • Baltimore Orioles
    Baltimore Orioles (19th century)

    The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 in baseball to 1899 in baseball. The club, which featured numerous future Baseball Hall of Famers, won three consecutive National League pennants in the mid-1890s, but were contracted out of the league after the 1899 season....
     (1882-1891)
  • Cincinnati Red Stockings
    Cincinnati Reds

    The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. They are members of the National League Central of the National League....
     (1882-1889) (Now the Cincinnati Reds of the National League)
  • Eclipse of Louisville
    Louisville Colonels

    The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 in baseball until 1891 in baseball, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels ; they then joined the National League after the AA folded and played through t...
     (1882-1884)
    • Louisville Colonels
      Louisville Colonels

      The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 in baseball until 1891 in baseball, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels ; they then joined the National League after the AA folded and played through t...
       (1885-1891)
  • Philadelphia Athletics
    Philadelphia Athletics (American Association)

    The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional baseball team, one of six charter members of the American Association , a 19th-century Major League Baseball, which began play in 1882 in baseball as a rival to the National League....
     (1882-1890)
  • Pittsburgh Alleghenys
    Pittsburgh Pirates

    The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. They play in the National League Central of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions and played in the first one....
     (1882-1886) (Now the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League)
  • St. Louis Brown Stockings (Browns)
    St. Louis Cardinals

    The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the National League Central in the National League of Major League Baseball....
     (1882-1891) (Now the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League)
  • Columbus Buckeyes
    Columbus Buckeyes (AA)

    The Columbus Buckeyes were a baseball team in the American Association from 1883 to 1884. In two seasons they won 101 games and lost 104 for a winning percentage of .493....
     (1883-1884)
  • New York Metropolitans
    New York Metropolitans

    The Metropolitan Club was a 19th century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887. Metropolitan Baseball Club of New York was the name originally chosen in 1960 for the current day New York Mets franchise, although the legal name has changed since then....
     (1883-1887)
  • Brooklyn Atlantics/Grays/Bridegrooms
    Los Angeles Dodgers

    The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of names before becoming the Brooklyn Dodgers circa 1911....
     (1884-1889) (Now the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League)
  • Indianapolis Hoosiers (1884) (played at Seventh Street Park
    Seventh Street Park

    Seventh Street Park is a former baseball ground located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The ground was home to the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the American Association in 1884 along with Bruce Grounds. A hospital now stands at the site....
     and Bruce Grounds
    Bruce Grounds

    Bruce Grounds is a former baseball ground located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The ground was home to the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the American Association in 1884 along with Seventh Street Park....
    )
  • Richmond Virginians
    Richmond Virginians (1884)

    The Richmond Virginians was a major league baseball team that played in the American Association in 1884 in baseball. They had a record of 12 wins and 30 losses after replacing the Washington Statesmen , who had dropped out of the league....
     (1884) (played at Allen Pasture
    Allen Pasture

    Allen Pasture is a former Baseball ground located in Richmond, Virginia, USA. The ground was home to the Richmond Virginians of the American Association in 1884....
    )
  • Toledo Blue Stockings
    Toledo Blue Stockings

    The Toledo Blue Stockings formed as a Minor league baseball baseball team in Toledo, Ohio in 1883. They won the Northwestern League championship in 1883....
     (1884)
  • Washington Statesmen (1884) (played at Athletic Park
    Athletic Park (Washington)

    Athletic Park is a former baseball ground located in Washington, D.C. The ground was home to the Washington Statesmen of the American Association in 1884 in baseball....
    )
  • Cleveland Spiders
    Cleveland Spiders

    The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899....
     (1887-1888)
  • Kansas City Cowboys
    Kansas City Cowboys (baseball)

    The Kansas City Cowboys was the name of three different baseball Major League Baseball teams in Kansas City, Missouri in the 19th century....
     (1888-1889)
  • Columbus Solons
    Columbus Solons

    The Columbus Solons were a baseball team in the American Association from 1889 to 1891. In three seasons, they won 200 games and lost 209 for a winning percentage of .489....
     (1889-1891) (played at Recreation Park
    Recreation Park (Columbus)

    Recreation Park is a former Baseball ground located in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The ground was home to the Columbus Buckeyes of the American Association for the 1883 and 1884 seasons as well as the Columbus Solons from 1889 to 1891....
    )
  • Brooklyn Gladiators
    Brooklyn Gladiators

    The Brooklyn Gladiators were a Major League Baseball team in the American Association during the 1890 season. They finished ninth and last in the league with a 26-73 record....
     (1890)
  • Rochester Broncos
    Rochester Broncos

    The Rochester Broncos were a short-lived baseball team in the American Association , playing only one season, 1890. They finished fifth in the league with a record of 63-63....
     (1890)
  • Syracuse Stars (1890) (games played at Star Park
    Star Park

    Star Park is a former baseball ground located in Syracuse, New York. The ground was home to the Syracuse Stars from 1885 to 1899 and from 1902 to 1904....
    )
  • Toledo Maumees
    Toledo Maumees

    The Toledo Maumees of 1890 were a short-lived baseball team in the American Association . They won 68 games, lost 64, and finished fourth in the nine-team league....
     (1890)
  • Boston Reds
    Boston Reds

    The Boston Reds were a 19th century baseball team located in Boston, Massachusetts that played in the Players League in 1890 and in the American Association in 1891....
     (1891)
  • Cincinnati Kelly's Killers (1891)
  • Milwaukee Brewers (1891) (played at Borchert Field
    Borchert Field

    Borchert Field was a baseball park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was the home field for several professional baseball clubs for most of the years from 1888 through 1952....
    )
  • Philadelphia Athletics
    Philadelphia Quakers/Athletics (PL/AA)

    The Philadelphia Quakers, later known as the Philadelphia Athletics, was a professional American baseball team of the Players League and later the American Association ....
     (1891) (formerly the Philadelphia Quakers of the Players League, played at Forepaugh Park
    Forepaugh Park

    Forepaugh Park was a baseball ground located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at Broad and Dauphin Streets in North Philadelphia. The ground was home to the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association , and the Philadelphia Quakers of the Players League in 1890....
    )
  • Washington Statesmen
    Washington Senators (1891-1899)

    The Washington Senators were a 19th century baseball team. The team was also known as the Washington Statesmen and the Washington Nationals....
     (1891) (played at Boundary Field
    Boundary Field

    Boundary Field is a former baseball ground located in Washington, D.C. The ground was home to the Washington Senators of the American Association in 1891 and then the National League from 1892 to 1899 after the League absorbed the Association....
    )


Timeline


  1. The 1884 Washington Statesmen were replaced during the season by the Richmond Virginians.
  2. For the 1891 season, the Philadelphia Athletics were replaced by the Philadelphia Quakers of the Player's League.
  3. The 1891 Cincinnati Porkers folded during the season and were replaced by the Milwaukee Brewers.


  • 1882-AA forms with six teams
  • 1883-AA expands to eight teams
  • 1884-AA expands to twelve teams in response to Union Association
    Union Association

    The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884 in baseball. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season....
     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
  • Allan W. Thurman 1890-1891
  • Louis Kramer 1891
  • Ed Renau 1891
  • Zach Phelps 1891


External links

  • , MLB.com