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The Scandal of 1877

Even though they represented the two biggest cities in the league, the clubs were expelled. Struggling through the 1877 season with only six teams, the NL had to confront a major scandal when four Louisville players were suspended for throwing games. Hulbert immediately banned them for life, and Louisville dropped out of the league, along with St. Louis and Hartford. They were replaced by Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Providence. Most teams lost money during those early years and the turnover in franchises continued, yet Hulbert held his course, returning to an eight-team format in 1879, although the cities represented were much smaller than they had been in 1876. Owners fastened on player salaries as the chief cause of their losses. After the 1879 season, they secretly agreed to allow each team to reserve five players. Other league teams couldn't negotiate with any reserved players. That was the beginning of the reserve clause, which was written into the standard player contract in 1887. In the interests of profitability and respectability, Hulbert persuaded most of the NL owners in 1880 to adopt rules requiring a 50-cent admission charge and banning both Sunday games and the sale of liquor on club grounds. A couple of teams objected to the high ticket price, but went along with it. The Cincinnati club, though, refused to agree to the other new rules. Many of the Cincinnati fans were of German descent. Unhindered by English Puritanism, they believed in enjoying themselves on the Sabbath and they also enjoyed drinking beer while they watched baseball. On October 4, 1880, Cincinnati was expelled from the National League. But baseball remained popular in the city. It was also popular in some other good-sized cities that had been excluded from the National League. Cincinnati led a move to form a new major league. At a meeting in the city on November 2, 1881, the American Association of Base Ball Clubs was organized with five charter members: Cincinnati, St. Louis, Louisville, the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, and the Brooklyn Atlantics. The Philadelphia Athletics joined a little later. Shortly before the 1882 season opened, the Pittsburgh club dropped out and was replaced by Baltimore. The Association featured a 25-cent admission charge, Sunday baseball, and the sale of liquor at games. At first, there was no overt attempt to sign players away from National League teams, but after two Association players jumped to the NL just before the season, Association teams struck back by signing some NL players to "optional" contracts for 1883. Despite having only six teams to the National League's eight, the Association probably drew more fans in 1882. According to one report, five of its teams outdrew Chicago, which was by far the NL's biggest gate attraction. Over the winter, the Association added teams in New York and Columbus. In response, the NL quickly dropped its weakest franchises, Troy and Worcester, and moved into New York and Philadelphia, You can search for Baseball Tickets on this page. Click on click on any MLB Team link such as Dodgers Tickets or Angels Tickets to search for MLB Tickets for your team. MLB All Star Game Tickets are available. We also purchase Cheap MLB Tickets plus all other Sports Tickets, Concert Tickets and Theater Tickets.

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