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.

Denny McKnight

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.

ByTom

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

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.

Louisville hurler Tony Mullane becomes the first major leaguer to pitch both left- and right-handed in the same game
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Louisville hurler Tony Mullane becomes the first major leaguer to pitch both left- and right-handed in the same game

ByTom

Louisville hurler Tony Mullane, without wearing a fielder’s glove, pitches with both arms in an American Association game against the Orioles. The natural right-hander’s ambidextrous efforts are to little avail when the home team defeats the Eclipse at Baltimore’s Newington Park.