Buffalo Bisons (1879-1885)
Encyclopedia
The original Buffalo Bisons baseball
club played in the National League
between 1879
and 1885
. The Bisons played their games at Riverside Park
(1879-83) and Olympic Park
(1884-85) in Buffalo, New York
.
Brouthers, Galvin, O'Rourke and Radbourn are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
club played in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
between 1879
1879 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Providence GraysNational Association: Albany Blue StockingsNorthwest League: Dubuque RabbitsInter-league playoff: Providence Grays def. Albany Blues , 2 games to 0.-National League final standings:-Statistical leaders:...
and 1885
1885 in baseball
-Champions:*Post-season playoff: Chicago White Stockings played St. Louis Browns. Series ended with both teams going 3-3-1 in a best-of-7 series. Game 1 ended in a tie called after 8 inning due to darkness; Game 2 was awarded to Chicago by forfeit after 6 innings because St. Louis refused to...
. The Bisons played their games at Riverside Park
Riverside Park (stadium)
Riverside Park is a former baseball ground located in Buffalo, New York, USA. The ground was home to the Buffalo Bisons baseball club of the National League from 1878 to 1883....
(1879-83) and Olympic Park
Olympic Park (Buffalo)
Olympic Park is a former baseball ground located in Buffalo, New York, USA. The ground was home to the Buffalo Bisons baseball club of the National League from 1884 to 1885. The park was located on the North East corner of Richmond Avenue & Summer Street, bounded by Norwood Avenue...
(1884-85) in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Year-by-year records
| Season | Manager | Games | W | L | T | WP | PL | GB |
| 1879 | John Clapp John Clapp (baseball) John Edgar Clapp , nicknamed "Honest John", was a professional baseball player-manager whose career spanned 12 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the Major League Baseball Middletown Mansfields , Philadelphia Athletics , St... |
79 | 46 | 32 | 1 | .590 | 3rd | 10.0 |
| 1880 | Sam Crane | 85 | 24 | 58 | 3 | .293 | 7th | 42.0 |
| 1881 | Jim O'Rourke Jim O'Rourke (baseball player) James Henry O'Rourke , nicknamed "Orator Jim", was an American professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball who played primarily as a left fielder... |
83 | 45 | 38 | 0 | .542 | 3rd | 10.5 |
| 1882 | Jim O'Rourke Jim O'Rourke (baseball player) James Henry O'Rourke , nicknamed "Orator Jim", was an American professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball who played primarily as a left fielder... |
84 | 45 | 39 | 0 | .536 | 3rd | 10.0 |
| 1883 | Jim O'Rourke Jim O'Rourke (baseball player) James Henry O'Rourke , nicknamed "Orator Jim", was an American professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball who played primarily as a left fielder... |
98 | 52 | 45 | 1 | .536 | 5th | 10.5 |
| 1884 | Jim O'Rourke Jim O'Rourke (baseball player) James Henry O'Rourke , nicknamed "Orator Jim", was an American professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball who played primarily as a left fielder... |
115 | 64 | 47 | 4 | .577 | 3rd | 19.5 |
| 1885 | Pud Galvin Pud Galvin James Francis Galvin , nicknamed "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", and "The Little Steam Engine", was an American National Association and Major League Baseball pitcher. He was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner... / Jack Chapman Jack Chapman John Curtis "Jack" Chapman was an American Major League Baseball player and manager who was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing in the National Association when he played for the Brooklyn Atlantics and the St. Louis Brown Stockings. In , when the National League formed, he became the... |
113 | 38 | 74 | 1 | .339 | 7th | 49.0 |
Players of note
- Dan BrouthersDan BrouthersDennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball whose career spanned the period from to , with a brief return in...
- Bill Crowley
- Davy ForceDavy ForceDavid W. "Davy" Force was a shortstop in Major League Baseball.From 1871 through 1886, he played in the National Association with the Washington Olympics , Troy Haymakers , Baltimore Canaries , Chicago White Stockings and Philadelphia Athletics , and in the National League for the Philadelphia...
- Pud GalvinPud GalvinJames Francis Galvin , nicknamed "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", and "The Little Steam Engine", was an American National Association and Major League Baseball pitcher. He was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner...
- Charley Radbourn
- Jim O'RourkeJim O'Rourke (baseball player)James Henry O'Rourke , nicknamed "Orator Jim", was an American professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball who played primarily as a left fielder...
- Hardy RichardsonHardy RichardsonAbram Harding "Hardy" Richardson was a second basemen and outfielder mostly, who played in the Major Leagues for a number of teams throughout the 19th century. Most of Richardson's career was with the Buffalo Bisons...
- Jack RoweJack RoweJohn Charles "Jack" Rowe was an American baseball player.Rowe was born in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, in 1911. He first played baseball under Tom Loftus with the Peoria Reds in 1878. In 1879, Rowe and his brother, Dave Rowe, signed with the Rockford team in the newly formed Northwestern League...
- Deacon WhiteDeacon WhiteJames Laurie "Deacon" White was an American baseball player who was one of the principal stars during the first two decades of the sport's professional era...
Brouthers, Galvin, O'Rourke and Radbourn are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Highlights and memorable moments
- 18771877 in baseball-Champions:*National League: Boston Red Caps*International Association: London‚ Ontario‚ Canada Tecumsehs*League Alliance: Indianapolis Hoosiers & Lowell Ladies' Men *New England Association: Lowell Ladies' Men...
: A precursor to the Bisons played an independent schedule, finishing with a 79-28-3 record. The team subsequently joined the National League. http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=24 - 18801880 in baseball-Champions:*National League: Chicago White StockingsNational Association: Washington NationalsInter-league playoff: Washington def. Chicago , 4 games to 3 -National League final standings:-Statistical leaders:-January–March:...
: Future Hall of Fame pitcher Charlie Radbourn debuted as a second basemanSecond basemanSecond base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
on May 5 - 18801880 in baseball-Champions:*National League: Chicago White StockingsNational Association: Washington NationalsInter-league playoff: Washington def. Chicago , 4 games to 3 -National League final standings:-Statistical leaders:-January–March:...
: Pud GalvinPud GalvinJames Francis Galvin , nicknamed "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", and "The Little Steam Engine", was an American National Association and Major League Baseball pitcher. He was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner...
pitched a no-hitterNo-hitterA no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the Worcester Ruby Legs on Aug. 20 - 18801880 in baseball-Champions:*National League: Chicago White StockingsNational Association: Washington NationalsInter-league playoff: Washington def. Chicago , 4 games to 3 -National League final standings:-Statistical leaders:-January–March:...
: Robert Winterborne turned 2 unnassisted triple plays in one game - 18811881 in baseball-Champions:*National League: Chicago White StockingsEastern Championship Association: New York MetropolitansInter-league playoff: New York Mets def. Chicago , 2 games to 1.-National League final standings:-Statistical leaders:-January-March:...
: 2B Davy ForceDavy ForceDavid W. "Davy" Force was a shortstop in Major League Baseball.From 1871 through 1886, he played in the National Association with the Washington Olympics , Troy Haymakers , Baltimore Canaries , Chicago White Stockings and Philadelphia Athletics , and in the National League for the Philadelphia...
recorded 12 putoutPutoutIn baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, seven assistAssist (baseball)In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
s, two unassisted double playDouble playIn baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s, participated in a triple playTriple PlayA triple play is a baseball play in which three outs are made as a result of continuous action without any intervening errors between outs.Triple play may also refer to:...
, and made just one errorError (baseball)In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 20 chancesTotal chancesIn baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
in a 12-inning game against Worcester, on September 15. - 18821882 in baseball-Champions:*National League: Chicago def. Providence 5 games to 4*American Association: Cincinnati Red Stockings*League Alliance: New York MetropolitansInterleague*Chicago vs. Cincinnati tie 1 game each*Chicago def...
: IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born Curry FoleyCurry FoleyCharles Joseph "Curry" Foley was a left-handed pitcher, outfielder and first baseman who played in the National League for the Boston Red Caps and Buffalo Bisons . He was born in Milltown, Ireland....
became the first major league player ever to hit for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
(including a grand slamGrand slam (baseball)In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
), on May 25, and Dan BrouthersDan BrouthersDennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball whose career spanned the period from to , with a brief return in...
led the National League with a .368 batting averageBatting averageBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :... - 18831883 in baseball-Champions:*National League: Boston Beaneaters*American Association: Philadelphia Athletics*Inter-State League: Brooklyn Atlantics*Northwestern League: Toledo Blue StockingsInter-league playoff: Philadelphia declined to play Boston...
: Brouthers won his second consecutive NL batting title with a .374 average and Galvin posted 46 winsWin (baseball)In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only... - 18841884 in baseball-Champions:*First World's Championship Series: Providence Grays over New York Metropolitans *National League: Providence Grays*American Association: New York Metropolitans*Union Association: St...
: Brouthers hit triplesTriple (baseball)In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in four consecutive games, set a season team-record with 14 home runHome runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and Galvin won 46 games for the second year in a row. Galvin threw another no-hitter, on August 4. Two years after Foley, Jim O'Rourke became the fourth player in MLB history to hit for the cycle, on June 16. - 18851885 in baseball-Champions:*Post-season playoff: Chicago White Stockings played St. Louis Browns. Series ended with both teams going 3-3-1 in a best-of-7 series. Game 1 ended in a tie called after 8 inning due to darkness; Game 2 was awarded to Chicago by forfeit after 6 innings because St. Louis refused to...
: Brouthers hit .359, ending second in the NL batting race behind Roger ConnorRoger ConnorRoger Connor was a 19th century Major League Baseball player, born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Known for being the player whom Babe Ruth succeeded as the all-time home run champion, Connor hit 138 home runs during his 18-year career, and his career home run record stood for 23 years after his...
(.371)
See also
- Buffalo Bisons all-time rosterBuffalo Bisons all-time roster* The following is a list of players and managers who appeared at least in one game for the original Buffalo Bisons National League franchise from through .-C:*Scrappy Carroll*Jack Chapman3*John Clapp1,2*Chub Collins*John Connor*Pete Conway...
- 1879 Buffalo Bisons season1879 Buffalo Bisons seasonThe 1879 season was the debut year in the National League for the Buffalo Bisons, who had previously played an independent schedule. The Bisons wound up with a record of 46-32 and finished in third place.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1880 Buffalo Bisons season1880 Buffalo Bisons seasonThe Buffalo Bisons finished the season with a 24-58 record, good for seventh place in the National League.-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1881 Buffalo Bisons season1881 Buffalo Bisons seasonThe Buffalo Bisons finished the season with a 45-38 record, good for third place in the National League.A highlight from this season occurred on September 15...
- 1882 Buffalo Bisons season1882 Buffalo Bisons seasonThe Buffalo Bisons finished the season with a 45-39 record, good for third place in the National League.-Season standings:-Roster:-Starters by position:...
- 1883 Buffalo Bisons season1883 Buffalo Bisons seasonThe Buffalo Bisons finished the season with a 52-45 record, good for fifth place in the National League. Star slugger Dan Brouthers won his second consecutive NL batting title with a .374 average and Pud Galvin posted 46 wins.-Roster:...
- 1884 Buffalo Bisons season1884 Buffalo Bisons seasonThe Buffalo Bisons finished the season with a 64-47 record, good for third place in the National League.-Roster:-Starters by position:Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in-Other batters:Note: G = Games played;...
- 1885 Buffalo Bisons season1885 Buffalo Bisons seasonThe Buffalo Bisons finished the season with a 38-74 record, good for seventh place in the National League. As things continued to implode on the field, the team ownership sold the whole franchise to the Detroit Wolverines...
- Buffalo Bisons (disambiguation)Buffalo Bisons (disambiguation)The following sports teams from Buffalo, New York went by the name Bisons:Baseball* Buffalo Bisons, current baseball team in the International League* Buffalo Bisons , former baseball team in the National League from 1879-85....
- 19th century National League teams19th century National League teamsThe following is a list of United States Major League Baseball teams that played in the National League during the 19th century.-Major league:*Boston Red Stockings 1876–1900 – now Atlanta Braves...
External links
- Baseball Almanac
- Team index page at Baseball Reference
- Buffalo Bisons history