National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs in 1897

Introduction

The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) was established in 1876 (147 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.

1897 was Season 22 of play for the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) and took place 126 years ago.

Classification

Major League

Season Length

April 19, 1897 to October 3, 1897

Season Champion

Baltimore Orioles

# of Teams

Season Standings

Season Playoffs

In 1897, 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 Baltimore Orioles defeated the 1st placed Boston Beaneaters 4 games to 1 to win the 4th and final Temple Cup.

World Series

There was no World Series Championship, with the last being played the 1891 Season, 132 years ago.

Events in Baseball (Thanks to Wikipedia)

Notable seasons

Baltimore Orioles right fielder Willie Keeler led the NL in batting average (.424) and hits (239). He was second in the NL in total bases (304), slugging percentage (.539), adjusted OPS+ (164), and runs scored (145). He was third in the NL in on-base percentage (.464).
Boston Beaneaters pitcher Kid Nichols had a win–loss record of 31–11 and led the NL in innings pitched (368), wins (31), and adjusted ERA+ (168). He was second in the NL in earned run average (2.64). He was fifth in the NL in strikeouts (127).

January – December

June 24 – Dick Harley of the St. Louis Browns collects six hits in one game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 29 – The Chicago Colts defeat the Louisville Colonels 36-7 – still the record for the most runs by one team in a game.^[5]
July 18 – Cap Anson of the Chicago Colts collects his 3,000th career hit with a single off of Baltimore Orioles pitcher George Blackburn.
September 18 – Cy Young pitches the first no-hitter of his career as the Cleveland Spiders defeat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-0, in the first game of a doubleheader.