American Association (1882-1891)

The American Association was a major professional baseball league in the United States. The league was founded in 1882 with six teams in the United States. The league had since expanded to eight teams (with an additional expansion team set for the following season) in the United States by the time it merged into the National League as the National League and American Association after the 1891 season.

Map

Final Teams (1891)

TeamVenueMunicipality
Baltimore OriolesUnion ParkBaltimore
Boston Red StockingsCongress Street GroundsBoston
Columbus SolonsRecreation Park (1889)Columbus, Ohio
Louisville ColonelsEclipse Park (1874)Louisville, Kentucky
Milwaukee BrewersBorchert FieldMilwaukee
Philadelphia AthleticsForepaugh ParkPhiladelphia
St. Louis BrownsSportsman’s Park (1881)St. Louis
Washington SenatorsBoundary FieldWashington

Franchise Histories

  • Baltimore Canaries (1882)
  • Cincinnati Reds (1882-1889) → Transferred to National League
  • Louisville Eclipse (1882-1884) → Louisville Colonels (1885-1891) → Transferred to National League and American Association
  • Philadelphia Athletics (1882-1890)
  • Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1882-1886) → Transferred to National League
  • St. Louis Browns (1882-1891) resumed operations from National League → Transferred to National League and American Association
  • Baltimore Orioles (1883-1889)
  • Columbus Buckeyes (1883-1884)
  • New York Metropolitans (1883-1887) → Merged into Brooklyn Bridegrooms
  • Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers (1884-1887) → Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888-1889) → Transferred to National League
  • Indianapolis Hoosiers (1884)
  • Toledo Blues (1884)
  • Washington Statesmen (1884-mid-season 1884) → Richmond Virginias (mid-season 1884-1884)
  • Cleveland Spiders (1887-1888) → Transferred to National League
  • Kansas City Cowboys (1888-1889)
  • Columbus Solons (1889-1891)
  • Brooklyn Gladiators (1890-mid-season 1890) → Baltimore Orioles (mid-season 1890-1891) → Transferred to National League and American Association
  • Rochester Flower Citys (1890)
  • Syracuse Stars (1890)
  • Toledo Maumees (1890)
  • Boston Red Stockings (1891) former Boston Braves from Players’ National League
  • Cincinnati King Kelly’s Killers (1891-mid-season 1891) → Milwaukee Brewers (mid-season 1891-1891)
  • Philadelphia Athletics (1891) former Philadelphia Quakers from Players’ National League
  • Washington Senators (1891) → Transferred to National League and American Association
  • Chicago (1892-DNP)

Seasons and Champions

SeasonAmerican Association Championship
1882Cincinnati Reds
1883Philadelphia Athletics
1884New York Metropolitans
1885St. Louis Browns
1886St. Louis Browns
1887St. Louis Browns
1888St. Louis Browns
1889Brooklyn Bridegrooms
1890Louisville Colonels
1891Boston Red Stockings