1885 – The American Association is reorganized, with clubs from St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Louisville, New York and Baltimore.

ByTom

1885 – The American Association is reorganized, with clubs from St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Louisville, New York and Baltimore.

The New York Clipper reports that Paul Hines has canceled his Washington Monument ball-drop exhibition

ByThis Day in Baseball

1885 – The New York Clipper reports that Paul Hines has canceled his Washington Monument ball-drop exhibition. “The experiment of trying to catch a ball thrown from the top of the Washington Monument has proved to be a failure. The ball reaches the ground with such great speed that it indents the ground almost as much as a heavy cannon ball would dropped from a proportionate height. The fact is that, independently of the difficulty of judging the ball falling from such a height, the speed is too great to allow of any one holding it when it nears the ground.”

At a Union Association meeting held in Milwaukee, WI, only two clubs show up, the Milwaukee Grays and the Kansas City Unions. It is decided to disband the league after only one season.

ByTom

1885 – At a Union Association meeting held in Milwaukee, WI, only two clubs show up, the Milwaukee Grays and the Kansas City Unions. It is decided to disband the league after only one season.

The New York Clipper reports that Paul Hines, a Providence Grays outfielder had been challenged to catch a ball dropped from the top of the Washington Monument

The New York Clipper reports that Paul Hines, a Providence Grays outfielder had been challenged to catch a ball dropped from the top of the Washington Monument

ByTom

The New York Clipper reports that Paul Hines, a Providence Grays outfielder, and resident of Washington, DC, had been challenged to catch a ball dropped from the top of the Washington Monument, a distance of “over 535 feet from the ground.” The Clipper calculates the “natural philosophy” involved, and warns Hines of the danger he would confront in attempting such a foolish stunt.

At a National League meeting, St. Louis is admitted, Cleveland’s registration is formally accepted leaving the league with 8 teams.

ByTom

At a National League meeting, St. Louis is admitted, Cleveland’s registration is formally accepted, and Detroit has its request to remain in the NL granted, leaving only one opening for 1885. However, Cleveland will fail to complete formalities, leaving the league with 8 teams.

1885 – Millionaire Henry Lucas purchases the Cleveland Blues and plans to fill the vacancy in the National League with his own St. Louis Maroons.

ByTom

1885 – Millionaire Henry Lucas purchases the Cleveland Blues and plans to fill the vacancy in the National League with his own St. Louis Maroons.