1899

Introduction

The year is 1899. It is the beginning of organized sports leagues in North America. The National League returns for another year of play, being the first-ever Major Sports League in the Big Sports. The Western League, an Elite League operates in a state of subversive-partnership with the National League, indirectly competing with it.

The Canadian Amateur Hockey League replaces the the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada as the new Elite League for Hockey. Competition for top talent in Hockey remains as the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, as a Top Player League, returns for play after a two year hiatus.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit returns for another year of play, as the first Top Player League for Football.

In Basketball we see the establishment and expansion of the sport with the National Basketball League, the first-ever organized Top Player League  for Basketball. The sport was created only in 1891 and did not follow Baseball and Hockey, skipping the Proto-League and Elite League stages. Instead a professional top league was created with none of its teams helping development of an Elite or Major level league, thus leaving no legacy. Play started in December 1898 but as most of the games happened in 1899, FanSeeStats will track by that year.

This would be the first time we see league play across all of the Big Sports.


New Leagues

The Canadian Amateur Hockey League (CAHL) was formed 125 years ago, to replace the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) when the member clubs disagreed with admitting certain teams to the league.

The National Basketball League (NBL) was formed 126 years ago, creating the first Top-Player League for Basketball. (source)


Leagues in Operation

Year 24 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 125 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 17 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 125 years ago.


Year 10 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 125 years ago.


Year 6 of play for the Western League (WL) took place 125 years ago.


Year 2 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL) took place 125 years ago.


Year 1 of play for the Canadian Amateur Hockey League (CAHL) took place 125 years ago.


Year 1 of play for the National Basketball League (NBL) took place 125 years ago. (source)


Leagues that Folded

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) folded when its teams left to create the Canadian Amateur Hockey League (CAHL), 125 years ago.


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball


NL Champion: Brooklyn Superbas
WL Champion: Indianapolis Hoosiers

Hockey

CAHL Champion: Montreal Shamrocks

Football

WPPFC Champion: Duquesne Country and Athletic Club

Basketball

NBL Champion: Trenton Nationals

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1898

Introduction

The year is 1898. It is the beginning of organized sports leagues in North America. The National League returns for another year of play, being the first-ever Major Sports League in the Big Sports. The Western League, an Elite League operates in a state of subversive-partnership with the National League, indirectly competing with it.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada returns for another year of play, as the Elite League for Hockey. Competition for top talent in Hockey had a reprieve when the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, as a Top Player League, had to take a hiatus for another year.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit returns for another year of play, as the first Top Player League for Football.

In Basketball we see the establishment and expansion of the sport with the National Basketball League, the first-ever organized, Top Player League for Basketball. The details for this league will follow in 1899 since the vast majority of play took place in in 1899, with play beginning in December 1898.

This would be the first time we see league play across all of the Big Sports.


New Leagues

n/a


Leagues in Operation

Year 23 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 126 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 16 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 126 years ago.


Year 12 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 126 years ago.


Year 9 of play for the  Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 126 years ago.


Year 5 of play for the Western League (WL) took place 126 years ago.


Year 2 of play on hold for the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL) 126 years ago due to fire at the indoor ice facility.


Leagues that Folded

n/a


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball


NL Champion: Boston Beaneaters
WL Champion: Kansas City Blues

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Victorias

Football

WPPFC Champion: Duquesne Country and Athletic Club

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1897

Introduction

The year is 1897. It is the early beginnings of organized sports leagues in North America. The National League returns for another year of play, being the first-ever Major Sports League in the Big Sports. The Western League, an Elite League operates in a state of subversive-partnership with the National League, indirectly competing with it.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada returns for another year of play, as the first Elite League for Hockey. Competition for top talent in Hockey had a reprieve when the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, as a Top Player League, had to take a hiatus for the year.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit returns for another year of play, as the first  Top Player League for Football.


New Leagues

n/a


Leagues in Operation

Year 22 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 127 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 15 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 127 years ago.


Year 11 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 127 years ago.


Year 8 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 127 years ago.


Year 4 of play for the Western League (WL) took place 127 years ago.


Year 2 of play on hold for the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL) 127 years ago due to fire at the indoor ice facility.


Leagues that Folded

n/a


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball


NL Champion: Boston Beaneaters
NL Temple Cup: Baltimore Orioles
WL Champion:  Indianapolis Hoosiers

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Victorias

Football

WPPFC Champion: Greensburg Athletic Association

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1896

Introduction

The year is 1896. It is the early beginnings of organized sports leagues in North America. The National League returns for another year of play, being the first-ever Major Sports League in the Big Sports. The Western League, an Elite League operates in a state of subversive-partnership with the National League, indirectly competing with it.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada returns for another year of play, as the first Elite League for Hockey. Competition for top talent in Hockey intensifies when the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League is formed as a Top Player League.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit returns for another year of play, as the first Top Player League for Football.


New Leagues

The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL) is formed 128 years ago, expanding Hockey to the United States and creating the first professional Hockey league.


Leagues in Operation

Year 21 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 128 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 14 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 128 years ago.


Year 10 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 128 years ago.


Year 7 of play for the  Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 128 years ago.


Year 3 of play for the Western League (WL) took place 128 years ago.


Year 1 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL) took place 128 years ago.


Leagues that Folded

n/a


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball


NL Champion: Baltimore Orioles
NL Temple Cup: Baltimore Orioles
WL Champion: Minneapolis Millers

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Victorias

Football

WPPFC Champion: Allegheny Athletic Association

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1895

Introduction

The year is 1895. It is the early beginnings of organized sports leagues in North America. The National League returns for another year of play, being the first-ever Major Sports League in the Big Sports. The Western League, an Elite League operates in a state of subversive-partnership with the National League, indirectly competing with it.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada returns for another year of play, as the first Elite League for Hockey.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit returns for another year of play, as the first Top-Player League for Football.


New Leagues

n/a


Leagues in Operation

Year 20 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 129 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 13 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 129 years ago.


Year 9 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 129 years ago.


Year 6 of play for the  Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 129 years ago.


Year 2 of play for the Western League (WL) took place 129 years ago.


Leagues that Folded

n/a


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball


NL Champion: Baltimore Orioles
NL Temple Cup: Cleveland Spiders
WL Champion: Indianapolis Hoosiers

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Victorias

Football

WPPFC Champion: Duquesne Country and Athletic Club

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1894

Introduction

The year is 1894. It is the early beginnings of organized sports leagues in North America. The National League returns for another year of play, being the first-ever Major Sports League in the Big Sports.

A new Elite League in Baseball, the Western League, is formed and is worthy of note because this league would eventually become a new Major League, when it eventually becomes the American League. FanSeeStats will disagree with other sources that considers the Western League to be only a Top Minor League.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada returns for another year of play, as the first Elite League for Hockey.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit returns for another year of play, as the first Top-Player League for Football.

The first sports league not associated with the Big Sports of Baseball, Hockey, and Football is created by the moguls behind Baseball’s National League. The American League of Professional Football did not survive its first season and is listed only because of it being a historical first. This league’s lack of legacy qualifies it to be a member of the Obsolete League Roster.


New Leagues

The Western League (WL) is formed to support Baseball in non-National League markets, 130 years ago. It would go on to eventually form the American League and become a competitor against the National League.

The American League of Professional Football (ALPF) was a Soccer league (known as Association Football in the rest of the world) formed 130 years ago.


Leagues in Operation

Year 19 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 130 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 12 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 130 years ago.


Year 8 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 130 years ago.


Year 5 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 130 years ago.


Year 1 of play for the Western League (WL) took place 130 years ago.


Leagues that Folded

The American League of Professional Football (ALPF) was a Soccer league (known as Association Football in the rest of the world) that folded 130 years ago. Despite it being formed by the moguls behind Baseball’s National League the ALPF folded before it finished its first season. (source)


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball


NL Champion: Baltimore Orioles
NL Temple Cup: New York Giants
WL Champion: Sioux City Cornhuskers

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Hockey Club

Football

WPPFC Champion: Allegheny Athletic Association

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1893

Introduction

The year is 1893. It is the early beginnings of organized sports leagues in North America. The National League returns for another year of play, being the first-ever Major Sports League in the Big Four Sports.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada returns for another year of play, as the first Elite League for Hockey. This was also the first year that the Stanley Cup, then known as the Dominion Challenge Cup was introduced for championship play.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit returns for another year of play, as the first Top-Player League for Football.


New Leagues

Check out Stanley Cup Challenge Era for details about the introduction of the Stanley Cup as a national championship of Canada. While this was not a league, it was the first inter-league championship trophy for Hockey being equivalent to Baseball’s World Series.


Leagues in Operation

Year 18 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 131 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 11 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 131 years ago.


Year 7 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 131 years ago.


Year 4 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 131 years ago.


Leagues that Folded

n/a


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball

NL Champion: Boston Beaneaters

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Hockey Club

Football

WPPFC Champion: Inconclusive between Allegheny Athletic Association and Pittsburgh Athletic Club

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1892

Introduction

The year is 1892. It is the early beginnings of organized sports leagues in North America with Baseball providing the first-ever Major Sports League and the ending of a league rivalry. This year saw the older, established National League outlast the American Association.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada, as the first Elite League for Hockey, returns for another year of play.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit, as the first Top-Player League for Football, returns for another year of play.


New Leagues

n/a


Leagues in Operation

Year 17 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 132 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 10 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 132 years ago.


Year 6 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 132 years ago.


Year 3 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 132 years ago.


Leagues that Folded

The American Association of Base Ball Clubs (AA) folded when a number of their teams joined the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) 132 years ago.

The logo of the American Association (of Baseball)
The logo of the American Association of Base Ball Clubs

League Champions and Other Events

Baseball

NL Champion: Boston Beaneaters

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Hockey Club

Football

WPPFC Champion: Allegheny Athletic Association

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1891

Introduction

The year is 1891. It is the early beginnings of organized sports leagues in North America with Baseball providing the first-ever Major Sports League and league rivalry. This year saw that rivalry near its end as the older, established National League was about to outlast the upstart American Association and witnessed the folding of the Players’ League.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada, as the first Elite League for Hockey, returns for another year of play.

The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit, as the first Top-Player League for Football, returns for another year of play.


New Leagues

n/a


Leagues in Operation

Year 16 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 133 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 10 of play in the American Association of Base Ball Clubs (AA) took place 133 years ago.

The logo of the American Association (of Baseball)
The logo of the American Association of Base Ball Clubs

Year 9 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 133 years ago.


Year 5 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 133 years ago.


Year 2 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 133 years ago.


Leagues that Folded

The Players’ League (PL) folded when its teams joined other Baseball leagues 133 years ago.


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball


NL Champion: Boston Beaneaters
AA Champion: Boston Reds

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Hockey Club

Football

WPPFC Champion: Pittsburgh Athletic Club

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.

1890

Introduction

The year is 1890. It is the early beginnings of organized sports leagues in North America with Baseball providing the first-ever Major Sports League and league rivalry. This year saw that rivalry intensify as the older, established National League and the upstart American Association, were challenged by a new league called the Players’ League. The older two leagues culminated with their seventh and final World Series.

The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada, as the first Elite League for Hockey, returns for another year of play.

In Football we see the establishment and expansion of the sport with the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit, the first-ever organized Top Player League  for Football. The sport was created in 1869 and being dominated by college play did not follow the evolution of Baseball and Hockey, skipping the Proto-League and Elite League stages.


New Leagues

The Players’ League (PL) was formed as a Major Sports League to challenge the other two leagues 134 years ago.

The first-ever Top Player League for Football is created when the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) was established 134 years ago.


Leagues in Operation

Year 15 of play in the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (NL) took place 134 years ago. (source) (source)

The 'first logo' of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs
The ‘first logo’ of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs

Year 9 of play in the American Association of Base Ball Clubs (AA) took place 134 years ago.

The logo of the American Association (of Baseball)
The logo of the American Association of Base Ball Clubs

Year 8 of play across the Independent and Minor League system of Baseball took place 134 years ago.


Year 4 of play in the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) took place 134 years ago.


Year 1 of play for the Players’ League (PL) took place 134 years ago.


Year 1 of play for the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit (WPPFC) took place 134 years ago.


Leagues that Folded

n/a


League Champions and Other Events

Baseball


NL Champion: Brooklyn Bridegrooms
AA Champion: Louisville Colonels
PL Champion: Boston Reds
World Series Champion: Tied

Hockey

AHAC Champion: Montreal Hockey Club

Football

WPPFC Champion: Allegheny Athletic Association

Basketball

No leagues in operation.

Other Leagues

Obsolete League activity.