4/25/2022 UPDATE: ALL 19TH-CENTURY SEASONS (1871-1900) HAVE BEEN “REPLAYED” — RESULTS BELOW!
SOME TINKERING ASIDE, THE BASICS ARE IN PLACE ON THIS PAGE (3/21/22)
3/24/2022 UPDATE (A “TINKERING” FOUND TO BE NECESSARY: SOMEONE FAILED TO INCLUDE “BID” MCPHEE ON THE 19TH-CENTURY HONOR ROLL. THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ERROR, AND REST ASSURED THAT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE IS HANGING HIS HEAD IN SHAME. WHICH IS MAKING IT HARD TO TYPE. SORRY, RELATIVES AND FANS OF MCPHEE. PLEASE FIND THE CORRECTED GRAPHIC BELOW)
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Because “base ball” — that’s how it was spelled in the early days, with the space between — was largely a different kind of game when compared to “modern baseball,” the 19th-Century era is being set apart here at RetroPlay.net with its own page. Please find posted on this page everything that relates to what was later called, “Major League Baseball” in its formative years from 1871 through 1900; this is the RetroPlay system’s “Era I.” The first 30 of MLB’s first 150 years (1871 through 2020) will be covered specifically right here, though some content will also be included (copied) as part of the overall, five-era picture on pages dealing with all-time rankings and virtual awards.
Several weeks ago, we supplied a substantial “down payment” of sorts: the first batch of pertinent data (and free-download opportunities). These are the “meat and potatoes” files on which the RetroPlay system is built.
The first item is a RetroPlay system player directory of all qualified 19th-Century “major-leaguers” (qualified by a minimum of 10 plate appearances or 9 innings pitched in any single historical season between 1871 and 1900 inclusive). Abbreviations used and form-key for these files, by column:
PLAYER=Last name and first/nickname; BP=BirthPlace; REG=Regional affiliation; CW=Career WAR; POS=(primary) Position(s); POS (2)=(other) Position(s); AVG FULL SEASON WAR=Career WAR calculated to reflect average full-season (per-162-games played) rate; RPR=RetroPlay Rating (CW x (per-162-games) = RPR); RC=Regional Code; PC=Positional Code (by official scorecard position-numbering, in order of frequency; RED print (in the grids/30-year spreadsheets) indicates an extra-national player — “foreign-born” — given a place to play with New England or New York in this system.
Download the Excel file (top link) or the PDF (below that):
The second item is the “O-1” file referred to in each version of the directory posted above. This is the first of ten 30-year spreadsheets that lay out the statistical story, column-by-column; 30 columns of data across each landscape-oriented page. Each of those ten “grids” is packed with name/birthplace/position information and three types of WAR values: year-by-year in the cells and both career WAR and per-162-games rates on either margin (left/right, wherever it fits best on the player’s horizontal row). You might be of the opinion that this presentation is “too busy” or unduly cluttered — and I might agree, depending on the day and my mindset at the time — but the idea was to get the majority of data needed/sought by season-re-players (like myself) onto a single page. All in all, it seems to me that the ability to read up-and-down in the columns to see just who would’ve been teammates in any given year (by sharing a birthplace), or to scan across in the row to get a snapshot view of a player’s career arc (trends, debut year, best year, last year, etc.) will be increasingly valued with regular, intuitive use. I think you’ll be glad all of that “stuff” has been included for the sake of easier season-simulation personnel decisions, but you can always edit out anything you see as “clutter” on your downloaded version of the Excel spreadsheet, right? Remember: RED print (in the grids/30-year spreadsheets) indicates an extra-national player — “foreign-born” — given a place to play with New England or New York in this system.
In any case, here are, in order, the Excel and PDF downloadable versions of the OBL-1 (O-1) grid:

Anyone who is familiar with the history of professional “base ball” in America will probably agree with the general observation that the 19th-Century game was a whole different animal from today’s game. If we want to be as broad-minded as possible and concentrate on the elements that have survived for 150 years — a ball and a deliverer of pitches; a bat and a swatter of pitches; four bases to circle, and fielders to cope with batted balls and moving base-runners, for example — then, yes, it’s the same ball game. But when you consider that other, very basic elements have been affected by dozens of major changes, and that most of the changing — of rules, pitching distances, game-scheduling practices, team sizes, and even on-field positioning — occurred within the 19th Century, it becomes apparent in a hurry that we’re talking about a different context and different circumstances. Yet, … there will always be those who can be identified as the stand-out best in a given context, and the aim here is to name the players to whom the numbers point (i.e., WAR values and RetroPlay Ratings) as a cut above the rest. It’s quite possible that I’m breaking the “laws” of methodology and “sabermetric science” by applying modern performance measurements where they don’t belong/fit, but I lack both the mathematical ability and the drive to get all of that precisely right, so… let the chips fall where they may, I say. Here’s my Early Baseball/19th Century “wing” of my virtual Hall Of Fame. Keep in mind: Only those with 5 or more seasons played between 1871 and 1900 inclusive were considered, and only those stats that were accumulated between those two endpoints were used. The idea is basically this: if voting was done in early 1901, and it was based solely on career, on-field accomplishments through 1900 — regardless of what followed — which players would make the honor roll? Here is my answer to the question, a 45-member Gallery of Greats:

In order to make further amends to the great Bid McPhee, it should be noted that the other “inductees” were included in order of their RPR (RetroPlay Rating), so to be fair, McPhee should follow Keeler and be ahead of Richardson on the roll. Just FYI, tying up loose ends in my persnickety way.
That’s our whole business for this page on March 24, 2022. Be sure to roam around RetroPlay Park — every nook and cranny — as the place is spruced up and the names and numbers keep going up on display.

3/25/2022 UPDATE: Added my new-best-friend logo above; yes, I’m kinda pleased with it.
4/25/2022 UPDATE: ALL 19TH-CENTURY SEASONS HAVE BEEN “REPLAYED” — RESULTS BELOW!
“REPLAY”/SEASON-SIMULATION RESULTS (W.A.R.-BASED, BIRTHPLACE-DETERMINED TEAMS)
1871 – Parameters: 24 league games each, 12-man rosters
- NEW YORK (EXCELSIORS) 19–5 .760 Key players: Zettlein (4.5), Ross Barnes (2.1)
- PENNSYLVANIA (FOUNDERS) 11-13 .458 Dick McBride (3.4), Pratt (1.9), Meyerle (1.7)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 9–15 .375 Al Spalding (3.5), Cal McVey (1.7)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 9–15 .375 Rynie Wolters (4.4), George Hall (1.1)
1872 – Parameters: 40 league games each, 14-man rosters
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 25-15 .625 Zettlein (6.1), Barnes (4.3), G. Wright (3.0)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 24-16 .600 Spalding (12.5), Mathews (5.4), J. Hatfield (2.5)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 18-22 .450 McBride (4.7), Cherokee Fisher (2.2)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 13-27 .325 Candy Cummings (8.0), George Hall (1.5)
1873 – Parameters: 48 league games each, 14-man rosters
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 38-10 .792 Zettlein (7.8), Barnes (4.9), G. Wright (3.3)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 29-19 .604 Mathews (9.6), Spalding (9.2), Anson (2.0)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 15-33 .313 McBride (6.3), Meyerle (1.7), Fulmer (1.3)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 14-34 .292 Cummings (7.9), Jim O’Rourke (1.8)
1874 – Parameters: 56 league games each, 14-man rosters
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 40-16 .714 Mathews (13.7), Spalding (10.7), McVey (3.0)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 31-25 .554 Zettlein (3.1), G. Wright (2.8), Pearce (2.5)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 22-34 .393 McBride (6.3), Fisher (4.2), Meyerle (2.2)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 19-37 .339 Cummings (6.3), Jim O’Rourke (2.3)
1875 – Parameters: 60 league games each, 14-man rosters
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 34-26 .567 Zettlein (7.6), Barnes (5.2), Deacon White (4.4)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 31-29 .517 Spalding (14.2), Mathews (7.5), McVey (4.5)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 28-32 .467 Cummings (11.7), Tommy Bond (11.5)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 27-33 .450 McBride (9.7), Fisher (7.9), George Bradley (3.6)
Composite Standings, first 5 years: NY 147-81 (.645); AI 133-95 (.583); PA 93-135 (.408); NEA 83-145 (.364)
1876 – Parameters: 60 league games each scheduled, but NY had to cut season short at 30 games (ran out of pitchers)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 39-21 .650 Jim Devlin (18.3), Bradley (9.2), Battin (3.5)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 30-30 .500 Spalding (10.2), Anson (3.7), McVey (3.5)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 25-35 .417 Bond (10.4), Cummings (3.5), O’Rourke, Hall (2.5)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 11-19 .367 Barnes (2.8), D. White (1.8), G. Wright (1.6)
1877 – Parameters: 48 league games each, still 14-man rosters
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 29-19 .604 D. White (3.4), Start (2.6), T. Larkin (2.3)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 28-20 .583 Bond (11.4), Tricky Nichols (3.1), O’Rourke (2.6)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 23-25 .479 Devlin (13.5), Bradley (2.8), Orator Shafer (1.8)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 16-32 .333 Charley Jones (2.3), Anson (2.2), Gerhardt (2.1)
1878 – Parameters: 56 league games each scheduled, but Independents only made it through 20 games (same problem as New York, 1876)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 31-25 .554 T. Larkin (5.6), Ferguson (3.1), White, Start (2.4)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 30-26 .536 Sam Weaver (10.2), John Ward (4.7), Shafer (3.5)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 27-29 .482 Bond (13.4), Jim McCormick (2.1), Higham (2.0)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 6-14 .300 Hines (2.8), C. Jones (2.8), Gerhardt (2.5)
1879 – Parameters: 72 league games each, still 14-man rosters
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 44-28 .611 Bond (14.3), McCormick (9.8), John O’Rourke (3.5)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 40-32 .556 T. Larkin (4.9), Harry McCormick (4.6), Wright (4.3)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 34-38 .472 Galvin (9.0), C. Jones (4.5), Hines (4.4)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 26-46 .361 Ward (9.2), Williamson (4.2), Flint (3.2)
1880 – Parameters: 72 league games each, still 14-man rosters
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 42-30 .583 J. McCormick (10.8), Gore (4.6), Tim Keefe (4.6)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 37-35 .514 Lee Richmond (7.3), Anson (5.1), Hines (4.2)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 34-38 .472 Ward (7.7), Bradley (4.6), Fred Dunlap (3.8)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 31-41 .431 Larry Corcoran (7.0), M. Welch (6.5), J. Clapp (3.6)
Composite Standings, first 10 years: (Titles: NY 6, NEA 2, Independents, Founders 1 each)
1. NY 289-217 (.571); 2. AI 256-244 (.512); 3. NEA 249-287 (.465); 4. PA 245-291 (.457)
1881 – Parameters: 72 league games each, still 14-man rosters; NY won tiebreaker with AI for title
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 39-33 .542 Jim Whitney (8.7), Welch (5.6), King Kelly (2.8)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 39-33 .542 Galvin (7.5), Anson (5.9), Lee Richmond (4.4)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 35-37 .486 George Derby (7.5), J. McCormick (7.0), Gore (2.5)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 31-41 .431 Charlie Bennett (4.3), Dunlap (3.9), Williamson (3.3)
1882 – Parameters: 75 league games each, first time with 15-man rosters
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 42-33 .560 Will White (11.4), Weidman (9.8), Brouthers (5.9)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 38-37 .507 Glasscock (4.9), Browning (4.5), Anson (4.4)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 37-38 .493 J. McCormick (10.9), Mullane (6.2), Connor (4.5)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 33-42 .440 Weaver (6.6), Bennett (4.2), Williamson (4.0)
1883 – Parameters: 96 league games each, 16-man rosters, 3 starting pitchers counted (first time); debut of a 5th franchise, Mid-Atlantic-and-South (MAS)
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE 65-31 .677 Keefe (20.2), McCormick (8.3), Mullane (6.4)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 63-33 .656 Radbourn (14.4), Whitney (13.5), W. White (9.2)
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS 50-46 .521 Galvin (9.8), McGinnis (5.8), Buck Ewing (4.8)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 41-55 .427 Bennett (4.9), Ward (4.6), Dunlap (4.5), Stovey (3.7)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 21-75 .219 Jack Farrell (5.3), Mathews (4.6), H. Richardson (4.1)
1884 – Parameters: 112 league games each, 16-man rosters, 3 counting pitchers, 4 new teams
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 75-37 .670 Guy Hecker (17.8), Dunlap (7.8), B. Sweeney (7.3)
- NEW ENGLAND (PILGRIMS) 73-39 .652 Buffinton (16.3), Keefe (8.3), Jim O’Rourke (4.9)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 65-47 .580 Radbourn (19.5), Whitney (8.4), Ezra Sutton (6.2)
- NEW YORK CITY (5 BOROUGHS) 54-58 .482 M. Welch (12.3), Ed Morris (8.5), Dave Orr (5.8)
- CANADA-EUROPE ALLIANCE 49-63 .438 J. McCormick (14.8), Mullane (13.3), Pop Smith (4.1)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 48-64 .429 Billy Taylor (11.5), Paul Hines (4.7), C. Jones (4.3)
- WESTERN (TRAILBLAZERS) 44-68 .393 Galvin (18.5), C. Sweeney (11.2), Anson (4.9)
- MIDWEST INDEPENDENTS 40-72 .357 Fred Pfeffer (5.5), Buck Ewing (5.0), J. Reilly (4.7)
1885 – Parameters: 110 games each scheduled, but MI only played 54; 3 pitchers counted, 16-man rosters; down to only 6 teams (NYC was one-off in ’84, and CEU dropped out, forming once more in 1890)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 79-31 .718 J. Clarkson (12.8), Roger Connor (8.2), Keefe (6.7)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 77-33 .700 E. Morris (12.7), M. Welch (10.6), Brouthers (5.2)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 65-45 .591 Hecker (8.2), Hardie Henderson (7.8), Bennett (4.5)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 42-68 .382 Caruthers (10.0), Ferguson (8.2), C. Jones (4.0)
- MIDWEST INDEPENDENTS 23-31 .426 Browning (2.6), Glasscock (2.5), Pechiney (1.7)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 16-94 .145 Anson (3.9), Fogarty (2.3), John Kirby (1.0)
1886 – Parameters: 120 league games each, 3 pitchers fully-counted, 16-man rosters, 2 new teams formed from now-defunct Midwest Independents
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 95-25 .792 Lady Baldwin (10.5), Morris (10.4), Brouthers (8.2)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 76-44 .633 Keefe (9.5), Connor (7.1), J. Clarkson (6.8)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 72-48 .600 Kilroy (6.2), Hecker (6.0), Henry Larkin (4.4)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 61-59 .508 Ferguson (11.7), Caruthers (11.5), Foutz (11.0)
- MIDWEST (debut year) 49-71 .408 Toad Ramsey (12.5), Sam Thompson (4.1)
- OHIO VALLEY (debut year) 45-75 .375 Glasscock (7.0), Cushman (3.9), Curt Welch (3.4)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 22-98 .183 Anson (7.0), Galvin (5.1), Fred Carroll (4.0)
1887 – Parameters: 120 league games each, 3 pitchers fully-counted, 16-man rosters, Western was no-go, so 3 of its players loaned to Midwest (Pud Galvin, Silver King, and Billy Gleason; all Missouri-born)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 76-44 .633 Kilroy (12.1), Elmer Smith (10.8), J. Ward (6.6)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 75-45 .625 Dan Casey (9.3), Whitney (8.3), Brouthers (5.3)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 64-56 .533 J. Clarkson (15.0), Keefe (7.5), Connor (6.2)
- OHIO VALLEY 54-66 .450 Seward (6.4), Browning (6.0), Glasscock (5.4)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 47-73 .392 Caruthers (10.7), Ferguson (10.0), B. Nash (3.9)
- MIDWEST 44-76 .367 Ramsey (7.8), Thompson (5.3), Comiskey (2.7)
1888 – Parameters: 120 league games each, 3 pitchers fully-counted, 16-man rosters; Western re-grouped and fielded an improved team that completed the full slate of league games; New England won tiebreaker with Ohio Valley for title
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 74-46 .617 Buffinton (12.0), Keefe (9.1), Connor (7.6)
- OHIO VALLEY 74-46 .617 Seward (9.9), John Reilly (5.3), Buck Ewing (4.4)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 69-51 .575 M. Welch (7.8), Brouthers (6.6), Ed Morris (5.0)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 62-58 .517 Pete Conway (6.9), Stovey (5.4), E. Smith (5.0)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 51-69 .425 Ben Sanders (8.5), Caruthers (6.6), Nash (5.3)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 50-70 .417 Silver King (16.0), Anson (6.9), Galvin (5.7)
- MIDWEST 40-80 .333 Gus Krock (6.2), Nat Hudson (4.9), Pinkney (3.6)
1889 – Parameters: 132 league games each, 3 pitchers fully-counted, 16-man rosters
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 93-39 .705 J. Clarkson (16.2), Buffinton (11.1), Tucker (6.0)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 74-58 .561 Kilroy (8.7), Henry Boyle (6.3), Stovey (5.4)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 72-60 .545 Chamberlain (9.2), Brouthers (6.2), Welch (6.2)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 68-64 .515 Duryea (9.1), S. King (8.6), Anson (6.4)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 67-65 .508 Caruthers (8.4), B. Sanders (7.5), Tiernan (5.2)
- OHIO VALLEY 58-74 .439 Glasscock (6.6), D. Lyons (5.4), G. Weyhing (3.0)
- MIDWEST 30-102 .227 Wilmot (4.0), Darby O’Brien (3.6), Staley (2.8)
1890 – Parameters: 126 league games each; 3 SPs; 16-man rosters; Canada-Europe (CEU) made second and last appearance (these players otherwise assigned to New England Alliance (1871-1883) or New York Extended (1885-1889 and 1891-1900 in the 19th Century)
- OHIO VALLEY (now, the TITANS) 84-42 .667 S. Stratton (10.8), Glasscock (7.1), H. Collins (5.6)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 71-55 .563 J. Clarkson (8.8), Hutchison (8.3), Connor (6.0)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 71-55 .563 Kid Gleason (12.0), McMahon (10.6), Childs (6.4)
- MIDWEST 68-58 .540 Kid Nichols (13.0), Rusie (8.2), Pinkney (5.5)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 68-58 .540 Rhines (10.5), Stivetts (7.6), McTamany (3.9)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 59-67 .468 S. King (12.4), Anson (5.4), Werden (5.2)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 53-73 .421 Radbourn (7.8), McPhee (5.1), M. Welch (4.8)
- CANADA-EUROPE ALLIANCE 30-96 .238 Getzien (5.4), Mullane (5.2), J. Knowles (4.2)
Composite Standings, first 20 years: (Titles: NY 9, NEA/NEL 6, Founders 3, American Independents, Ohio Valley Titans 1 each)
1. NY 939-650 (.591); 2. NEA/NEL 916-703 (.566); 3. PA 842-777 (.520); 4. OHV 315-303 (.510); 5. MAS 408-528 (.436); 6. MW 231-387 .374; 7. WST 259-461 (.360). “Extinct” franchises: 1. American Independents 383-360 (.515), 13 seasons; 2. New York City 54-58 (.482), 1884 only; 3. Midwest Independents 63-103 (.380), 1884-1885 only; 4. Canada-Europe Alliance (CEU) 79-159 (.332), ’84, ’90 only
1891 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters; back down to 7 teams
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 90-36 .714 J. Clarkson (9.9), Hutchison (9.5), Connor (5.7)
- MIDWEST 63-63 .500 Nichols (9.2), Rusie (8.7), Herman Long (4.7)
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 62-64 .492 G. Weyhing (7.8), Cy Young (6.1), Lyons (4.5)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 62-64 .492 Brouthers (5.7), McPhee (4.5), Mullane (4.1)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 58-68 .460 Stivetts (9.1), Stovey (4.5), Milligan (3.8)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 57-69 .452 McMahon (9.4), Kid Gleason (6.9)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 49-77 .389 Knell (6.1), Beckley (4.1), Crooks (4.1)
1892 – Parameters: 144 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 90-54 .625 Cy Young (13.0), Weyhing (7.4), Ewing (4.5)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 82-62 .569 Stivetts (7.1), Oyster Burns and Virtue (4.7)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 78-66 .542 Hutchison (9.1), Connor (6.3), Dwyer (5.8)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 77-67 .535 Brouthers (8.8), Dahlen (6.1), Mullane (6.0)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 63-81 .438 Childs (7.1), Kid Gleason (6.3), Hamilton (6.1)
- MIDWEST 60-84 .417 Kid Nichols (8.8), Rusie (7.2), Thompson (4.7)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 54-90 .375 Holliday (4.7), S. King (3.3), Anson (3.2)
1893 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 87-39 .690 Young (10.6), Delahanty (6.9), Kennedy (6.0)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 65-61 .516 Killen (8.5), E. Smith (5.3), Stivetts (4.6)
- MIDWEST 62-64 .492 Nichols (11.7), Rusie (11.2), Thompson (4.2)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 59-67 .468 Geo. Davis (5.7), Mullane (4.7), McGraw (4.3)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 58-68 .460 McMahon (6.1), McGill (5.6), Hamilton (5.0)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 55-71 .437 Connor (4.4), Dwyer (4.2), Hutchison (3.6)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 55-71 .437 Breitenstein (11.0), Beckley (4.6), Van Haltren (3.3)
1894 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 78-48 .619 Young (8.5), Hemming (6.5), Delahanty (6.0)
- MIDWEST 69-57 .548 Rusie (13.7), Meekin (11.1), Thompson (5.3)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 63-63 .500 Duffy (6.8), Joe Kelley (6.5), Dwyer (4.6)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 62-64 .492 G. Davis (5.4), McGraw (4.9), Carsey (2.4)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 59-67 .468 Breitenstein (9.1), Griffith (5.9), Joyce (4.0)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 56-70 .444 Stivetts (5.8), Jennings (4.8), E. Smith (4.1)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 54-72 .429 Hamilton (8.2), “Brewery” Jack Taylor (6.3)
1895 – Parameters: 132 league games each, 4 fully-counted pitchers okay, 17-man rosters
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 87-45 .659 Young (11.6), Delahanty (6.9), Stenzel (5.3)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 81-51 .614 Griffith (9.3), Hoffer (7.9), Bill Lange (5.4)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 64-68 .485 Kelley (5.9), Dwyer (4.8), A. Terry (4.6)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 62-70 .470 Jennings (7.5), Maul (4.9), Cartwright (4.3)
- MIDWEST 58-74 .439 Hawley (11.0), Nichols (9.5), S. Thompson (6.0)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 57-75 .432 Mike Griffin (5.6), Keeler (5.3), Dad Clarke (4.9)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 53-79 .402 Hamilton (6.1), J. Taylor (5.3), Foreman (4.6)
1896 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, back to 16-man rosters
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 85-41 .675 Young (10.5), Delahanty (7.3), Ehret (5.8)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 77-49 .611 Killen (8.4), Jennings (8.3), E. Smith (5.7)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 69-57 .548 Hoffer (8.3), Griffith (6.4), Joyce (6.2)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 54-72 .429 Dwyer (7.6), Kelley (7.0), Connor (2.8)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 54-72 .429 Dahlen (7.1), Keeler (5.3), G. Davis (4.6)
- MIDWEST 53-73 .421 Cuppy (10.4), Hawley (8.3), H. Long (4.0)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 49-77 .389 Childs (6.2), Hamilton (5.8), Z. Wilson (3.5)
1897 – Parameters: 126 league games each, 3 fully-counted pitchers, 16-man rosters
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 72-54 .571 Breitenstein (8.0), Fred Clarke (6.6)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 70-56 .556 Keeler (7.1), G. Davis (6.9), J. Collins (5.3)
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 67-59 .532 Young (6.7), Delahanty (5.7), Mercer (5.1)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 63-63 .500 Lajoie (5.2), Dwyer (5.1), Kelley (5.1)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 62-64 .492 Jennings (7.3), Rhines (4.2), Wallace (4.2)
- MIDWEST 61-65 .484 Nichols (11.1), Rusie (8.3), Reitz (3.4)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 46-80 .365 Hamilton (4.9), J. Taylor (4.0), Childs (3.7)
1898 – Parameters: 138 league games each, 4 fully-counted pitchers, 17-man rosters
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 91-47 .659 Tannehill (7.4), Young (7.3), Delahanty (6.2)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 77-61 .558 Griffith (10.5), Gene Demontreville (5.0)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 75-63 .543 McGraw (7.1), J. Collins (6.9), T. Lewis (6.9)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 73-65 .529 Maul (7.7), Jennings (7.5), Wallace (4.7)
- MIDWEST 66-72 .478 Nichols (11.1), Hawley (5.4), L. Cross (4.5)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 56-82 .406 Jimmy Ryan (4.3), Dwyer (4.0), Kelley (3.8)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 45-93 .326 McJames (7.5), Bert Cunningham (7.2)
1899 – Parameters: 138 league games each, 4/17 (same as 1898)
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 98-40 .710 Young (8.3), Tannehill (8.1), Delahanty (8.0)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 75-63 .543 Jay Hughes (7.9), Jimmy Williams (6.9)
- MIDWEST 71-67 .514 McGinnity (8.4), Kitson (8.1), C. Stahl (5.5)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 70-68 .507 Honus Wagner (5.8), Jack Dunn (3.9)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 68-70 .493 McGraw (8.0), Seymour (5.3), Davis (4.9)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 51-87 .370 Tenney (5.3), Kelley (4.5), Callahan (4.1)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 50-88 .362 Vic Willis (10.1), Hahn (7.8), Keister (3.7)
1900 – Parameters: Schedule reduced to 120 league games, 16-man rosters (pitchers counted as needed to cover starts)
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 103-17 .858 Young (7.3), Flick (5.9), Burkett (5.3)
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 68-52 .567 Griffith (5.0), Beckley (4.3), Orth (4.2)
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 61-59 .508 Dinneen (6.9), McGraw (5.3), Davis (4.1)
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 60-60 .500 Wagner (6.4), Waddell (3.5), Thomas (3.1)
- MIDWEST 58-62 .483 McGinnity (5.1), Nichols (4.6), Long (2.4)
- MID-ATLANTIC-SOUTH 38-82 .317 Hahn (6.2), Phillippe (4.8), Hamilton (4.2)
- NEW ENGLAND PILGRIMS 32-88 .267 Lajoie (4.2), Kelley (3.5), R. Donahue (2.1)
COMPOSITE RESULTS FOR THE 19TH CENTURY (1871 through 1900)
- OHIO VALLEY TITANS 1163 – 757 .606 9 Titles in 15 seasons
- NEW YORK EXCELSIORS 1584 – 1307 .548 9 Titles in 30 seasons
- NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE/PILGRIMS 1522 – 1399 .521 7 Titles in 30 seasons
- PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS 1507 – 1414 .516 3 Titles in 30 seasons
- WESTERN TRAILBLAZERS 918 – 1104 .454 1 Title in 15 seasons
- MIDWEST 852 – 1068 .444 0 Titles in 15 seasons
- MID-ATLANTIC (and) SOUTH 921 – 1317 .412 0 Titles in 18 seasons
Among franchises no longer in operation:
- AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS (1871-1883) 383 – 360 .515 1 Title in 13 seasons
- NEW YORK CITY (5 Boroughs) 54 – 58 .482 in 1884 only
- MIDWEST INDEPENDENTS (1884-1885) 63 – 103 .380 1885-1886 only
- CANADA-EUROPE ALLIANCE (CEU) 79 – 159 .332 1884 and 1890 only
Okay, we’re all caught up with OBL history as “replayed” through the first 30 years. The “staff” will continue to work through the years 1901-1930, and that will bring to a close the 19th-Century era and the first 30-year era of the 20th Century. After this update, there will probably be a fairly good chunk of “down” time (NON-posting period) for the Era II page (1901-1930) and the site in general (a yard to be weeded, garden to plant, and other activities that will have to take priority). Some re-formatting of this page will probably be in order, but that will do it for now; just wanted to get those results up ASAP. RetroPlay/Baseball 150.com guy out…