March 17, 1871
The National Association is formed in New York. Teams represented at the conference are the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Stockings, Chicago White Stockings, Cleveland Forest Citys, Rockford Forest Citys, New York Mutuals, Washington Olympics, and the Troy Haymakers. Also in attendance are the Fort Wayne Kekinogas and Brooklyn Eckfords, neither of which will play a National Association game this season. The teams are split into two groups and a 30 game schedule is decided upon, with each team playing the others in their division in two 5 game series beginning August 1st. A seven game post season matchup between the two top teams will take place in mid-September.
June 25, 1871
Among various other rules, the first baseball gloves are introduced to the National Association, a half glove covering the palm of the hand and part of the fingers.
August 1, 1871
The first game of the newly formed National Association sees the Chicago White Stockings beat the Boston Red Stockings at Boston, 12-10 . Chicago 3B Ed Pinkham records the first NA hit with a single off Boston P Al Spalding in the first inning. Spalding would become not only the first player, but the first pitcher to homer in a game with a 340 foot drive off of George Zettlein.
August 7, 1871
A large fire in Chicago consumes the White Stockings stadium and all of their equipment, they will finish out the season on the road with borrowed equipment and a hodgepodge of uniforms .
August 22, 1871
Troy CF Lip Pike becomes the first player to homer twice in a game, cracking both off New York P Bob Ferguston. Pike's 7 RBI's are also a single game record.
August 27, 1871
Despite 13 hits for the team, Rockford 3B Cap Anson can't find an open spot of field and his record 17 game hitting streak is snapped against Cleveland.
September 8, 1871
The regular season closes out with the Troy Haymakers beating the Rockford Forest Citys 14-10. Cleveland wins 3-0 capping a 9-0 run to close the season, but it's not enough as they fall one game short of the NA2 lead. The Boston Red Stockings lose 3-0 to the Philadelphia Athletics, but will finish a full 4 games ahead of second place Chicago.
September 17, 1872
The Troy Haymakers beat the Boston Red Stockings 4 games to 2 in the first National Association World Series. The teams split the first four games before Troy goes up for good.
September 18, 1871
Boston's Al Spalding wins both the NA1 Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year Awards following a 19-11 season. In 272 Innings, he recorded an ERA of 3.61, striking out 97 batters. He had 30 complete games and 2 shutouts.
John McMullin was named the NA2 Rookie of the Year following a 20-10 season. His 4.41 ERA ranks him second in the league and 122 strikouts are first. Mcmullin becomes the first and so far only National Association pitcher to record 20 wins in a season.
Philadelphia 3B Levi Meyerle was named the NA1 Most Valuable Player. The 26 year old hit 6 homers while batting .384 this season.
Cleveland 3B Ezra Sutton was named the NA2 Most Valuable Player. Batting an unbelievable .492 (61-124), Sutton also contributed 39 RBI's, no doubt helping the Forest Citys to a 19-11 record.
The NA2 Pitcher of the Year Award goes to Cleveland's Al Pratt. Pratt's 19-11 record, combined with 3 shutouts, 97 strikeouts and 3.61 ERA, Pratt helped lead the late season charge at the pennant.
1871 Final Standings
NA1 W L Pct GB
Boston 19 11 .633 *
Chicago 15 15 .500 4
Philadelphia 13 17 .433 6
Washington 13 17 .433 6
NA2 W L Pct GB
Troy 20 10 .667 *
Cleveland 19 11 .633 1
Rockford 11 19 .367 9
New York 10 20 .333 10
League Leaders
Batting Average
E.Sutton (Chicago) .492
L.Pike (Troy) .441
C.Mcvey(Boston) .435
Home Runs
L.Meyerle(Philadelphia) 6
F.Treacey(Chicago) 5
L.Pike(Troy) 4
RBI's
S.King(Troy) 43
E.Sutton(Cleveland) 39
L.Pike(Troy) 37
Stolen Bases
C.Smith(New York) 8
7 Players 6
ERA
B.Stearns(Washington) 3.24
B.Mathews(Philadelphia)3.30
G.Zettlein(Chicago) 3.46
Wins
J.Mcmullin(Troy) 20-10
A.Spalding(Boston) 19-11
A.Pratt(Cleveland) 19-11
Strikeouts
J.Mcmullin(Troy) 122
C.Fisher(Rockford) 113
G.Zettlein(Chicago) 105
[ 04-20-2002, 11:44 AM: Message edited by: Vyper ]