January 5, 1878
Milwaukee signs SS Johnny Peters away from Chicago. With 4 years of experience, Peters is the closest thing to a veteran the Cream Citys have in the coming season.
February 6, 1878
The Providence Grays are admited as the 7th team in the coming NL season.
February 19, 1878
The second annual meeting of the IA is held in Buffalo with 28 clubs in attendance.
March 6, 1878
"Being unable to secure a team sufficiently strong to cope with the other nines," Louisville submits its resignation from the NL reducings the number of teams to six for 1878: Boston, Providence, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee.
March 21, 1878
Milwaukee hires Jack Chapman from St. Louis to be their manager this season.
March 27, 1878
The National Association disbands. This organization can trace its roots back to the first National Association, founded in 1858. The National League remains as the only professional league in existance.
March 30, 1878
2B Charles Sweasy from Cincinnati to Boston
P Sam Weaver from Cincinnati to Milwaukee
3B Will Foley from Cincinnati to Indianapolis
C Lew Brown from Boston to Milwaukee
C Cal Mcvey from Chicago to Cincinnati
2B Joe Quest from Chicago to Indianapolis
C Deacon White from Boston to Cincinnati
April 1, 1878
The NL meets in Buffalo and adopts a 60 game schedule.
April 2, 1878
The NL announces a staff of 18 umpires for the coming season. Individual clubs are responsible to arrange which ones will work each game.
April 10, 1878
After just three days of spring training, Providence Grays manager Ben Douglas is fired for incompetence and insubordination.
April 20, 1878
The Chicago White Stockings open the new Lake Front Park with a practice game. This field with its very short RF fence will house the club for 8 years.
July 31, 1878
Lip Pike, recently released by Cincinnati, signs with Providence
August 19, 1878
The Manchester club of the IA plays an exhibition game at the state reform school. During the game their dressing room is robbed of jewelry and $48 in cash.
August 31, 1878
Al Spalding comes out of retirement to play second base for Chicago. He will turn his attention full time towards his growing sporting goods empire following the game, and never appear professionally again.
September 1, 1878
Jack Remsen of Chicago ties a league record with 8 RBI's
September 2, 1878
A benefit game played in Chicago raises $682 for yellow fever victims in Memphis.
Indianapolis starter, 'The Only' Nolan gives up just one hit against Boston in his third shutout of the season.
September 14, 1878
Milwaukee P Sam Weaver gives up 14 walks against Chicago, it's the fourth time this season he has walked more than 10 in a game.
September 21, 1878
Joe Start of Chicago has 6 hits against Cincinnati
Fred Corey of Providence strikes out five times against Boston.
October 2, 1878
Sam Weaver of Milwaukee sets a single season record for walks given up with 148.
Ocotober 4, 1878
Riding the pitching of Bobby Mitchell(16-4, 1.81ERA) and the batting of Levi Meyerle(.395, 5HR, 53RBI), the Cincinatti Reds win their first World Championship with a record of 42-18. It was a tight race all season between Cincinnati, Providence, and Chicago, but the Reds won their last 4 games while both the Grays and White Stockings folded late.
October 5, 1878
John 'Montgomery' Ward is named Rookie of the Year for 1878. Ward had a 12-8 record for Providence with a 1.70 ERA and 2 shutouts.
Bobby Mitchell of Cincinnati won his first Pitcher of the Year Award with a 16-4 record on a 1.81 ERA. In 178.2 Innings, he struck out 142 batters while walking just 17.
Cap Anson of Chicago won his second MVP Award. Anson's .382 batting average was second only to Levi Meyerle's .395. Anson had 32 extra base hits along with 140 total bases resulting in a .601 slugging percentage.
Ocotber 18, 1878
The Indianapolis Blues unaccountably finds itself short $2,500. The players are given $60 in lieu of their salaries due, spelling the end of the club.
December 4, 1878
The National League meets and admits the Syracuse Stars, Buffalo, and Cleveland. Indianapolis resigns, and Milwaukee is given 20 days to pay yits creditors and resign honorably or be explelled.
New rules adopted include:
- Nonplaying managers are barred from the bench (a rule aimed at Harry Wright of Boston).
- The pitcher's box is narrowed from 6 feet wide to 4 feet wide.
- Every pitch will be called either a ball, a strike, or a foul. 9 balls are require for a walk as opposed to the old rule where every 3rd bad pich was called a ball and 3 called balls gave the batter his base.
- A system of fines is established against pitchers who hit batters with pitches.
- Pitchers are barred from turning their backs completely to batters during their delivery.
- Batting order rules are altered to make the first batter in a new inning follow the last batter in the previous inning.
December 5, 1878
In its final session, the NL votes to abolish all outs on the first bounce, both on fouls and third strikes.
December 31, 1878
It is reported that 8 million bats were sold in the United States over the course of the year.
Final 1878 Standings
W L Pct. GB
Cincinnati 42 18 .700 *
Providence 37 23 .617 5
Chicago 34 36 .567 8
Boston 27 33 .450 15
Indianapolis 24 36 .400 18
Milwaukee 16 44 .267 26
LEAGUE LEADERS
BATTING AVERAGE
L.Meyerle(Cincinnati) .395
C.Nelson(Indianapolis) .382
C.Anson(Chicago) .382
HOME RUNS
E.Sutton(Boston) 6
L.Meyerle(Cincinnati) 5
C.Anson(Chicago) 4
T.York(Providence) 4
RBI's
J.Remsen(Chicago) 68
C.Anson(Chicago) 63
L.Meyerle(Cincinnati) 53
F.Treacey(Cincinnati) 53
STOLEN BASES
F.Cone(Boston) 16
D.Eggler(Chicago) 9
A.Leanoard(Boston) 7
ERA
T.Larkin(Chicago) 1.51
J.Ward(Providence) 1.70
B.Mitchell(Cincinnati) 1.81
WINS
B.Mitchell(Cincinnati) 16-4
T.Nolan(Indianapolis) 15-20
W.White(Boston) 13-6
STRIKEOUTS
B.Mitchell(Cincinnati) 142
T.Nolan(Indianapolis) 126
W.White(Boston) 119