February 5, 1880
Worcester is voted into the NL
February 12,1880
Despite winning their first World Championship since 1874 last season, the Boston Red Caps cut the price of season tickets from $14 to $12.
March 30, 1880
C Lew Brown from Providence to Boston
RF Al Hall from Troy to Cleveland
LF Charley Jones from Chicago to Boston
March 31, 1880
Worcester offers Providence $1,000 for the right to negotiate with George Wright.
April 14, 1880
The new Cincinnati Ballpark on Bank Street is opened with an exhibition game between the Reds and Washington Nationals.
April 21, 1880
George Wright turns down Providence's final contract offer. Since the club has turned down Worcester's offer and will not allow any other team to negotiate with Wright, he will sit out the entire season, the first player victimized by the reserve system.
April 28, 1880
Boston C Lew Brown, recently signed from Providence shows up drunk for an exhibition game and is suspended for the season.
July 1, 1880
The season opens in Boston as the Red Legs beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2.
July 14, 1880
Bobby Mitchell of Cleveland fans 16 batters against Worcester.
Chicago rookie Larry Corcoran pitches a NO-HITTER against Cincinnati.
August 23, 1880
Larry Corcoran misses his second no-hitter of the season when Worcester CF Buttercup Dickerson singles with one out in the ninth.
September 1, 1880
Boston OF Charley Jones is suspended by the Red Caps for demanding his $378 in back pay and then refusing to play when he didn't get it. In response to Jones's actions, the club suspends, fines, and blacklists him without paying anything.
September 3, 1880
The Rochesters fail to appear for a game against the Washington Nationals because of a dispute over game receipts. With the Albany club already disbanded, this spells the end of the National Association after 4 seasons.
September 8, 1880
The Polo Grounds in New York is leased by the new Metropolitan club being assembled by Jim Mutrie with the backing of John B. Day. The grounds, previously used for Polo matches, will be converted into the first commercial baseball park ever built on Manhatten Island.
Larry Corcoran continues an outstanding season with a 2-hit shutout against Buffalo.
September 17, 1880
Providence OF Tom York hits for the cycle against Boston. His triple sets a new season record for triples with 17.
October 1, 1880
The Chicago White Stockings ran away with the championship, beating second place Cleveland by 9 games.
October 2, 1880
Larry Corcoran of Chicago deservedly wins the Rookie of the Year Award. Corcoran had a 17-8 record with a 1.51 ERA and 3 shutouts in addition to the second no-hitter in league history.
'The Only' Nolan won the 1880 Pitcher of the Year Award with a 24-16 record and a 2.06 ERA. In 40 games started, Nolan struck out 217 and pitched 6 shutouts.
Tom York of Providence won the TRIPLE CROWN and the Most Valuable Player Award. Batting .365 with 74 RBI's and 10 homers, York was unstoppable all season.
October 4, 1880
At a special NL meeting in Rochester, the league prohibits its members from renting their grounds for use on Sundays and from selling alcoholic beverages on the premises. These rules are aimed at the the Cincinnati Reds who have done both.
October 5, 1880
The NL puts its losses for the year at $20,000. Blame is placed on high salaries, which run over $14,000 on some teams.
October 6, 1880
The Reds refuse to accept the October 4th restrictions and are thrown out of the NL. The NL also votes to retain the year old reserve system.
October 10, 1880
The Boston and Providence clubs release their players, saving themselves 20 days worth of pay.
November 11, 1880
Boston signs P Jim Whitney, considered one of the best pitchers in California at a salary of $150 a month.
December 8, 1880
At the annual NL meeting, the league rejects the Nationals' bid for admission, electing Detroit instead although there is not yet an established club there.
December 9, 1880
The NL reelects William Hulbert as president, and adopts several new rules, including:
- Moving the pitcher's box back 5 feet so that its front line is 50 feet from the back point of home plate.
- Eliminating substitutions (except int he case of illness or injury)
- Prohibiting all pinch runners (this rule will be ignored many times)
- Reinstituting the old rule that allowed the fielding team to put out a runner on a fould ball if they can return the ball to the pitcher in his box, and then to the runner's original base before the runner can get back.
1880 Final Season Standings
W L Pct. GB
Chicago 56 28 .667 *
Cleveland 47 37 .560 9
Boston 43 41 .512 13
Troy 43 41 .512 13
Worcester 41 43 .488 15
Providence 39 45 .464 17
Cincinnati 35 49 .417 21
Buffalo 32 52 .381 24
LEAGUE LEADERS
BATTING AVERAGE
T.York(Providence) .365
R.Barnes(Chicago) .360
D.Brouthers(Troy) .356
HOME RUNS
T.York(Providence) 10
E.Sutton(Boston) 7
D.Brouthers(Troy) 7
RBI's
T.York(Providence) 74
J.Remsen(Chicago) 63
E.Sutton(Boston) 62
STOLEN BASES
D.Eggler(Buffalo) 11
E.Sutton(Boston) 8
3 players 7
ERA
H.Salisbury(Troy) 1.14
C.Foley(Boston) 1.50
L.Corcoran(Chicago) 1.51
WINS
T.Nolan(Cleveland) 24-16
L.Richmond(Worcester) 22-23
L.Corcoran(Chicago) 17-8
STRIKEOUTS
T.Nolan(Cleveland) 217
W.White(Cincinnati) 173
L.Richmond(Worcester) 166