RELATED LINKS Submissions » The Union Association: At A Glance by Steve "Gimpy" Bowles

The outlaw Union Association was formed in September 1883, hoping to capitalize on player dissatisfaction with organized baseball's reserve rule, which effectively limited a player's pay by binding him to his club. But the UA lured few top players away from the National League and American Association--and attracted too few fans to their games to succeed financially. The St. Louis club, owned by UA president Henry V. Lucas, ran away with the pennant in 1884. But that winter Lucas precipitated the association's demise by transferring his club to the National League. Reduced to only two clubs by January 1885, the UA disbanded. (FIC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » January 4, 1884: The newly organized Union League changes its name to the Eastern League to avoid confusion with the new Union Association. The EL continues today as the AAA International League. » January 15, 1885: At a Union Association meeting held in Milwaukee, only two clubs show up, Milwaukee and Kansas City. It is decided to disband the league. » January 30, 1902: Dashing Tony Mullane, the first player to have jumped the reserve rule by signing with the St. Louis Unions of the Union Association in 1883, signs a contract with Toledo, of the new American Association (AAA). » June 12, 1989: Cardinals utility man Tim Jones plays catcher during a 10–3 loss to the Cubs, becoming the first player named Jones to catch in the major leagues since Philadelphia's Bill Jones caught four games in the Union Association in 1884.