Year In Review : 1890 Players League
Off the Field…
Due to a growing concern nationwide over economic power in large corporations, the U.S. Congress passed the first measure to prohibit trusts called the "Sherman Antitrust Act". The act, based on the constitutional power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce, declared illegal every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of interstate and foreign trade. A fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for one year was set as the maximum penalties for violating the law.
In the National League…
On Labor Day, the Pittsburgh Alleghenys were swept in a rare triple-header by the home team Brooklyn Bridegrooms 10-9, 3-2 and 8-4. The trio of winning pitchers included Bob Caruthers, Tom Lovett and Adonis Terry.
New York Giants slugger Mike Tiernan became the first player ever to hit a home run from one ballpark into another after launching a thirteenth inning blast off the Boston Beaneaters' Kid Nichols that traveled over the centerfield wall at the Polo Grounds into the adjacent Brotherhood Park.
In the American Association…
The Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Cincinnati Reds moved from the American Association to the National League who had also dropped the Washington Senators. The American Association's Kansas City franchise folded, but the Rochester Hop Bitters, Syracuse Stars, Toledo Maumees and Brooklyn Gladiators were added in their place.
Ledell "Cannonball"” Titcomb tossed a 7-0 no-hitter against the Syracuse Stars on September 15th.
In the Players League…
The newly developed Players League debuted with eight teams (Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, New York Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) as the Buffalo Bisons recorded the greatest opening day winning margin with a 23-2 victory over the Cleveland Infants.
The short-lived Players League folded in December returning all of their players to their original teams. The Pittsburgh franchise deviated from the agreement though and signed second baseman Louis Bierbauer who had originally belonged to the Philadelphia Phillies. After being accused in the papers of being “Pirates” the team adopted the nickname and refused to return Bierbauer to their cross-state rivals.
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