The first meeting of the united National League and American Association takes place in New York. Only four teams from the collapsed 1891 AA are invited to join the NL, which will expand to 12 teams with a 154-game schedule split into two championship series.

1892 – The first meeting of the united National League and American Association takes place in New York. Only four teams from the collapsed 1891 AA are invited to join the NL, which will expand to 12 teams with a 154-game schedule split into two championship series.

Pittsburgh Alleghenys and Cleveland Spiders make the heaviest raids against American Association

Pittsburgh Alleghenys and Cleveland Spiders make the heaviest raids against American Association

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.

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

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.

Both the National League and American Association hold their spring meetings to adopt their schedules. The NL also hires a fifth umpire at a salary of $200 per month. The AA, to the surprise of many, does not adopt the NL’s salary classification system.

1889 – Both the National League and American Association hold their spring meetings to adopt their schedules. The NL also hires a fifth umpire at a salary of $200 per month. The AA, to the surprise of many, does not adopt the NL’s salary classification system.

Denny McKnight, one of the founders of the American Association, is ousted from the league presidency for his partisan handling of the Sam Barkley case. Wheeler Wikoff becomes the new AA president.

Denny McKnight, one of the founders of the American Association, is ousted from the league presidency for his partisan handling of the Sam Barkley case. Wheeler Wikoff becomes the new AA president.

1886 – Denny McKnight, one of the founders of the American Association, is ousted from the league presidency for his partisan handling of the Sam Barkley case. Wheeler Wikoff becomes the new AA president.

The American Association votes to keep its ban on overhand pitching and to continue to allow fouls caught on one bounce to count as outs

1884 – The American Association votes to keep its ban on overhand pitching and to continue to allow fouls caught on one bounce to count as outs. It does abolish the tradition of team captains flipping for the honor of batting first. Now the home team will automatically bat first.