1879 – Baseball’s reserve clause is born. National League owners meeting in Buffalo, NY, seeking to limit player salaries, led by Boston’s Arthur Soden come to a secret agreement whereby five players on each team will be “reserved” – off-limits to all other clubs. The reserve clause will be in effect for the 1880 season. The owners tell the newspapers that they have agreed upon a uniform contract with no salary advances.

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1879 – Baseball’s reserve clause is born. National League owners meeting in Buffalo, NY, seeking to limit player salaries, led by Boston’s Arthur Soden come to a secret agreement whereby five players on each team will be “reserved” – off-limits to all other clubs. The reserve clause will be in effect for the 1880 season. The owners tell the newspapers that they have agreed upon a uniform contract with no salary advances.

In the most one-sided game of the National League season‚ Chicago trounces Detroit‚ 17 – 0. Fred Goldsmith pitches for Chicago against Frank Mountain‚ and Silver Flint is 5 for 5. He also catches his 9th straight game without a passed ball.

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In the most one-sided game of the National League season‚ Chicago trounces Detroit‚ 17 – 0. Fred Goldsmith pitches for Chicago against Frank Mountain‚ and Silver Flint is 5 for 5. He also catches his 9th straight game without a passed ball.

The Northwestern League, considered the first minor league circuit in baseball history, is organized in Rockford, Illinois. The fledgling organization, which includes teams from Davenport, Omaha, Dubuque, and Rockford, will be defunct before the season ends as a result of lacking a fixed schedule and paying the players more than their counterparts rival National League.

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On January 2, 1879 The Northwestern League, considered the first minor league circuit in baseball history, is organized in Rockford, Illinois. The fledgling organization, which includes teams from Davenport, Omaha, Dubuque, and Rockford, will be defunct before the season ends as a result of lacking a fixed schedule and paying the players more than their…

Providence Grays centerfielder Paul Hines catches a fly by Jack Burdock and starts a triple play, racing in to touch third base before Jack Manning can return, then throwing to second to nab Ezra Sutton. Some eyewitnesses contend that Sutton had passed third and was out when Hines touched the base, making it the only unassisted triple play by an outfielder. This contradicts the version by Manning, Jim O’Rourke and others present, which has been accepted generally as the correct account.

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Providence Grays centerfielder Paul Hines catches a fly by Jack Burdock and starts a triple play, racing in to touch third base before Jack Manning can return, then throwing to second to nab Ezra Sutton. Some eyewitnesses contend that Sutton had passed third and was out when Hines touched the base, making it the only unassisted triple play by an outfielder. This contradicts the version by Manning, Jim O’Rourke and others present, which has been accepted generally as the correct account.

With their 19th victory in the last 20 games, the Red Caps, aka the Red Stockings, clinch the National League pennant, beating the Hartford Dark Blues, 13-2. James ‘Deacon’ White, the league’s leading hitter, paces Boston’s attack with a 4-for-4 performance.

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With their 19th victory in the last 20 games, the Red Caps, aka the Red Stockings, clinch the National League pennant, beating the Hartford Dark Blues, 13-2. James ‘Deacon’ White, the league’s leading hitter, paces Boston’s attack with a 4-for-4 performance.