4. Historically Significant 1890-1891 Cincinnati Reds Documents Collection – Reds Join – and Then Leave – the Players’ League
W ith their appearance in the 2025 postseason, the Cincinnati Reds have generated renewed fan interest in the club, which often bills itself as one of the longest continuously running National League teams, its timeline dating back to its admission to the league in 1889. Presented here is a historically important trove of documents that show that, for a brief period in 1890, the Cincinnati ballclub actually left the National League.
After a dispute over the selection of a new league president, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, a charter member of the American Association, were reinstated to the National League as the “Cincinnati Reds” for the 1890 season. This came during a time of intense jockeying among the teams in the three major circuits – the American Association, the National League, and the upstart Players’ League, which had launched for 1890. The three-way competition produced heavy financial losses for the game and resulted in the
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