1888 – The Washington Nationals National League club leaves on its southern tour a day earlier than scheduled, due to a superstition against starting a trip on a Friday.
1888 – In a spring training game in New Orleans, LA, Cincinnati Red Stockings catcher Kid Baldwin slugs the umpire during an argument and narrowly escapes arrest.
1888 – In Chicago, IL, 350 fans brave the weather to watch a baseball game on ice at Lincoln Park. Second baseman Fred Pfeffer of the Chicago White Stockings plays wearing a top hat. After two hours and five innings of play, the game is called. The “Spaldings” defeat the “North-Siders”, 7 – 6.
1888 – Harry Spence is hired to manage the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the National League.
1888 – The Kansas City Cowboys franchise is admitted to the American Association to replace the New York Metropolitans. Even though the Mets were bought out by the Brooklyn Grays, their franchise is only considered suspended until suitable playing facilities in Manhattan can be found.
The Texas League is organized when the following six cities are awarded franchises: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, and San Antonio.
1887 – The Texas League is organized at a meeting in Austin, thanks largely to the efforts of John J. McCloskey.
1887 – Chris Von der Ahe completes his biggest deal, selling Bob Caruthers to Brooklyn for $8,250. The deal is delayed by Caruthers’s negotiations with Brooklyn, but he finally agrees to a $5,000 salary for 1888.
1887 – A baseball reporters association is organized. It pledges to work to standardize scoring practices, especially in the gray area of stolen bases.
1887 – In a controversial move the American Association doubles its basic admission price to 50 cents. In late August 1888, the league, suffering from decreases in attendance and revenues, will reinstitute the old admission fee.
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