National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs in 1895

Introduction

The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) was established in 1876 (149 years ago) when a number of its teams broke away from the NA. The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) was formed in Chicago, Illinois, by businessman and owner of the Chicago Base Ball Club (now known as the Chicago Cubs), William Hulbert, for the purpose of replacing the NA, which he believed to have been corrupt, mismanaged, full of rowdy, drunken ballplayers, and under the influence of the gambling community. One of the new rules put into place by the new league was that all teams had to be located in cities that had a population of 75,000 or more.

1895 was Season 20 of play for the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) and took place 130 years ago.

Classification

Major League

Season Length

April 18, 1895 to September 30, 1895

Season Champion

Baltimore Orioles

# of Teams

Season Standings

Season Playoffs

In 1895, the National League had the top two teams in the standings at the end of the year play a best of seven series for the Temple Cup. The Pirates’ president, William Chase Temple, had an $800 trophy minted and he donated it to the league. Much like the long running Stanley Cup and the Temple Cup’s baseball predecessor, the Dauvray Cup (awarded 1887–1893), there was only one actual Temple Cup to be passed along to each baseball season’s winning team and city.

The 2nd placed Cleveland Spiders defeated the 1st placed Baltimore Orioles 4 games to 1 to win the 2nd Temple Cup.

World Series

There was no World Series Championship, with the last being played the 1891 Season, 134 years ago.

Events in Baseball (Thanks to Wikipedia)

Notable seasons

Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Sam Thompson led the NL in home runs (18), total bases (352), slugging percentage (.654), and runs batted in (165). He was second in the NL in adjusted OPS+ (176). He was third in the NL in hits (211). He was fourth in the NL in batting average (.392).
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Pink Hawley had a win–loss record of 31–22 and led the NL in innings pitched (444.1) and shutouts (4). He was second in the NL in wins (31) and earned run average (3.18). He was third in the NL in strikeouts (142). He was fifth in the NL in adjusted ERA+ (143).

January – December

February 27 – Responding to the complaints of senior citizens like Cap Anson, the National League restricts the size of gloves for all fielders, save catchers and first basemen, to 10 ounces, with a maximum circumference of 14 inches around the palm (less than 4½ inches across). The league also rescinds the rule forbidding intentional discoloring of the ball, thus allowing players to dirty the baseball to their satisfaction.
August 16 – Tommy Dowd of the St. Louis Browns hits for the cycle in an 8–5 win over the Louisville Colonels.
September 30 – Washington Senators first baseman Ed Cartwright hits for the cycle against the Boston Beaneaters.