The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs: The History of an Outlaw Major League, 1914-1915

The last independent major league ended its brief run in 1915, after only two seasons at the national pastime's top level. But no competitor to establishment baseball ever exerted so much influence on its rival, with some of the most recognizable elements of the game today--including the commissioner system, competition for free agents, baseball's antitrust exemption, and even the beloved Wrigley Field--traceable to the so-called outlaw organization known as the Federal League of Base Ball Clubs. This comprehensive history covers the league from its formation in 1913 through its buyout, dissolution, and legal battles with the National and American leagues. The day-to-day operation of the franchises, the pennant races and outstanding players, the two-year competitive battle for fans and players, and the short- and long-term impact on the game are covered in detail.

Author: Robert Peyton Wiggins
Publisher: McFarland and Company, Inc.
Published: 10/21/2011
Pages: 368
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.30lbs
Size: 9.90h x 6.90w x 1.00d
ISBN13: 9780786469390
ISBN10: 0786469390
BISAC Categories:
- Sports & Recreation | Baseball | History
- Sports & Recreation | Reference

About the Author
Robert Peyton Wiggins, a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, works in the University of Virginia Health System. The author of several books, he won the 2010 SABR Larry Ritter Award for the Society for American Baseball Research for his book, The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs (McFarland, 2009). He lives in Virginia.