Today in History - 1876

Baseball's National League was born. Eight competing baseball teams met in New York City's Grand Central Hotel. The first president of the new league was Morgan Gardner Bulkeley, who later became a U.S. Senator.

The original eight charter teams:

• Athletic of Philadelphia from National Association, expelled after 1876 season
• Boston Red Stockings (some say Red Caps) from National Association (now the Atlanta Braves)
• Chicago White Stockings from National Association (now the Chicago Cubs)
• Cincinnati Red Stockings new franchise, expelled after 1880 season
• Hartford Dark Blues (later the Brooklyn Hartfords) from National Association, folded after 1877 season
• Louisville Grays new franchise, folded after 1877 season
• Mutual of New York from National Association, expelled after 1876 season
• St. Louis Brown Stockings from National Association, folded after 1877 season