Year In Review : 1891 American Association

Off the Field…

America’s most famous concert venue; Carnegie Hall opened in New York with guest conductor Peter Illich Tchaikovsky on the podium. Inside, the elegant and breathtaking 2,800-seat auditorium still remains as one of the worlds finest. For over one-hundred years, the hall has attracted the world's leading orchestras and solo or group performers including Bernstein, Ellington, Fitzgerald, Garland, Sinatra, Dylan, and the Beatles among thousands of others.

In the National League…

At twenty years old, Amos Rusie of the New York Giants became the youngest pitcher ever to toss a no-hitter after blanking the Brooklyn Trolley-Dodgers 6-0 on July 31st.

The Boston Beaneaters won the National League Pennant, while their cross-town rival Reds took the American Association title. For undisclosed reasons, the National League champs declined an invitation for a playoff resulting in no baseball Championship for the first time since 1883.

In the American Association…

Shortstop John J. McGraw debuted for the Baltimore Orioles on August 26th as the "Blackbirds" defeated the Columbus Buckeyes 6-5.

Ted Breitenstein of the St. Louis Browns became the first pitcher ever to debut with a no-hitter after shutting out the Louisville Colonels 8-0 on October 4th.

The American Associated folded in December leaving the Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Browns, Louisville Colonels and Washington Senators to be absorbed into the National League the following season.

"I found it (being deaf since birth) no handicap. I could feel the tiniest foul tip and when on the bases I had my own secret way of knowing when a batter made a foul tip. The yelling of the opposition was useless as far as I was concerned." - Dummy Hoy
1891 American Association Player Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Base on Balls

Dummy Hoy

St. Louis

119

Top 25

Batting Average

Dan Brouthers

Boston

.350

Top 25

Doubles

Jocko Milligan

Philadelphia

35

Top 25

Hits

Tom Brown

Boston

189

Top 25

Home Runs

Duke Farrell

Boston

12

Top 25

On Base Percentage

Dan Brouthers

Boston

.471

Top 25

RBI

Hugh Duffy

Boston

110

Top 25

Duke Farrell

Boston

Runs

Tom Brown

Boston

177

Top 25

Slugging Average

Dan Brouthers

Boston

.512

Top 25

Total Bases

Tom Brown

Boston

276

Top 25

Triples

Tom Brown

Boston

21

Top 25

 

1891 American Association Pitcher Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games

Sadie McMahon

Baltimore

53

Top 25

ERA

Ed Crane

Cincinnati

2.45

Top 25

Games

Jack Stivetts

St. Louis

64

Top 25

Saves

Bill Daley

Boston

2

Top 25

Darby O'Brien

Boston

Shutouts

George Haddock

Boston

5

Top 25

Phil Knell

Columbus

Sadie McMahon

Baltimore

Strikeouts

Jack Stivetts

St. Louis

259

Top 25

Winning Percentage

Charlie Buffinton

Boston

.763

Top 25

Wins

Sadie McMahon

Baltimore

35

Top 25

 

1891 American Association

Team Standings

Boston Red Stockings

93 42 .689 0

St. Louis Browns

86 52 .623

Milwaukee Brewers

21 15 .583 22˝

Baltimore Orioles

71 64 .526 22

Philadelphia Athletics

73 66 .525 22

Columbus Colts

61 76 .445 33

Cincinnati Porkers

43 57 .430 32˝

Louisville Colonels

55 84 .396 40

Washington Senators

44 91 .326 49

 

1891 American Association Team Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Base on Balls

Boston

651

Batting Average

Boston

.274

Doubles

Philadelphia

182

Hits

Boston

1,341

Home Runs

St. Louis

58

On Base Percentage

Boston

.367

Runs

Boston

1,028

Slugging Average

Boston

.380

Triples

Philadelphia

123

 

1891 American Association Team Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games

Philadelphia

135

ERA

Boston

3.03

Fewest Hits Allowed

St. Louis

1,106

Fewest Home Runs Allowed

Columbus

29

Fewest Walks Allowed

Louisville

464

Saves

Boston

7

Shutouts

Boston

9

Louisville

Strikeouts

St. Louis

621



On August 17, 1891 the Cincinnati Porkers disbanded after their one-hundred second game enabling the Western League Milwaukee Brewers to be "brought-up" to take their place.

Did you know that the first Major League baseball game ever played in Minnesota featured the American Association Milwaukee Brewers defeating the Columbus Colts 5-0 in Athletic Park. on October 2, 1891?

The final American Association season ended with a BANG when the St. Louis Browns allowed Ted Breitenstein to pitch his first ever Major League game on the final day of the season (October 4, 1891). The rookie hurler did not disappoint as he came within one walk of a perfect game and ended with an 8-0 no-hitter versus the defending champion Louisville Colonels.