Timeline of
Early Baseball Leagues
F i l t e r & S o r t Search & Sort
FL: 1913-1915
(3 seasons)
Eliminated the 'reserve clause', allowing free agency that created competition and disdain with the AL and NL.
USBL: 1912-1912
(1 season)
Sputtering through two short seasons, the league was the first to introduce free agency and multi-year contracts.
AL: 1894-1900
(7 seasons)
Originally a minor league called the Western League, evolved into a major league to form MLB with National League in 1901.
PL: 1890-1890
(1 season)
Known as "The Brotherhood" league, it was formed around players from the National League's first players' union.
UA: 1884-1884
(1 season)
The league president's favoritism toward his own St. Louis franchise doomed the league from the beginning.
AA: 1882-1891
(10 seasons)
Became a significant force in baseball by playing on Sundays and allowing sales of alcohol, unlike the NL.
NL: 1876-1900
(25 seasons)
The "Senior Circuit" is the world's oldest professional team sports league still in existence today.
NA: 1871-1875
(5 seasons)
Included most of the pro clubs and highest caliber players of its time, paving the way for the origin of the NL in 1876.
NABBP: 1857-1870
(14 seasons)
The first organization governing professional baseball and establishing standard rules across the national sport.
what a year. the competitiveness of the ABL really brought the NBA out of its duldrums.