After the National Association (the first entirely professional league) folds, the Boston Red Stockings who were founded by George and Harry Wright, the people behind the birth of professional baseball in Cincinnati in 1869, joins the newly formed National League. On April 22nd, the Red Stockings played in the very first National League game, scoring two runs in the ninth inning to beat the home-standing Philadelphia Athletics, 6-5, before a crowd of 3,000.

Boston would go on to finish in third place with a 39-31 record.