Major League franchises, 1876-1900

What follows is a list of the clubs which played in the various major leagues during the period from 1876 to 1899, when the National League trimmed its size from twelve teams to the eight teams that would last for the first 50+ years of the 20th century. For each club, a brief notation of when it joined the league and left the league is also provided, giving a glimpse of how the leagues ebbed and flowed during this time. In some cases, I do not know the exact relationship between a franchise in one city and another in that city at a later time; I am not assuming any relationship between the two clubs in such cases.

The leagues covered on this page:
The National League (1876-1899)
The American Association (1882-1891)
The Union Association (1884)
The Players League (1890)

American Association clubs (1882-1891)

The American Association started in 1882 with six franchises located in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Baltimore. The Baltimore club was a last-minute replacement for the Brooklyn Atlantics, who were unable to secure a playing field after getting a charter when the league formed. Brooklyn was awarded a franchise in the 1884 expansion.

Inaugural clubs in the American Association and their owners

St. Louis Browns Chris Von der Ahe

Louisville Eclipse J.H. Pank, Bill Reccius

Cincinnati Red Stockings Opie Caylor, Justus Thorner

Pittsburgh Alleghenys Denny McKnight

Philadelphia Athletics Horace Phillips

Baltimore Orioles Henry Von der Horst

A complete listing of Association franchises

Team Yrs in AA Joined AA Departed AA

St. Louis Browns 1882-1891 Founding franchise Accepted into NL for 1892 season

Louisville Eclipse
(aka Colonels) 1882-1891 Founding franchise Accepted into NL for 1892 season

Cincinnati Red Stockings
(aka Reds) 1882-1889 Founding franchise Jumped to the NL for the 1890 season

Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1882-1886 Founding franchise Jumped to the NL for the 1887 season

Philadelphia Athletics (I) 1882-1890 Founding franchise Went bankrupt after the 1890 season

Baltimore Orioles (I) 1882-1889 Founding franchise Left the Association after the 1889 season and moved to Atlantic Association; rejoined in 1890 (see below)

New York Metropolitans 1883-1887 Expansion club in 1883 Bought out by Brooklyn and disbanded after the 1887 season

Columbus Buckeyes 1883-1884 Expansion club in 1883 Folded after the 1884 season and merged with Pittsburgh

Brooklyn Grays
(aka Bridegrooms) 1884-1889 Expansion club in 1884 Jumped to the NL for the 1890 season

Indianapolis Hoosiers 1884 Expansion club in 1884 Dropped from the league after the 1884 season

Toledo Blue Stockings 1884 Expansion club in 1884 Dropped from the league after the 1884 season

Washington Statesmen 1884 Expansion club in 1884 Folded during the 1884 season

Virginia (Richmond) 1884 Replaced Washington in midseason 1884 Dropped from the league after the 1884 season

Cleveland Blues 1887-1888 Added in 1887 to replace Pittsburgh Bought the NL Detroit franchise in October 1888 and joined the NL for the 1889 season

Kansas City Cowboys 1888-1889 Added in 1888 to replace New York Left the Association after the 1889 season and joined the Western League

Columbus Solons 1889-1891 Added in 1889 to replace Cleveland Bought out after the Association merged with the National League

Toledo Maumees 1890 Added for the 1890 season to replace lost clubs Dropped from the league after the 1890 season

Syracuse Stars 1890 Added for the 1890 season to replace lost clubs Dropped from the league after the 1890 season

Rochester Hop Bitters 1890 Added for the 1890 season to replace lost clubs Dropped from the league after the 1890 season

Brooklyn Gladiators 1890 Added for the 1890 season to replace lost clubs Folded during the 1890 season

Baltimore Orioles (II) 1890-1891 Jumped from the Atlantic Association to replace Brooklyn during the 1890 season Accepted into National League for the 1892 season

Philadelphia Athletics (II) 1891 Replaced the first Athletics franchise for 1891 seson; came from the Players League Bought out after the Association merged with the National League

Boston Reds 1891 Added for 1891 season; Players League champions in 1890 Bought out after the Association merged with the National League

Washington Nationals 1891 Added for 1891 season Accepted into National League for the 1892 season

Cincinnati Kelly's Killers 1891 Added for 1891 season Folded during the 1891 season

Milwaukee Brewers 1891 Jumped from Western Association to replace Cincinnati late in the 1891 season Bought out after the Association merged with the National League

Chicago (1892) Would have joined the Association for the 1892 season Bought out after the Association merged with the National League

Association franchises which played in the National League

Team Yrs in AA Yrs in NL Current status

Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1882-1886 1887-Present Pittsburgh Pirates

Cleveland Blues 1887-1888 1889-1899 Dropped after the 1899 season

Cincinnati Red Stockings 1882-1889 1890-Present Cincinnati Reds

Brooklyn Grays 1884-1889 1890-Present Los Angeles Dodgers

St. Louis Browns 1882-1891 1892-Present St. Louis Cardinals

Louisville Eclipse 1882-1891 1892-1899 Dropped after the 1899 season

Baltimore Orioles 1890-1891 1892-1899 Dropped after the 1899 season

Washington Nationals 1891 1892-1899 Dropped after the 1899 season

National League clubs (1876-1900)

The National League started in 1876 with eight clubs. It dropped to six clubs for a few years, and then remained at eight again from 1879 to 1891, although the composition of the league fluctuated during that period. In 1892 it merged with the American Association and became a twelve team league. It retained a constant lineup from 1892 through 1899. After the 1899 season, it cut four teams to return to an eight team lineup, the same eight clubs that it would have until Boston, Brooklyn and New York moved west in the 1950s.

Inaugural clubs in the National League

Team Yrs in NL Joined NL Current status

Chicago White Stockings 1876-Present Founding franchise Chicago Cubs

Hartford Dark Blues 1876-1877 Founding franchise Dropped out after of the 1877 season

St. Louis Brown Stockings 1876-1877 Founding franchise Quit league after the 1877 season

Boston Red Caps 1876-Present Founding franchise Atlanta Braves

Louisville Grays 1876-1877 Founding franchise Quit league after a game-throwing scandel at the end of 1877 season

New York Mutuals 1876 Founding franchise Expelled for not finishing the 1876 schedule

Philadelphia Athletics 1876 Founding franchise Expelled for not finishing the 1876 schedule

Cincinnati Red Stockings 1876-1880 Founding franchise Expelled after the 1880 season for playing Sunday games and selling liquor

Other National League franchises from 1878-1891

Team Yrs in NL Joined NL Current status

Providence Grays 1878-1885 Added in 1878 to replace lost clubs Went bankrupt after 1885 season

Indianapolis Blues 1878 Added in 1878 to replace lost clubs Dropped after the 1878 season

Milwaukee Grays 1878 Added in 1878 to replace lost clubs Dropped after the 1878 season

Buffalo Bisons 1879-1885 Added for 1879 Went bankrupt after the 1885 season

Cleveland Blues 1879-1884 Added for 1879 Bought out by Henry Lucas after the 1884 season

Syracuse Stars 1879 Added for 1879 Dropped after the 1879 season

Troy Tojans 1879-1882 Added for 1879 Dropped after the 1882 season

Worcester Ruby Legs 1880-1882 Replaced Syracuse for the 1880 season Dropped after the 1882 season

Detroit Wolverines 1881-1888 Replaced Cincinnati for the 1881 season Bought out by Cleveland of the American Association after the 1888 season

New York Gothams 1883-Present Replaced Troy for the 1883 season San Francisco Giants

Philadelphia Quakers 1883-Present Replaced Worcester for the 1883 season Philadelphia Phillies

St. Louis Maroons 1885-1886 Replaced Cleveland for the 1885 season Folded after the 1886 season

Washington Nationals 1886-1889 Added for 1886 season to replace Buffalo and Providence; descended from the Union Association club Dropped after the 1889 season

Kansas City Cowboys 1886 Added for 1886 season to replace Buffalo and Providence Folded after the 1886 seson

Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1887-Present Added for 1887 season from the American Association to replace Kansas City Pittsburgh Pirates

Indianapolis Hoosiers 1887-1889 Replaced St. Louis for the 1887 season Dropped after the 1889 season

Cleveland Blues 1889-1899 Bought out Detroit franchise and moved from the American Association for the 1889 season Dropped after the 1899 season

Cincinnati Reds 1890-Present Jumped from the American Association for 1890 season Cincinnati Reds

Brooklyn Bridegrooms 1890-Present Jumped from the American Association for 1890 season Los Angeles Dodgers

The twelve clubs in the National League from 1892-1899

Team Yrs in NL Joined NL Current status

Chicago White Stockings 1876-Present Founding franchise Chicago Cubs

Boston Red Caps 1876-Present Founding franchise Atlanta Braves

New York Gothams 1883-Present Replaced Troy for the 1883 season San Francisco Giants

Philadelphia Quakers 1883-Present Replaced Worcester for the 1883 season Philadelphia Phillies

Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1887-Present Added for 1887 season from the American Association to replace Kansas City Pittsburgh Pirates

Cleveland Blues 1889-1899 Bought out Detroit franchise and moved from the American Association for the 1889 season Dropped after the 1899 season

Cincinnati Reds 1890-Present Jumped from the American Association for 1890 season Cincinnati Reds

Brooklyn Bridegrooms 1890-Present Jumped from the American Association for 1890 season Los Angeles Dodgers

St. Louis Browns 1892-Present Joined in merger of AA and NL St. Louis Cardinals

Louisville Eclipse 1892-1899 Joined in merger of AA and NL Dropped after the 1899 season

Baltimore Orioles 1892-1899 Joined in merger of AA and NL Dropped after the 1899 season

Washington Nationals 1892-1899 Joined in merger of AA and NL Dropped after the 1899 season

Union Association clubs (1884)

The Union Association lasted only one season, but managed to have twelve different clubs in thirteen different cities during that season, inlcuding one club (St. Paul) which never played a home game.

St. Louis Maroons 1884 Founding franchise Joined the NL for 1885

Cincinnati Outlaw Reds 1884 Founding franchise Failed to get membership in another league

Baltimore Unions 1884 Founding franchise Went bankrupt at end of season

Boston Reds 1884 Founding franchise Disbanded

Washington Nationals 1884 Founding franchise Withdrew after the 1884 season; almost joined the American Association in 1886, but wound up in the NL

Chicago Browns-Pittsburgh 1884 Founding franchise Moved to Pittsburgh, then folded before the season ended

Milwaukee Brewers 1884 Replaced Pittsburgh; came from the Northwestern League Disbanded with the Association

Altoona Mountain Citys 1884 Founding franchise Went bankrupt early in the season

Kansas City Cowboys 1884 Replaced Altoona Joined the Western League

Philadelphia Keystones 1884 Founding franchise Quit in midseason

Wilmington Quicksteps 1884 Replaced Philadelphia; came from the Eastern League Quit before end of season

St. Paul White Caps 1884 Replaced Wilmington; came from the Northwestern League Returned to minors

Players League clubs (1890)

The Players League was a challenge by the players to the control of the owners. It only lasted one season before the backers pulled the plug. It is the only major league to never have a franchise fold or move during its existance.

Boston Reds 1890 Joined the Association for the 1891 season

Brooklyn Ward's Wonders 1890 Merged with the NL Brooklyn club

New York Giants 1890 Merged with the NL New York club

Chicago Pirates 1890 Merged with the NL Chicago club

Philadelphia Quakers 1890 Joined the Association for the 1891 season

Pittsburgh Burghers 1890 Merged with the NL PIttsburgh club

Cleveland Infants 1890 Merged with the NL Cleveland club

Buffalo Bisons 1890 Folded at the end of the season

Cincinnati Reds (1891) NL franchise purchased by Players League interests for the 1891 season; stayed in NL when the Players League folded

St. Louis Browns	Chris Von der Ahe
Louisville Eclipse	J.H. Pank, Bill Reccius
Cincinnati Red Stockings	Opie Caylor, Justus Thorner
Pittsburgh Alleghenys	Denny McKnight
Philadelphia Athletics	Horace Phillips
Baltimore Orioles	Henry Von der Horst

Team	Yrs in AA	Joined AA	Departed AA
St. Louis Browns	1882-1891	Founding franchise	Accepted into NL for 1892 season
Louisville Eclipse (aka Colonels)	1882-1891	Founding franchise	Accepted into NL for 1892 season
Cincinnati Red Stockings (aka Reds)	1882-1889	Founding franchise	Jumped to the NL for the 1890 season
Pittsburgh Alleghenys	1882-1886	Founding franchise	Jumped to the NL for the 1887 season
Philadelphia Athletics (I)	1882-1890	Founding franchise	Went bankrupt after the 1890 season
Baltimore Orioles (I)	1882-1889	Founding franchise	Left the Association after the 1889 season and moved to Atlantic Association; rejoined in 1890 (see below)
New York Metropolitans	1883-1887	Expansion club in 1883	Bought out by Brooklyn and disbanded after the 1887 season
Columbus Buckeyes	1883-1884	Expansion club in 1883	Folded after the 1884 season and merged with Pittsburgh
Brooklyn Grays (aka Bridegrooms)	1884-1889	Expansion club in 1884	Jumped to the NL for the 1890 season
Indianapolis Hoosiers	1884	Expansion club in 1884	Dropped from the league after the 1884 season
Toledo Blue Stockings	1884	Expansion club in 1884	Dropped from the league after the 1884 season
Washington Statesmen	1884	Expansion club in 1884	Folded during the 1884 season
Virginia (Richmond)	1884	Replaced Washington in midseason 1884	Dropped from the league after the 1884 season
Cleveland Blues	1887-1888	Added in 1887 to replace Pittsburgh	Bought the NL Detroit franchise in October 1888 and joined the NL for the 1889 season
Kansas City Cowboys	1888-1889	Added in 1888 to replace New York	Left the Association after the 1889 season and joined the Western League
Columbus Solons	1889-1891	Added in 1889 to replace Cleveland	Bought out after the Association merged with the National League
Toledo Maumees	1890	Added for the 1890 season to replace lost clubs	Dropped from the league after the 1890 season
Syracuse Stars	1890	Added for the 1890 season to replace lost clubs	Dropped from the league after the 1890 season
Rochester Hop Bitters	1890	Added for the 1890 season to replace lost clubs	Dropped from the league after the 1890 season
Brooklyn Gladiators	1890	Added for the 1890 season to replace lost clubs	Folded during the 1890 season
Baltimore Orioles (II)	1890-1891	Jumped from the Atlantic Association to replace Brooklyn during the 1890 season	Accepted into National League for the 1892 season
Philadelphia Athletics (II)	1891	Replaced the first Athletics franchise for 1891 seson; came from the Players League	Bought out after the Association merged with the National League
Boston Reds	1891	Added for 1891 season; Players League champions in 1890	Bought out after the Association merged with the National League
Washington Nationals	1891	Added for 1891 season	Accepted into National League for the 1892 season
Cincinnati Kelly's Killers	1891	Added for 1891 season	Folded during the 1891 season
Milwaukee Brewers	1891	Jumped from Western Association to replace Cincinnati late in the 1891 season	Bought out after the Association merged with the National League
Chicago	(1892)	Would have joined the Association for the 1892 season	Bought out after the Association merged with the National League

Team	Yrs in AA	Yrs in NL	Current status
Pittsburgh Alleghenys	1882-1886	1887-Present	Pittsburgh Pirates
Cleveland Blues	1887-1888	1889-1899	Dropped after the 1899 season
Cincinnati Red Stockings	1882-1889	1890-Present	Cincinnati Reds
Brooklyn Grays	1884-1889	1890-Present	Los Angeles Dodgers
St. Louis Browns	1882-1891	1892-Present	St. Louis Cardinals
Louisville Eclipse	1882-1891	1892-1899	Dropped after the 1899 season
Baltimore Orioles	1890-1891	1892-1899	Dropped after the 1899 season
Washington Nationals	1891	1892-1899	Dropped after the 1899 season

Team	Yrs in NL	Joined NL	Current status
Chicago White Stockings	1876-Present	Founding franchise	Chicago Cubs
Hartford Dark Blues	1876-1877	Founding franchise	Dropped out after of the 1877 season
St. Louis Brown Stockings	1876-1877	Founding franchise	Quit league after the 1877 season
Boston Red Caps	1876-Present	Founding franchise	Atlanta Braves
Louisville Grays	1876-1877	Founding franchise	Quit league after a game-throwing scandel at the end of 1877 season
New York Mutuals	1876	Founding franchise	Expelled for not finishing the 1876 schedule
Philadelphia Athletics	1876	Founding franchise	Expelled for not finishing the 1876 schedule
Cincinnati Red Stockings	1876-1880	Founding franchise	Expelled after the 1880 season for playing Sunday games and selling liquor

St. Louis Maroons	1884	Founding franchise	Joined the NL for 1885
Cincinnati Outlaw Reds	1884	Founding franchise	Failed to get membership in another league
Baltimore Unions	1884	Founding franchise	Went bankrupt at end of season
Boston Reds	1884	Founding franchise	Disbanded
Washington Nationals	1884	Founding franchise	Withdrew after the 1884 season; almost joined the American Association in 1886, but wound up in the NL
Chicago Browns-Pittsburgh	1884	Founding franchise	Moved to Pittsburgh, then folded before the season ended
Milwaukee Brewers	1884	Replaced Pittsburgh; came from the Northwestern League	Disbanded with the Association
Altoona Mountain Citys	1884	Founding franchise	Went bankrupt early in the season
Kansas City Cowboys	1884	Replaced Altoona	Joined the Western League
Philadelphia Keystones	1884	Founding franchise	Quit in midseason
Wilmington Quicksteps	1884	Replaced Philadelphia; came from the Eastern League	Quit before end of season
St. Paul White Caps	1884	Replaced Wilmington; came from the Northwestern League	Returned to minors

Boston Reds	1890	Joined the Association for the 1891 season
Brooklyn Ward's Wonders	1890	Merged with the NL Brooklyn club
New York Giants	1890	Merged with the NL New York club
Chicago Pirates	1890	Merged with the NL Chicago club
Philadelphia Quakers	1890	Joined the Association for the 1891 season
Pittsburgh Burghers	1890	Merged with the NL PIttsburgh club
Cleveland Infants	1890	Merged with the NL Cleveland club
Buffalo Bisons	1890	Folded at the end of the season
Cincinnati Reds	(1891)	NL franchise purchased by Players League interests for the 1891 season; stayed in NL when the Players League folded