Boston Red Stockings pitcher Al Spalding has a record of 54–5 and leads the NA in wins. His 570.2 innings pitched ranks second in the league. He has 75 strikeouts, a 1.59 earned run average, and a 136 ERA+. At the plate, he has a .312 batting average and a 134 OPS+.[1][2]
Boston Red Stockings first baseman Cal McVey leads the NA with 87 runs batted in and a .873 OPS. His 138 hits and 192 OPS+ both rank second in the league. He has a .355 batting average and 89 runs scored.[3][4]
May 3 – The Hartfords are caught using an illegal bat which had been whittled nearly flat on one side and painted black to conceal the altering. The bat is thrown out and Hartford goes on to win the game.
May 22 – Pud Galvin makes his debut with the St. Louis Club. Galvin will only pitch in 8 games for St. Louis and will not be seen in the major leagues again until 1879.
September 6 – The Bostons win their 4th pennant in a row roughly 6 weeks sooner than they had in the previous 3 seasons. Boston clinches with 16 games left to play in the schedule.
September 11 – The first professional women's game is played in Springfield, Illinois on a half-sized field. The "Blondes" defeat the "Brunettes" 42–38.
October 30 – Boston defeats Hartford 7–4 in what proves to be the final game in the history of the NA. The Bostons claim the last 4 pennants in increasingly dominating fashion after the Athletics win the inaugural flag in 1871.