1885 Season
January 3
The recently disbanded Cleveland Blues release their players
January 6
Millionaire Henry V. Lucas purchases the Cleveland club and plans to fill the vacancy in the NL with his own St. Louis Maroons
January 10
At an NL meeting, St. Louis is admitted to the League, Cleveland’s resignation is formally accepted, and Detroit has its request to remain in the NL granted
Paul Hines, an outfielder with Providence and resident of Washington D.C. is challenged to catch a ball dropped from the top of the Washington Monument
January 16
Brooklyn signs several players from the late Cleveland club, inking Hotaling, Phillips, Harkins, George Pinkney, Smith, and Krieg.
January 17
Paul Hines cancels his experiment when a test ball dropped from the top of the monument indents the ground as much as a heavy cannonball would.
January 20
Brooklyn officially replaces Columbus in the American Association
March 30
SS Joe Gerhardt from Detroit to New York (N)
P Hugh Daily from Buffalo to Chicago
LF George Strief from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia (A)
P Jim Mccormick from Chicago to Providence
P Bobby Mathews from Boston to Philadelphia (A)
C Fred Wood from Detroit to Boston
Cherokee Fisher, the first real pitching star of the National League retires at age 39. Fisher’s best season came with Hartford in 1874 when he went 38-18 with a 2.58 ERA. His 201 career complete games lead all players.
April 1
The Spalding Sporting Goods store opens in New York
April 3
The Metropolitans release Tim Keefe and Dude Esterbrook, both players will sign with the New York Giants
May 31
Hank O’Day of Pittsburgh pitches a 1-hit shutout against Cincinnati
June 7
The AA wipes out all restrictions on pitchers using an overhand delivery and removes the fould bounce out from the rule book.
June 15
Providence P John Cattanach pitches a 1-hit shutout against Boston
July 4
Chicago 3B Cap Anson hits for the cycle and knocks in 8 runs against St. Louis (N)
July 7
Brooklyn P Henry Porter pitches a 1-hit shutout against New York (A)
July 11
Chicago releases P Larry Corcoran who was largely innefective in his 6 appearances this season
July 12
Buffalo sells struggling P Pud Galvin to Pittsburgh for $5,000
Detroit P Tim Keefe throws a 1-hit shutout against New York (N)
August 18
Providence 2B Jack Farrell is suspended without pay for obscenities directed at spectators.
August 29
New York (N) RF Mike Dorgan has six hits against Boston (N) helping the Giants improve to a 69-19 record.
September 7
Sam Thompson of Detroit sets a new rookie record for RBI’s with 80
September 15
Buffalo P James Burke is diagnosed with career ending bone chips in his shoulder. Burke pitched for Buffalo all four seasons of his career, his 15-21 record doesn’t tell the full story of what was a promising career.
October 8
The Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Giants in 7 games to take the 1885 World Championship.
October 9
Louisville’s Mays earns Rookie of the Year Award
The American Association Rookie of the Year goes to Al Mays. In 37 starts this year Al struck out 106 batters in 315.2 innings of work. His ERA is 2.74 and his record 21-14. Detroit’s Sam Thompson smiled as he was named the National League Rookie of the Year. His season features a batting average of .373 (165-442), 21 doubles, 29 tribples, and 7 homers. Thompson collected 94 RBI’s and 105 runs.
Larkin (PHA) and Thompson (DTN) win Most Valuable Player Award
Henry Larkin of Philadelphia was named the American Association MVP winner. The A’s centerfielder drove in 76 and scored 81 runs while batting .320 with 3 longballs. Detroit’s leftfielder Sam Thompson had a great first season as well and won his first MVP Award in addition to the Rookie of the Year Award
Sawyer (CIN) and Keefe (NYG) win Pitcher of the Year Award
Will Sawyer, Cincinnati’s left-hander was named the AA Pitcher of the Year for 1885. His ERA of 1.98 helped him to a 25-7 record this year. He struck out 112 and walked 73 in 277 innings. Will pitched 5 shutouts and 27 complete games. Tim Keefe of the Giant’s won his first MVP Award this season. Opposing players hit just .214 against the right-hander. While posting an ERA of 1.73 he went 24-9 in 37 starts, fanning 195 and walking 82. He has 30 complete games and 3 shutouts.
October 22
John Ward and several teammates secretly form the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players. The Brotherhood, strengthened by fights against salary restrictions and abuses of the reserve clause, will become a force to be reckoned with by the end of the decade.
November 19
At an NL meeting, it is decided that Buffalo's "Big Four" (Brouthers, Richardson, Rowe, and White) can play in Detroit next season.
November 28
President Soden buys the Providence franchise and players for $6,000
December 4
The NL Metropolitans are sold to millionaire Erastus Witman for $25,000
December 8
At an AA meeting in Philadelphia, the Metropolitan club is removed and replaced by the Washington Nationals. By court order, the Metropolitans will be readmitted.
December 18
The Washington Nationals are admitted to the National League to replace Providence
Final 1885 Standings
American Association National League
W L Pct. GB W L Pct. GB
Baltimore 79 33 .705 * New YorkN 84 28 .750 *
Cincinnati 70 42 .625 9 Detroit 70 42 .625 14
Pittsburgh 64 48 .571 15 Chicago 59 53 .527 25
PhiladelphiaA 58 54 .518 21 Boston 57 55 .509 27
Brooklyn 54 58 .482 25 Buffalo 53 59 .473 31
St.LouisA 53 59 .473 26 Providence 49 63 .438 35
Louisville 50 62 .446 29 PhiladelphiaN 47 65 .420 37
New YorkA 20 92 .179 59 St. LouisN 29 83 .259 55
LEAGUE LEADERS
BATTING AVERAGE
R.Barnes(Chicago) .415
G.Gore(Chicago) .392
S.Thompson(Detroit) .373
HOMERUNS
D.Brouthers(Buffalo) 11
B.Ewing(New York N) 10
E.Sutton(Boston) 10
RBI's
C.Anson(Chicago) 122
L.Brown(Detroit) 94
S.Thompson(Detroit) 94
STOLEN BASES
D.Eggler(Buffalo) 17
D.Force(Buffalo) 11
2 players 7
ERA
T.Keefe(New York N) 1.73
P.Meegan(Pittsburgh) 1.82
R.Deagle(Cincinnati) 1.94
WINS
M.Allen(New York N) 25-7
W.Sawyer(Cincinnati) 25-7
T.Keefe(New York N) 24-9
STRIKEOUTS
T.Keefe(New York N) 195
J.Harkins(Brooklyn) 178
H.O'day(Pittsburgh) 165