After Brooklyn Bridegrooms divorced the American Association and joined the National League, the AA wanted to keep a presence in Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Gladiators were born. Unfortunately for the Gladiators and the American Association, Brooklyn was crowded in 1890, as there were three major league teams, with two separate New York Giants franchises playing in the National League and Players' League.

The Bridegrooms marched down the aisle to another pennant in their first season in the National League, while superstar John Montgomery Ward who led the player revolt that created the Players' League had a team called the Brooklyn Ward Wonders. This left little room for the Gladiators who played their home games at Ridgewood Park.

Managed by Jim Kennedy the Gladiators were essentially a minor league team with no players of note. They would finish dead last in the nine team American Association with a record of 26-73.

Of the 23 players who played for the Brooklyn Gladiators, only Ed Daily, Joe Gerhardt and Jumbo Davis played professionally beyond 1890 and none played past 1891.