National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs formed

Background. By 1875, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players suffered from weak authority, unsupervised scheduling, unstable membership, and low entry fees. These issues prompted club presidents to form a new organization. The National League was established to replace the National Association, aiming for stronger governance and stability among professional clubs.

Formation. On February 2, 1876, eight charter members established the National League in New York City. Four team presidents from the East and four from the West agreed to form the league. Morgan Bulkeley, president of the Hartford Dark Blues, was selected as the first president, despite having minimal baseball experience, due to his role as a team president.

Charter Members. The National League began with eight charter members, including the Hartford Dark Blues, Philadelphia Athletics, New York Mutuals, and St. Louis Brown Stockings. These teams transitioned from the National Association. The league excluded the strong Philadelphia White Stockings. The Hartford Dark Blues joined as a charter member in 1876.