In a North Dakota Red River Valley League contest, the Fargo Red Stockings and Grand Forks Black Stockings each use one pitcher when they play to a 25-inning, 0-0 tie at the State Militia Training Grounds in Devils Lake, a neutral site selected to attract more fans. The umpire abruptly ends the longest scoreless game in history, a four-hour and ten-minute nightcap of a twin bill, after the bottom of the 25th to allow the players to catch a train.

ByTom

In a North Dakota Red River Valley League contest, the Fargo Red Stockings and Grand Forks Black Stockings each use one pitcher when they play to a 25-inning, 0-0 tie at the State Militia Training Grounds in Devils Lake, a neutral site selected to attract more fans. The umpire abruptly ends the longest scoreless game in history, a four-hour and ten-minute nightcap of a twin bill, after the bottom of the 25th to allow the players to catch a train.

 Reds’ right-hander Charley Radbourn earns his 300th victory, beating the Beaneaters at Boston’s South End Grounds, 10-8. ‘Old Hoss,’ who will finish 484 of the 497 games he starts, will end his 11-year career this season with 309 victories.

ByTom

 Reds’ right-hander Charley Radbourn earns his 300th victory, beating the Beaneaters at Boston’s South End Grounds, 10-8. ‘Old Hoss,’ who will finish 484 of the 497 games he starts, will end his 11-year career this season with 309 victories.

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6/19/1891 – Dick Johnston of Cincinnati Kelly’s Killers (AA) was called out in this game against the Louisville Colonels. No further details are known.

ByTom

6/19/1891 – Dick Johnston of Cincinnati Kelly’s Killers (AA) was called out in this game against the Louisville Colonels. No further details are known.

Bill_Hutchinson

The Colts (now Cubs) bat out of order twice in same game

ByTom

6/17/1891 – The Colts (now Cubs) played in Cleveland. Through the seventh inning, the Colts’ Bill Hutchinson batted in Malachi Kittridge’s place in the batting order but the Spiders let it go. In the seventh, Fred Pfeffer walked and Hutchinson, batting out of turn, singled, moving Pfeffer to third. As Kittridge stepped to the plate, the Spiders told umpire Tim Lynch that Hutchinson batted out of turn. This out ended the inning, killing the Colts’ rally.

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5/7/1891 – The Brooklyn Bridegrooms lineup in its home game against Philadelphia had the pitcher William “Adonis” Terry batting eighth followed by the catcher Tom Kinslow. However, Kinslow made the last out of the first inning batting ahead of Terry. Terry started the second inning with a double and was called out when Philadelphia pointed out the correct batting order.

ByTom

5/7/1891 – The Brooklyn Bridegrooms lineup in its home game against Philadelphia had the pitcher William “Adonis” Terry batting eighth followed by the catcher Tom Kinslow. However, Kinslow made the last out of the first inning batting ahead of Terry. Terry started the second inning with a double and was called out when Philadelphia pointed out the correct batting order.

In front of 10,000 fans, Spider right-hander Cy Young beats the visiting Reds, 12-3, in the first game ever played in Cleveland’s League Park. The National League club will call the Hough neighborhood ballpark home until 1899, when the club goes out of business, losing their best players due to the actions of their unscrupulous owner which results in a disastrous 20-134 season.

ByTom

In front of 10,000 fans, Spider right-hander Cy Young beats the visiting Reds, 12-3, in the first game ever played in Cleveland’s League Park. The National League club will call the Hough neighborhood ballpark home until 1899, when the club goes out of business, losing their best players due to the actions of their unscrupulous owner which results in a disastrous 20-134 season.

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.

ByTom

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.

Dazzy Vance

Clarence Arthur “Dazzy” Vance is born in Orient, Iowa

ByTom

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.

The National Board of Control declares all AA players fair game for contract raiding

The National Board of Control declares all AA players fair game for contract raiding

ByTom

1891 – The National Board of Control, which manages the National Agreement between the two major leagues, with Allen W. Thurman still acting as chairman although he was replaced as President of the American Association three days earlier, declares all AA players fair game for contract raiding.

American Association owners dismiss league President Allen W. Thurman and replace him with Louis Kramer of Cincinnati

American Association owners dismiss league President Allen W. Thurman and replace him with Louis Kramer of Cincinnati

ByTom

1891 – American Association owners dismiss league President Allen W. Thurman and replace him with Louis Kramer of Cincinnati. The owners also denounce the National Agreement, launching a new war with the rival National League. The owners are unhappy with Thurman’s decision in the Lou Bierbauer case. In his capacity as Chairman of the National Board of Control which decides disputes under the National Agreement, he ruled that the AA’s Philadelphia Athletics no longer had reserve rights over Bierbauer, who jumped from the Athletics to the Players League in 1890, and then refused to return to his old team after the Players League folded.