1884 – Pitcher Tony Mullane, the first player to violate the National Agreement’s reserve clause by signing with the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association, signs a contract with the Toledo Blue Stockings, of the American Association.

ByTom

1884 – Pitcher Tony Mullane, the first player to violate the National Agreement’s reserve clause by signing with the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association, signs a contract with the Toledo Blue Stockings, of the American Association.

1884 – In a five-inning game played on ice skates in Brooklyn, Chicago White Stockings ace pitcher Larry Corcoran leads his team of mostly amateurs to a 41 – 12 win over a team composed of mostly professionals. Corcoran’s team was assembled by veteran sportswriter Henry Chadwick. In four days, the pros will beat Corcoran and another group of amateurs, 16 – 8.

ByTom

1884 – In a five-inning game played on ice skates in Brooklyn, Chicago White Stockings ace pitcher Larry Corcoran leads his team of mostly amateurs to a 41 – 12 win over a team composed of mostly professionals. Corcoran’s team was assembled by veteran sportswriter Henry Chadwick. In four days, the pros will beat Corcoran and another group of amateurs, 16 – 8.

Pitcher Larry Corcoran, breaks his contract to re-sign with his old club, the Chicago White Stockings of the National League.

ByTom

Pitcher Larry Corcoran, who had signed with the Chicago team of the outlaw Union Association, breaks his contract to re-sign with his old club, the Chicago White Stockings of the National League.

The newly-organized Union League changes its name to the Eastern League to avoid confusion with the new Union Association. The EL continues into the 21st century as the AAA International League.

ByTom

The newly-organized Union League changes its name to the Eastern League to avoid confusion with the new Union Association. The EL continues into the 21st century as the AAA International League.

1883 – In Louisville a “first-class colored team” is formed. The team, later known as the Falls Cities, becomes one of the nation’s best black teams. It will join the National Colored Base Ball League (NCBBL) in 1887, but will apparently disband shortly after the collapse of the NCBBL in the first week of its season.

ByTom

1883 – In Louisville a “first-class colored team” is formed. The team, later known as the Falls Cities, becomes one of the nation’s best black teams. It will join the National Colored Base Ball League (NCBBL) in 1887, but will apparently disband shortly after the collapse of the NCBBL in the first week of its season.

1883 – The American Association agrees to expand to 12 teams by admitting the Brooklyn Atlantics, Indianapolis Hoosiers, Toledo Blue Stockings and Washington Nationals.

ByTom

1883 – The American Association agrees to expand to 12 teams by admitting the Brooklyn Atlantics, Indianapolis Hoosiers, Toledo Blue Stockings and Washington Nationals.

1883 – New York Gothams owner John B. Day proposes a resolution to prohibit a team from signing a player who has broken the reserve clause of his contract. This resolution, eventually adopted by both the American Association and National League, effectively changes the reserve clause from a device to protect owners from their own greediness to a vindictive weapon to be used against uncooperative players.

ByTom

1883 – New York Gothams owner John B. Day proposes a resolution to prohibit a team from signing a player who has broken the reserve clause of his contract. This resolution, eventually adopted by both the American Association and National League, effectively changes the reserve clause from a device to protect owners from their own greediness to a vindictive weapon to be used against uncooperative players.