April 11 – The Eastern Association is formed and includes the New York Metropolitans, The Washington Nationals and Brooklyn Atlantics, all teams that have regularly played competitively against National League teams.
March 9 – The National League releases a list of 23 umpires approved to call league games.
March 8 – The National League agrees on an 84-game schedule for the upcoming season. The owners are polled and pick the Chicago White Stockings as the pre-season favorite to win the pennant.
1881 – Third baseman Jim O’Rourke signs with the Buffalo Bisons. He boasts that the contract is for $2,000, Buffalo puts the figure at $1,300.
February 22 – George Wright signs a contract to play for the Boston Red Caps after sitting out the 1880 season. Wright will only play part-time in order to devote more time to his sporting goods business.
February 7 – The Providence Grays sign Charley Radbourn. Radbourn played for the Buffalo Bisons in 1880, but only played the field in 6 games and did not pitch at all due to an arm injury.
1881 – Third baseman Jerry Denny is feted at a benefit in his hometown of San Francisco, CA just before he leaves for the East Coast to launch a professional career that will last into the 20th century.
1881 – The first of a series of Tuesday games on ice is played in Chicago, Illinois, using professional and amateur players. These games will be a regular winter feature.