lin, the Bostons
winning eight and the Athletics six. The Englishmen were not a little
astonished at the wonderful celerity displayed by the baseballists in
fielding. The scores in most of the games were large, owing to the speedy
grounds upon which the contestants played.

In cricket, the Americans met with success, defeating the Marylebone,
Prince's and Surrey clubs, in London, the Sheffield club, Manchester club,
and the All-Irelands in Dublin. The Richmond game was drawn on account of
rain. It was not exactly as if green cricketers had visited the old
country, for Harry, George, and Sam Wright were first-class players. The
first two were excellent bowlers, while McBride also showed up well as a
bowler.

George Wright bore the palm for the largest score in a match, rolling up
fifty runs at Manchester. The trip was a financial failure, yet both clubs
were successful enough in the games at home to show a balance in the
treasury at the close of the season. The ball-tossers left the other side
on August 27 on the steamship Abbotsford, and arrived in Philadelphia,
September 9.

Thirteen clubs fought for the championship in 1875--Boston, Athletics,
Hartford, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Chicago, Mutual, New Haven, Red
Stockings, of St. Louis; Washington, Centennial, of Philadelphia;
Atlantic, and Western, of Keokuk, Iowa. The Westerns, Centennials, and New
Havens did not live long. Ten games constituted a series, with six as a
quota. At the close of the season only seven clubs had played the quota.

The Bostons won with greater ease than ever, and made a record unequaled
in any championship season, with seventy-one victories and eight defeats.
The most noteworthy contest up to that time was played June 19 at Chicago,
when Chicago defeated the Mutuals 1-0 in ten innings. This was the first
time that club had failed to score in nine innings.

Formation of the National League.

This was the closing year of the National Association, and brings us up to
that point in the history of the national game where the solid foundation
was laid for the present splendid superstructure. The work of the founders
of this league was no small task. They were confronted with many
obstacles, principally the gambling element, but all were successfully
surmounted.

The National League was formed in New York City February 2, with M.H.
Bulkeley, since governor of Connecticut, as president, and N.E. Young,
secretary. The league consisted of Chi