# 1890 Major League Baseball season

The 1890 major league baseball season began on April 17, 1890. The National League and newly-founded Players' League regular seasons ended on October 4, with the Boston Beaneaters and Boston Reds as the NL and PL pennant winners, respectively. The American Association regular season ended on October 15 and saw the Louisville Colonels the winners of the AA pennant. The postseason between the AA and NL began with Game 1 of the seventh World's Championship Series on October 17 and ended with Game 7 on October 28. The series ended in a tie, with the Bridegrooms and Colonels each with three wins, and a tie game. The series was unique in that the Bridegrooms reached the series back-to-back, but with each season in a different league, a feat that has not been matched since. The Reds had floated a three-way Championship series with them and the AA & NL pennant winners, though the idea fell on deaf ears.
This was the final season of a dual-league championship until the founding of the modern World Series in 1903 between the National League and American League.
The major league world was in turmoil in 1890, as many of the best players had jumped to the "outlaw" Players' League. Although the Brotherhood only lasted the one season, it had a detrimental financial effect on the other two leagues, especially the Association, who would not survive the following season, merging into the National League in December 1891.
Over the prior offseason, the Indianapolis Hoosiers and Washington Nationals of the National League, and Kansas City Cowboys of the American Association folded. The Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Cincinnati Red Stockings (now Reds) transfer from the American Association to the National League, while the Baltimore Orioles departed the AA for the minor league Atlantic Association, leaving four vacancies in the American Association that would be filled by the Brooklyn Gladiators (who would fold in August, being replace by a returning Orioles team), Rochester Broncos, Syracuse Stars, and Toledo Maumees.
Following the 1890 season, the single season Players' League disbanded during the offseason, with most teams either folding or merging with existing American Association and National League teams; the Boston Reds and Philadelphia Athletics would join the AA for the 1891 season, with the latter replacing the financially struggling original AA Philadelphia Athletics.
The major-league status of the Federal League was confirmed by the Special Baseball Records Committee (as convened by then-Commissioner of Baseball William Eckert) in 1969.

## Schedule

The 1890 schedule consisted of 140 games for all teams in the American Association, National League, and Players' League, each of which had eight active teams (the Baltimore Orioles would finish the Brooklyn Gladiators' schedule once they folded following their last game on August 25). Each team was scheduled to play 20 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place by the American Association since the 1886 season and by the National League since the 1888 season. This format would last until 1892.
American Association Opening Day took place on April 17 featuring six teams, while National League and Players' League Opening Days took place on April 19, each featuring their eight teams. The American Association would see its final day of the regular season on October 15 with a doubleheader between the Baltimore Orioles and Rochester Broncos. The National League would see its final day of the season on October 4, with a doubleheader between the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Spiders. The Players' League would see its season end on the same day, with all eight teams playing. The 1890 World's Championship Series took place between October 17 and October 28.

## Rule change

The 1890 season saw the following rule change:
* Two substitutes may be used and may enter at any time. Previously, the rules was that a predesignated substitute may be used only at the end of a complete inning.

## Teams

A dagger (†) denotes a team that folded mid-season A double dagger (‡) denotes a team joined mid-season
| League | Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Manager |
| American Association | Baltimore Orioles‡ | Baltimore, Maryland | Oriole Park | 7,000 | Billy Barnie |
| American Association | Brooklyn Gladiators† | Ridgewood, New York | Ridgewood Park | 10,000 | Jim Kennedy |
| American Association | Columbus Solons | Columbus, Ohio | Recreation Park (Columbus) | 6,500 | Al Buckenberger |
| American Association | Columbus Solons | Columbus, Ohio | Recreation Park (Columbus) | 6,500 | Gus Schmelz |
| American Association | Columbus Solons | Columbus, Ohio | Recreation Park (Columbus) | 6,500 | Pat Sullivan |
| American Association | Louisville Colonels | Louisville, Kentucky | Eclipse Park | 5,860 | Jack Chapman |
| American Association | Philadelphia Athletics | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Jefferson Street Grounds | 15,000 | Bill Sharsig |
| American Association | Rochester Broncos | Rochester, New York | Culver Field | Unknown | Patrick Powers |
| American Association | St. Louis Browns | St. Louis, Missouri | Sportsman's Park | 12,000 | Tommy McCarthy |
| American Association | St. Louis Browns | St. Louis, Missouri | Sportsman's Park | 12,000 | John Kerins |
| American Association | St. Louis Browns | St. Louis, Missouri | Sportsman's Park | 12,000 | James Roseman |
| American Association | St. Louis Browns | St. Louis, Missouri | Sportsman's Park | 12,000 | Count Campau |
| American Association | St. Louis Browns | St. Louis, Missouri | Sportsman's Park | 12,000 | Joe Gerhardt |
| American Association | Syracuse Stars | Syracuse, New York | Star Park | Unknown | George Frazier |
| American Association | Syracuse Stars | Syracuse, New York | Star Park | Unknown | Wallace Fessenden |
| American Association | Toledo Maumees | Toledo, Ohio | Speranza Park | Unknown | Charlie Morton |
| National League | Boston Beaneaters | Boston, Massachusetts | South End Grounds | 6,800 | Frank Selee |
| National League | Brooklyn Bridegrooms | Brooklyn, New York | Washington Park | 3,000 | Bill McGunnigle |
| National League | Chicago Colts | Chicago, Illinois | West Side Park | 6,000 | Cap Anson |
| National League | Cincinnati Reds | Cincinnati, Ohio | American Park | 3,000 | Tom Loftus |
| National League | Cleveland Spiders | Cleveland, Ohio | National League Park | Unknown | Gus Schmelz |
| National League | Cleveland Spiders | Cleveland, Ohio | National League Park | Unknown | Robert Leadley |
| National League | New York Giants | New York, New York | Polo Grounds II | 15,000 | Jim Mutrie |
| National League | Philadelphia Phillies | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds | 12,500 | Harry Wright |
| National League | Philadelphia Phillies | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds | 12,500 | Jack Clements |
| National League | Philadelphia Phillies | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds | 12,500 | Al Reach |
| National League | Philadelphia Phillies | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds | 12,500 | Bob Allen |
| National League | Pittsburgh Alleghenys | Allegheny, Pennsylvania | Recreation Park (Pittsburgh) | 17,000 | Guy Hecker |
| Players' League | Boston Reds | Boston, Massachusetts | Congress Street Grounds | 14,000 | King Kelly |
| Players' League | Brooklyn Ward's Wonders | Brooklyn, New York | Eastern Park | 12,000 | John Ward |
| Players' League | Buffalo Bisons | Buffalo, New York | Olympic Park | Unknown | Jack Rowe |
| Players' League | Buffalo Bisons | Buffalo, New York | Olympic Park | Unknown | Jay Faatz |
| Players' League | Chicago Pirates | Chicago, Illinois | South Side Park | 6,450 | Charles Comiskey |
| Players' League | Cleveland Infants | Cleveland, Ohio | Brotherhood Park | Unknown | Henry Larkin |
| Players' League | Cleveland Infants | Cleveland, Ohio | Brotherhood Park | Unknown | Patsy Tebeau |
| Players' League | New York Giants | New York, New York | Polo Grounds III | 16,000 | Buck Ewing |
| Players' League | Philadelphia Athletics | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Forepaugh Park | 5,000 | Jim Fogarty |
| Players' League | Philadelphia Athletics | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Forepaugh Park | 5,000 | Charlie Buffinton |
| Players' League | Pittsburgh Burghers | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Exposition Park | 6,500 | Ned Hanlon |

### Sunday games

Blue laws restricted Sunday activities in several localities, causing several teams of the American Association (which was informally referred to as the "Beer & Whiskey League" due to its openness on alcohol, compared to the National and Players' Leagues) to play at ballparks in a different locality.
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Games played |
| Brooklyn Gladiators | New York, New York | Polo Grounds II | 15,000 | 8 |
| Brooklyn Gladiators | Maspeth, New York | Long Island Grounds | Unknown | 2 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | Gloucester City, New Jersey | Gloucester Point Grounds | Unknown | 13 |
| Rochester Broncos | Irondequoit, New York | Windsor Beach Grounds | Unknown | 6 |
| Syracuse Stars | Three Rivers, New York | Three Rivers Park | Unknown | 5 |
| Syracuse Stars | Syracuse, New York | Iron Pier | Unknown | 1 |

## Standings
### American Association

vteAmerican Association :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| Louisville Colonels | 88 | 44 | .667 | — | 57‍–‍13 | 31‍–‍31 |
| Columbus Solons | 79 | 55 | .590 | 10 | 47‍–‍22 | 32‍–‍33 |
| St. Louis Browns | 78 | 58 | .574 | 12 | 45‍–‍25 | 33‍–‍33 |
| Toledo Maumees | 68 | 64 | .515 | 20 | 40‍–‍27 | 28‍–‍37 |
| Rochester Broncos | 63 | 63 | .500 | 22 | 40‍–‍22 | 23‍–‍41 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 15 | 19 | .441 | 24 | 8‍–‍11 | 7‍–‍8 |
| Syracuse Stars | 55 | 72 | .433 | 30½ | 30‍–‍30 | 25‍–‍42 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 54 | 78 | .409 | 34 | 36‍–‍36 | 18‍–‍42 |
| Brooklyn Gladiators | 26 | 73 | .263 | 45½ | 15‍–‍22 | 11‍–‍51 |

### National League

vteNational League :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| Brooklyn Bridegrooms | 86 | 43 | .667 | — | 58‍–‍16 | 28‍–‍27 |
| Chicago Colts | 83 | 53 | .610 | 6½ | 48‍–‍24 | 35‍–‍29 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 78 | 53 | .595 | 9 | 54‍–‍21 | 24‍–‍32 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 77 | 55 | .583 | 10½ | 50‍–‍23 | 27‍–‍32 |
| Boston Beaneaters | 76 | 57 | .571 | 12 | 43‍–‍23 | 33‍–‍34 |
| New York Giants | 63 | 68 | .481 | 24 | 37‍–‍27 | 26‍–‍41 |
| Cleveland Spiders | 44 | 88 | .333 | 43½ | 30‍–‍37 | 14‍–‍51 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 23 | 113 | .169 | 66½ | 14‍–‍25 | 9‍–‍88 |

### Players' League

vtePlayers' League :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| Boston Reds | 81 | 48 | .628 | — | 48‍–‍21 | 33‍–‍27 |
| Brooklyn Ward's Wonders | 76 | 56 | .576 | 6½ | 46‍–‍19 | 30‍–‍37 |
| New York Giants | 74 | 57 | .565 | 8 | 47‍–‍19 | 27‍–‍38 |
| Chicago Pirates | 75 | 62 | .547 | 10 | 46‍–‍23 | 29‍–‍39 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 68 | 63 | .519 | 14 | 35‍–‍30 | 33‍–‍33 |
| Pittsburgh Burghers | 60 | 68 | .469 | 20½ | 37‍–‍28 | 23‍–‍40 |
| Cleveland Infants | 55 | 75 | .423 | 26½ | 31‍–‍30 | 24‍–‍45 |
| Buffalo Bisons | 36 | 96 | .273 | 46½ | 23‍–‍42 | 13‍–‍54 |

## Postseason
### Bracket

| World's Championship Series | World's Championship Series | World's Championship Series | World's Championship Series | World's Championship Series | World's Championship Series | World's Championship Series | World's Championship Series | World's Championship Series |
| AA | Louisville Colonels | 0 | 3 | 7$^8$ | 5 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
| NL | Brooklyn Bridegrooms | 9$^8$ | 5 | 7$^8$ | 4 | 7 | 8 | 2 |

## Managerial changes
### Off-season

| Team | Former Manager | New Manager |
| Baltimore Orioles | Billy Barnie | Team transferred to minor league Atlantic Association |
| Boston Beaneaters | Jim Hart | Frank Selee |
| Cincinnati Reds | Gus Schmelz | Tom Loftus |
| Cleveland Spiders | Tom Loftus | Gus Schmelz |
| Indianapolis Hoosiers | Jack Glasscock | Team folded |
| Kansas City Cowboys | Bill Watkins | Team folded |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | Ned Hanlon | Guy Hecker |
| St. Louis Browns | Charles Comiskey | Tommy McCarthy |
| Washington Nationals | Arthur Irwin | Team folded |

### In-season

| Team | Former Manager | New Manager |
| Baltimore Orioles | Team transferred from minor league Atlantic Association | Billy Barnie |
| Brooklyn Gladiators | Jim Kennedy | Team folded |
| Cleveland Spiders | Gus Schmelz | Robert Leadley |
| Columbus Solons | Al Buckenberger | Gus Schmelz |
| Columbus Solons | Gus Schmelz | Pat Sullivan |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Harry Wright | Jack Clements |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Jack Clements | Al Reach |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Al Reach | Bob Allen |
| St. Louis Browns | Tommy McCarthy | John Kerins |
| St. Louis Browns | John Kerins | James Roseman |
| St. Louis Browns | James Roseman | Count Campau |
| St. Louis Browns | Count Campau | Joe Gerhardt |
| Syracuse Stars | Wallace Fessenden | George Frazier |

## League leaders

Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.

### American Association

Hitting leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Jimmy Wolf (LOU) | .363 |
| OPS | Denny Lyons (PHA) | .992 |
| HR | Count Campau (STL) | 9 |
| RBI | Spud Johnson (COL) | 113 |
| R | Jim McTamany (COL) | 140 |
| H | Jimmy Wolf (LOU) | 197 |
| SB | Tommy McCarthy (STL) | 83 |
Pitching leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | Sadie McMahon (BAL/PHA) | 36 |
| L | Bob Barr (ROC) John Keefe (SYR) | 24 |
| ERA | Scott Stratton (LOU) | 2.36 |
| K | Sadie McMahon (BAL/PHA) | 291 |
| IP | Sadie McMahon (BAL/PHA) | 509.0 |
| SV | Herb Goodall (LOU) | 4 |
| WHIP | Scott Stratton (LOU) | 1.065 |

### National League

Hitting leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Jack Glasscock (NYN) | .336 |
| OPS | Mike Tiernan (NYN) | .880 |
| HR | Thomas Burns (BKB) Mike Tiernan (NYN) Walt Wilmot (CHC) | 13 |
| RBI | Thomas Burns (BKB) | 128 |
| R | Hub Collins (BKB) | 148 |
| H | Jack Glasscock (NYN) Sam Thompson (PHP) | 172 |
| SB | Sam Thompson (PHP) | 102 |
Pitching leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | Bill Hutchinson (CHC) | 41 |
| L | Amos Rusie (NYN) | 34 |
| ERA | Billy Rhines (CIN) | 1.95 |
| K | Amos Rusie (NYN) | 341 |
| IP | Bill Hutchinson (CHC) | 603.0 |
| SV | Dave Foutz (BKB) Kid Gleason (PHP) Bill Hutchinson (CHC) | 2 |
| WHIP | Billy Rhines (CIN) | 1.121 |

### Players' League

Hitting leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Pete Browning (CLI) | .373 |
| OPS | Roger Connor (NYP) | .998 |
| HR | Hardy Richardson (BSR) | 16 |
| RBI | Hardy Richardson (BSR) | 152 |
| R | Hugh Duffy (CHP) | 161 |
| H | Hugh Duffy (CHP) | 191 |
| SB | Harry Stovey (BSR) | 97 |
Pitching leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | Mark Baldwin (CHP) | 33 |
| L | George Haddock (BUF) | 26 |
| ERA | Silver King (CHP) | 2.69 |
| K | Mark Baldwin (CHP) | 206 |
| IP | Mark Baldwin (CHP) | 492.0 |
| SV | George Hemming (BWW/CLI) Hank O'Day (NYP) | 3 |
| WHIP | Harry Staley (PIB) | 1.213 |

## Home field attendance

Only records for National League teams are available.
| Team name | Wins | %± | Home attendance | Per game |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 78 | 23.8% | 148,366 | 1,952 |
| Boston Beaneaters | 76 | −8.4% | 147,539 | 2,235 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 77 | 1.3% | 131,980 | 1,808 |
| Brooklyn Grooms | 86 | −7.5% | 121,412 | 1,641 |
| Chicago Colts | 83 | 23.9% | 102,536 | 1,386 |
| New York Giants | 63 | −24.1% | 60,667 | 919 |
| Cleveland Spiders | 44 | −27.9% | 47,478 | 678 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 23 | −62.3% | 16,064 | 402 |