From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following are the
baseball
events of the year
1881
throughout the world.
Overview of the events of 1881 in baseball
Champions
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Inter-league playoff: New York Mets (ECA) def. Chicago (NL), 2 games to 1.
National League final standings
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Statistical leaders
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Events
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January
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- January 11 ? The first of a series of baseball games played on ice is played in
Chicago
. This will become a regular event in the Chicago area.
February
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March
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- March 8 ? The
National League
agrees on an 84-game schedule for the upcoming season. The owners are polled and pick the
Chicago White Stockings
as the pre-season favorite to win the pennant.
- March 9 ? The
National League
releases a list of 23 umpires approved to call league games.
April
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- April 11 ? The Eastern Association is formed and includes the New York Metropolitans, The Washington Nationals and Brooklyn Atlantics, all teams that have regularly played competitively against
National League
teams.
- April 27 ? With pitcher George Bradley already out with pneumonia, the
Detroit Wolverines
lose their other hurler
Bill Sweeney
to a
pulmonary hemorrhage
. Neither pitcher will ever play a single game for the Wolverines.
- May 14 ?
Charley Jones
wins a judgement against the
Boston Red Caps
for his unpaid salary due from
1880
in an
Ohio
court.
Cleveland
law enforcement will take the money from the Red Caps share of gate receipts when Boston plays in Cleveland.
- May 20 ?
Mike "King" Kelly
scores the go-ahead run by cutting short the distance rounding the bases. Kelly doesn't come close to touching third while the umpire is looking a different direction. Kelly then pulls off the
hidden ball trick
in the 9th inning to preserve the win for the
Chicago White Stockings
.
- May 28 ? A man is arrested for trying to bribe
John Clapp
of the
Cleveland Blues
to throw a game. Clapp will acquire the nickname "Honest John" because he went to the police after the bribe offer was made.
June
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- June 1 ?
Tommy Bond
is released by the
Boston Red Caps
after starting the season 0?3. After averaging nearly 500 innings pitched per season over the last 7 years, Bond's arm is no longer what it once was. Bond will never regain his once-dominating form.
- June 18 ? The Washington Nationals of the Eastern League disband, citing lack of interest after being rejected to join the
National League
.
- June 20 ? A new team is formed in
Cincinnati
after the demise of the previous
Cincinnati Reds
team. This new club will succeed and become the modern-day
Cincinnati Reds
.
- June 25 ?
George Gore
of the
Chicago White Stockings
sets a major league record by stealing 7 bases in one game.
Billy Hamilton
will tie this record in
1894
.
July
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August
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September
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- September 3 ?
Lip Pike
of the
Worcester Ruby Legs
makes 3 errors in the 9th inning which gives the
Boston Red Caps
2 runs and a 3?2 victory. Worcester accuses Pike of throwing the game and immediately suspends him. Pike will only play in 1 more game in his career, in
1887
.
- September 10 ? With the
Troy Trojans
trailing 7?4, the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the 9th,
Roger Connor
hits the first
grand slam
in
National League
history for an 8?7 victory.
- September 12 ?
Chub Sullivan
, who was captain of the
Worcester Ruby Legs
before falling ill in the spring, dies in
Boston
at the age of 25.
- September 15 ?
Davy Force
of the
Buffalo Bisons
turns 2 unassisted double plays, participates in 2 other double plays and starts a triple play for the Bisons. Despite his feat, Buffalo loses in 12 innings, 7?6 to the
Worcester Ruby Legs
.
- September 16 ? The
Chicago White Stockings
win their 2nd straight pennant with a 4?0 win over the
Boston Red Caps
.
- September 25 ? The
National League
announces that all 8 teams will return for the
1882
season. This is the first time that the major leagues have had the same teams in 2 consecutive seasons.
- September 27 ? The
Troy Trojans
lose to the champion
Chicago White Stockings
10?8 in a heavy rain storm in front of 12 spectators, setting a record for the least attended game.
- September 29 ? The
National League
issues a list of 10 blacklisted players who will require unanimous league approval for reinstatement. The reason given for the blacklisting is "confirmed dissipation and general insubordination."
October
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November
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December
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Births
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January?April
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May?August
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September?December
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Deaths
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- February 6 ?
Ham Allen
, 34, batted .273 for the 1872
Middletown Mansfields
.
- March 1 ?
Hugh Campbell
, 34?, pitcher for the 1873
Elizabeth Resolutes
.
- April 11 ?
John McMullin
, 32?, outfielder in the National Association from 1871 to 1875 who batted .346 for the 1874
Philadelphia Athletics
.
- April 21 ?
Josh Snyder
, 37, left fielder for the 1872
Brooklyn Eckfords
.
- April 21 ?
James Sumner
, 29, umpire in National league from 1876 to 1878.
- May 10 ?
Fraley Rogers
, 30?, outfielder for the
Boston Red Stockings
from 1872 to 1873.
- May 13 ?
Mort Rogers
, ?, umpire in the National Association from 1871 to 1872.
- July 11 ?
Steve Dignan
, 22, played in 11 games for two teams in 1880.
- September 7 ?
Red Woodhead
, 30, third baseman for the 1879
Syracuse Stars
.
- September 12 ?
Chub Sullivan
, 25, first baseman who played from 1877 to 1880.
- October 7 ?
Mike Brannock
, 29, played parts of two seasons with
Chicago White Stockings
in the 1870s.
- November 11 ?
Clipper Flynn
, 32, hit .338 in his only full season in 1871.
External links
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