Special Sub-Topic: The Who? Click Here To Play: The Who?

The 2007 Atlanta Braves franchise began their National League franchise when the league began in 1876. They were called the Boston Red Caps in the inaugural season. However, they existed for five seasons in another league before that league went defunct. What was their team name in that league?

Boston Red Stockings. The Red Stockings under the management of Harry Wright, had a team from 1871-1875 in the National Association before the league folded. From 1872-1875, Wright took the team to the NA title each season. Pitcher Al Spalding led the team each season, and went 55-5 in 1875. Spalding was one of few players who left the team instead of transitioning into the National League in 1876. Al went to the Chicago White Stockings (later named Cubs) instead.

Which of the following teams gave the new Federal League a chance in 1914, but then folded when the league did after lasting only two seasons?

Buffalo Buffeds. None of the others listed ever existed in baseball. The Buffeds led by manager Larry Schlafly, never finished better than fourth place. The team was rostered by two former Yankees in Hal Chase and Al Shulz, and future Tiger/Red Sox/Athletic, Howard Ehmke. The Buffeds became the Buffalo Blues in 1915. The Indianapolis Hoosiers won the league title in 1914, then returned in 1915 as the Newark Pepper, finishing fifth. The St. Louis Terriers won the league title in 1915.

Which National League team set a record for going 20-134 in their last season before locking its doors in 1899?

Cleveland Spiders. None of the others were in the National League. The 1898 roster carried an all-star cast including Patsy Tebeau, Jesse Burkett, Chief Zimmer, and Cy Young. After that season, most of the players left the team for better money, leaving the Spiders with a dismal record-setting season in 1899.

Which of the following teams were one of the orignal National League teams when the league began in 1876?

Hartford Dark Blues. The franchise began in the National Association in 1871, then jumped leagues when the NA folded in 1875. The 1876 team was led by manager Bob Ferguson and finished second in 1876, then third the following season before folding. The team had a young pitcher who went 31-13 for Hartford, then joined the Boston Red Caps in 1877. He went on to win 40 games in each of his next three seasons. The pitcher was Tommy Bond.

The team name Milwaukee Brewers appeared in the American League in 1901 for only one season. They moved to St. Louis and became the Browns in 1902. The Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954 to become the Orioles. There was another Milwaukee Brewers team by name in 1970, whose new franchise began in 1969 under the name of the Seattle Pilots. However, neither of these instances saw the name Milwaukee Brewers first appear in baseball. In which league did baseball first see this team name?

Union Association. The Union Association League existed in only one season of baseball. The league began with 12 teams in 1884, and finished the season with only six teams. The Milwaukee Brewers went only 8-4 in the season before cashing it in. The team was helmed by Tom Loftus. The only season of the Union Association was won by the St. Louis Maroons. Many players of the UA Maroons joined the National League Maroons, but that team folded in 1886.

The National Association saw this team quit in its only season after only 23 games. Which team was this?

Elizabeth Resolutes. The Marylands were also a one-season team in 1873 in the NA, and quit after only six games. The Resolutes were 2-21 before hanging up their cleats for good. Pitcher Hugh Campbell went 2-16, then retired in his only season.

Which team had the honor of winning the first pennant in baseball history, in a professional sanctioned league?

Philadelphia Athletics. None of the others ever existed. The Athletics opened their roster in the National Association in 1871. They were managed by Dick McBride, who was also also the team's leading pitcher. They won the first pennant with their 21-7 record at Jefferson Street Grounds. The league folded in 1875, so the team jumped to the National League with the same team name and played at the same field. The team folded after only one season in the National League. A new team with the same name then reappeared in 1882 in the American Association but lasted only two seasons. Neither team was affiliated with the 2007 Athletic franchise, which began in the American League in 1901.

This league lasted for only one season in baseball history. It had teams in the names of the Brooklyn Ward's Wonders, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Burghers, and Cleveland Infants. Which league was this?

Players League. The year was 1890, and the Players League began in an attempt to become a second major league to compete against the existing National League. The league housed eight teams, and they all finished the season, but that was it for them. The Boston Reds won the league title with their 61-48 record, 6.5 games in front of Brooklyn. The Reds joined the American Association for the 1891 season, but that league folded after 10 seasons of their own in November 1891.

Which league did the Brooklyn Tip-Tops play in?

Federal League. The Tip-Tops were found in the Federal League in 1914 and 1915 before the league folded. It attempted to become the third major league of baseball but didn't pan out. Jim Delahanty, one of five Delahanty brothers in baseball, retired with the Tip-Tops after a 13-season career. Hall of Fame pitcher Mordecai Brown was also found with Brooklyn.

In the only season of the Union Association, pitcher Bill Sweeney led the league with his 40-21 record. Which team did Bill play for?

Baltimore Monumentals. Sweeney played for only two seasons in his career. 1882, he pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association, then in 1884 for the Monumentals of the Union Association.