Heroes of Baseball

A new baseball hall of fame

1876

by

1876 is considered a landmark year in the annals of baseball history. It was this year that saw the establishment of the National League (NL), the oldest professional sports league in the United States that continues to function to this day. Founded on February 2, 1876, the National League marked the start of a new era, formalizing the sport and paving the way for baseball as we know it today.

The National League was conceived by Chicago businessman William Hulbert, who was disgruntled by the lack of order in professional baseball during the time. He was instrumental in assembling eight teams from various cities to form the League: Boston Red Stockings, Chicago White Stockings, Cincinnati Red Stockings, Hartford Dark Blues, Louisville Grays, New York Mutuals, Philadelphia Athletics, and St. Louis Brown Stockings.

In the inaugural season of 1876, the Chicago White Stockings emerged as the dominant team. Under the stewardship of player-manager Al Spalding, a renowned pitcher, the team won the first NL pennant with a remarkable 52-14 record. Spalding himself was a pivotal figure in baseball history, not just for his athletic prowess, but also as a future sporting goods magnate, his company becoming synonymous with baseball gear.

Yet, the game in 1876 was significantly different from today’s version of baseball. For one, batters could request the pitch location, a concept that seems inconceivable in the modern game. Games were played to a nine-inning conclusion only if the score was tied after eight. Foul balls were not considered strikes, and walks occurred after a batter took nine balls.

In the end, 1876 was a seminal year in the evolution of baseball, heralding the transition of the sport from a disorganized pastime to a structured professional endeavor. Despite the disparities with the modern game, the formation of the National League was a crucial step in the journey that would make baseball an enduring fixture of American culture.

1876 National League All-Stars

Pitchers

Jim Devlin (30-35 W-L, 1.56 ERA)

Tommy Bond (31-13 W-L, 1.68 ERA)

Starting lineup

  1. Ross Barnes (2B, .429/.462/.590)
  2. Cap Anson (3B, .356/.380/.450)
  3. Paul Hines (OF, .331/.333/.439)
  4. Lip Pike (OF, .323/.341/.472)
  5. John Peters (SS, .351/.357/.418)
  6. Cal McVey (1B, .347/.352/.406)
  7. Deacon White (C, .343/.358/.419)
  8. Jim O’Rourke (OF .327/.358/.420)

The bench
Joe Battin (3B)
George Wright (SS)
John Clapp (C)
George Hall (OF)
Mike McGeary (2B)
Levi Meyerle (3B)