Brooklyn Grays

The Grays are the beginning of the Brooklyn line that runs through the Bridegrooms, Superbas, Robins and Dodgers to Los Angeles. Three American Association seasons at 189-194, finishing fifth, third and sixth. Charlie Byrne, who owned the club, also managed it for most of that time and went 174-172.

It finished third in 1886 at 76-61, the strongest of the three years. The worst is 1887, at 60-74, after which the club bought most of the New York Metropolitans' roster and began the run that produced pennants in 1889 and 1890 — in two different leagues, back to back, which nobody has done since.

No Hall of Famer played in these three seasons. Home was Washington Park, the first of four Brooklyn grounds to carry the name. The club became the Bridegrooms in 1888.