In the first game ever played by a professional baseball team (all paid players, no amateurs), the Cincinnati Red Stockings beat the Mansfield Independents, 48-14 on June 1st. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club played the entire season with all of its players under contract.

The total salary outlay was approximately $11,000, with the salary of star shortstop George Wright at nearly $2,000. Thus began the era of professional baseball and professional team sports.