The 1890 National League of Baseball of Great Britain was the first, and to date only, professional baseball championship for the national baseball title of Great Britain. The National League's headquarters were located at 38 Holborn Viaduct, London.[1] Aston Villa were the National League champions, despite Derby Baseball Club leading the league for much of the season, following their contentious dismissal from the championship, mid-season. Aston Villa were officially known as Birmingham Baseball Club Limited, with their uniforms emblazoned with ‘Birmingham AV’ on the jersey, despite being officially part of the famous football club. As a result, in some reports of the day, they were referred to as Birmingham. Preston Amateurs were the Amateur League champions, beating Birmingham Amateurs 43-15 and 42–7 in a best of three finals. A large number of leading football and cricket professionals of the era were involved, alongside American professional baseball players.

Events

Champions

National League final standings

Team Played Won Lost Pct. Games back
Aston Villa 25 17 8 0.680 -
Preston North End Baseball Club 27 17 10 0.630 1.0
Stoke 24 4 20 0.167 12.5
Derby Baseball Club - - - - -

Derby Baseball Club expelled from the National League championship mid-season, record expunged.

Rosters

Aston Villa

Derby Baseball Club

Preston North End

W. Livesey was a sprinter of some regional notoriety who played as a reserve for Preston North End,[19] local rugby union and as a professional baseball player for Preston North End. He was killed in 1893.[20]

Stoke

Edgar Montford was one of two footballing brothers who played for Stoke City in the era, Edgar was part of the Stoke City football squad of 1889-90 so it is assumed this was the brother who was a professional baseball player in the same year. Harry Montford had left Stoke City for Leek by 1890.

References

  1. ^ "Baseball in England". Sporting Life. 4 December 1889. p. 7.
  2. ^ "En Passant". Athletic News. 10 February 1890. p. 1.
  3. ^ "The Growth of Baseball in England". Sporting Life. 5 March 1890. p. 3.
  4. ^ "The Spread of Baseball in England". Leicester Daily Post. 6 March 1890. p. 6.
  5. ^ "American Baseball". Northampton Chronicle and Echo. 22 March 1890. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Notes on Outdoor Sports". Derby Daily Telegraph. 11 June 1890. p. 4.
  7. ^ "Baseball League". Sporting News. 7 June 1890. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Seaside Notes". West Cumberland Times. 14 June 1890. p. 4.
  9. ^ "Baseball". Derby Daily Telegraph. 14 July 1890. p. 3.
  10. ^ a b "Notice". Derby Daily Telegraph. 4 August 1890. p. 3.
  11. ^ "National Baseball League Proposed Challenge Cup". Derby Daily Telegraph. 5 August 1890. p. 3.
  12. ^ "Derby and the National Baseball League". Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal. 8 August 1890. p. 3.
  13. ^ "To the Editor of the 'Sporting Life'". Sporting Life. 13 August 1890. p. 2.
  14. ^ "Notes on Sport". Birmingham Daily Post. 11 August 1890. p. 5.
  15. ^ "The Derby Club". Derby Daily Telegraph. 15 August 1890. p. 3.
  16. ^ "The Baseball Championship: Aston Villa the Winners". Sporting Life. 3 September 1890. p. 1.
  17. ^ "Preston North End Won the Championship of England's". Preston Herald. 12 November 1890. p. 7.
  18. ^ "Reference at www.avfchistory.co.uk".[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "National Baseball League". Lancashire Evening Post. 19 June 1890. p. 4.
  20. ^ "Sporting Notes". Nuneaton Advertiser. 25 March 1893. p. 6.

External links

History of baseball
Categories