Post-season playoff: the Chicago White Stockings played the St. Louis Browns, which ended with both teams going 3–3–1 in a best-of-seven series. Game 1 finished in a tie called after eight innings due to darkness; Game 2 was awarded to Chicago by forfeit after six innings because St. Louis refused to continue after disputing an umpiring decision. Both teams dispute the series and claim the championship.
New York Giants first baseman Roger Connor led the NL in batting average (.371), on-base percentage (.435), hits (169), and total bases (225). He was second in the NL in slugging percentage (.495) and adjusted OPS+ (200).[1][2]
Buffalo Bisons first baseman Dan Brouthers led the NL in slugging percentage (.543) and adjusted OPS+ (203). He was second in the NL in batting average (.359), on-base percentage (.408), hits (146), and total bases (221).[2][3]
Chicago White Stockings pitcher John Clarkson had a win–loss record of 53–16 and led the NL in innings pitched (623), wins (53), shutouts (10), and strikeouts (308). He was third in the NL in earned run average (1.85) and adjusted ERA+ (163).[4][5]
Events
January–March
January 3 – The Cleveland Blues release all of their players as they prepare to disband.
June 17 – "Phenomenal" Smith loses his first start as a Brooklyn Gray by a score of 18–5 after his teammates commit 14 errors behind him, including 7 by shortstop Germany Smith. "Phenomenal"'s boast of being so good that he could win by himself doesn't sit well with the other Brooklyn players, who are fined $500 for their intentional poor play. In the interests of team chemistry, Smith is immediately released.
June 25 – 10 different players collect at least 2 hits each for the Brooklyn Grays in their 21–14 win over the Philadelphia Athletics. George Strief of Philadelphia sets a major league record by hitting 4 triples in the game.
July 4 – Owen Keenan of the Youngstown, Ohio club beats New Castle in both games of a doubleheader, pitching one game right-handed and the other game left-handed.
July 11 – After winning 175 games while pitching over 2,300 innings for the History of the Chicago Cubs#Chicago White Stockings/Chicago Colts since 1880, pitcher Larry Corcoran is released after straining his arm muscles so badly that he is unable to throw. Corcoran will only pitch 54 more innings and win 2 more games for the remainder of his career.
August 26 – Roger Connor of the New York Giants starts a first-inning triple play. 12 days later, Connor would be involved in another first-inning triple play.
August 27 – Paul Hines is released by the Providence Grays after they accuse him of intentionally playing poorly.
October 1 – The first all-black professional team is formed by Frank P. Thompson. Originally known as the Athletics, they will soon change their name to the Cuban Giants.
October 7 – Fred Shaw of the Providence Grays throws a 5 inning no-hitter before 12 fans in Buffalo in the first game of a double-header against the Bisons. Shaw beats them again in another 5-inning game in the nightcap.
October 10 – The Providence Grays sweep the Buffalo Bisons in a double-header in the Bisons' last day in the major leagues. Buffalo finishes the season with a 17-game winless streak, only managing 1 tie in the season's last 3 weeks.
October 10 – Joe Gerhardt, second baseman of the New York Giants finishes the season with a .155 batting average while shortstop Charlie Bastian of the Philadelphia Quakers ends the year with a .167 average. Both players set still-standing records for the lowest batting average in a season (with a minimum of 350 at-bats) for their respective positions.
October 17 – The National League sets a minimum player salary of $1,000 and a maximum of $2,000 for the 1886 season.
October 22 John Montgomery Ward, along with several teammates, forms the Brotherhood of Professional Baseball Players, the first union in professional sports history. The Brotherhood would ultimately result in the Players' League in 1890.
