1891 – Albert Spalding retires from active participation in the affairs of the Chicago Colts club and the National League. James A. Hart will assume the club presidency.
1891 – Clarence Arthur “Dazzy” Vance is born in Orient, Iowa. At age 31, Vance will become the dominant National League pitcher of the 1920s. After a decade in the minors, Vance will join the Brooklyn Robins in 1922. Named National League MVP in 1924, he will pitch a no-hitter the next year, lead the NL in wins twice, in earned run average three times, and be the only pitcher to top the NL in strikeouts seven consecutive seasons. Vance will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America in 1955, with 205 votes out of 251 ballots.
1891 – The Pittsburgh Alleghenys and Cleveland Spiders are the two National League clubs making the heaviest raids against American Association player contracts, following the latter’s denunciation of the National Agreement two weeks ago. Pittsburgh further earns its new nickname of “Pirates” by signing good-hitting outfielder Pete Browning and pitcher Scott Stratton away from the Louisville Colonels.
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