1885 Major League Transactions

Transactions listed are from November 1 of previous year to April 1 of the following year.

• November 3, 1884

  The St. Louis Browns released Tom Poorman.

• November 15, 1884

  The Cincinnati Red Stockings purchased Jim Clinton from the Baltimore Orioles.

• December, 1884

  The Baltimore Orioles signed Mike Muldoon as a free agent. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• December 16, 1884

  The St. Louis Browns released Pat Deasley.

  The New York Gothams signed Pat Deasley as a free agent.

• Before 1885 Season

  The Boston Beaneaters signed Tommy McCarthy as a free agent.

  The Brooklyn Grays purchased Ed Swartwood from the Pittsburgh Alleghenys.

  The St. Louis Browns released Charlie Morton.

• January 3, 1885

  Doc Bushong assigned by the Brooklyn Grays to the St. Louis Browns. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

  The Brooklyn Grays purchased John Harkins, Pete Hotaling, Bill Krieg, Bill Phillips, George Pinkney, Germany Smith and Doc Bushong from the Cleveland Blues for at least $4000 (for the pick of the team). at least $4000 (for the pick of the team)

• January 15, 1885

  The Brooklyn Grays purchased Bill McClellan from the Philadelphia Quakers. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• March 27, 1885

  The New York Giants released Ed Bagley and Frank Hankinson. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• April 2, 1885

  The New York Metropolitans released Dude Esterbrook and Tim Keefe. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• April 6, 1885

  The New York Metropolitans signed Ed Bagley as a free agent. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

  The New York Metropolitans signed Frank Hankinson as a free agent. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• April 12, 1885

  The New York Giants signed Dude Esterbrook as a free agent. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

  The New York Giants signed Tim Keefe as a free agent. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• May 16, 1885

  The Louisville Colonels released Billy Geer.

• May 25, 1885

  The Philadelphia Athletics purchased Tom Lovett from the Providence Grays.

• June 7, 1885

  The Boston Beaneaters released Mike Hines. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• June 15, 1885

  The Detroit Wolverines purchased Dan Casey, Sam Crane, Jim Donnelly, Jim Keenan, Deacon McGuire, Larry McKeon, Gene Moriarty, Sam Thompson and Chub Collins from Indianapolis (Western) for $4000 (only $2000 paid due to dispute).

  The Detroit Wolverines purchased Mox McQuery from Indianapolis (Western).

• June 17, 1885

  The New York Metropolitans released Dasher Troy.

• June 24, 1885

  The Baltimore Orioles released Bob Emslie.

  The Baltimore Orioles released Tim Manning.

• June 25, 1885

  The Pittsburgh Alleghenys purchased Milt Scott from the Detroit Wolverines. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• June 26, 1885

  The Providence Grays released Ed Crane.

• July, 1885

  The New York Metropolitans released Ed Bagley.

• July 1, 1885

  Jim Keenan jumped from the Detroit Wolverines to the Cincinnati Red Stockings. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

  Larry McKeon jumped from the Detroit Wolverines to the Cincinnati Red Stockings. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• July 3, 1885

  The Cincinnati Red Stockings released Jimmy Peoples.

  The Cincinnati Red Stockings released Gus Shallix.

• July 9, 1885

  The Chicago White Stockings purchased Jim McCormick from the Providence Grays for $600 to $2600.

• July 13, 1885

  The Pittsburgh Alleghenys purchased Pud Galvin from the Buffalo Bisons for $600 or $5000.

• July 26, 1885

  The Buffalo Bisons released Jim McCauley. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• August, 1885

  Tommy McCarthy sent from the Boston Beaneaters to Haverhill (New England) in an unknown transaction.

• August 3, 1885

  The Louisville Colonels released Charlie Krehmeyer.

• August 21, 1885

  The Boston Beaneaters purchased Dick Johnston from the Richmond Virginians.

  The Boston Beaneaters purchased Billy Nash from the Richmond Virginians.

• August 29, 1885

• September, 1885

  The Detroit Wolverines purchased Jim Manning from the Boston Beaneaters for $500.

  The Providence Grays released Arthur Irwin. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• September 9, 1885

  The New York Metropolitans released Cal Broughton.

• September 16, 1885

  The Detroit Wolverines purchased Hardy Richardson, Jack Rowe, Deacon White and Dan Brouthers from the Buffalo Bisons for $7000 (sum was for entire team).

• October, 1885

  The Detroit Wolverines released Joe Farrell.

• November, 1885

  The Buffalo Bisons released Davy Force. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• November 19, 1885

  The Detroit Wolverines returned Dan Casey, Deacon McGuire, Mox McQuery, Stump Weidman and George Wood to league control.

  The Buffalo Bisons returned Pete Conway, Ed Crane, Jim Lillie and George Myers to league control.

• November 30, 1885

  The Boston Beaneaters obtained Con Daily and Old Hoss Radbourn who was previously under league control.

  The Providence Grays returned Charley Bassett, Cliff Carroll, Con Daily, Jerry Denny, Jack Farrell, Barney Gilligan, Paul Hines, Old Hoss Radbourn, Paul Radford, Dupee Shaw and Joe Start to league control.

• December, 1885

  The Pittsburgh Alleghenys purchased Sam Barkley from the St. Louis Browns for $1,000.

• Before 1886 Season

  The Kansas City Cowboys purchased Jim Donnelly from the Detroit Wolverines.

  The Kansas City Cowboys purchased Al Myers from the Philadelphia Quakers.

  The Baltimore Orioles purchased Blondie Purcell from the Boston Beaneaters.

  Wilbert Robinson sent from Haverhill (New England) to the Philadelphia Athletics in an unknown transaction.

  Cub Stricker sent from the Philadelphia Athletics to Atlanta (Southern) in an unknown transaction.

• January, 1886

  The Washington Nationals signed Davy Force as a free agent. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

  The New York Metropolitans purchased Al Mays from the Louisville Colonels.

  The Philadelphia Quakers obtained Dan Casey, Jack Farrell, Deacon McGuire and George Wood who was previously under league control. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

  The Washington Nationals obtained Ed Crane who was previously under league control. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

  The St. Louis Maroons obtained Jerry Denny who was previously under league control. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• February 5, 1886

  The St. Louis Maroons obtained George Myers who was previously under league control. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

  The St. Louis Maroons returned Fatty Briody to league control. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• February 25, 1886

  The Baltimore Orioles purchased Sadie Houck from the Philadelphia Athletics. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• March, 1886

  The Baltimore Orioles signed Joe Farrell as a free agent. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• March 1, 1886

  The Kansas City Cowboys purchased Jim Whitney and Mert Hackett from the Boston Beaneaters for $1,000. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

• March 3, 1886

  The Kansas City Cowboys obtained Charley Bassett, Pete Conway, Jim Lillie, Mox McQuery, Paul Radford and Stump Weidman who was previously under league control.

  The Washington Nationals obtained Cliff Carroll, Barney Gilligan, Paul Hines, Dupee Shaw and Joe Start who was previously under league control.

• March 15, 1886

  The Kansas City Cowboys obtained Fatty Briody who was previously under league control. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)