Federal League facts for kids

The Federal League was a special baseball league that played a long time ago. It was a "major league" just like the National League and American League are today. This league tried to compete with the two older, more established baseball leagues. The Federal League only played for two seasons, in 1914 and 1915, before it stopped operating.

What Was the Federal League?

The Federal League was created because some people wanted to start a new top-level baseball league. At the time, the National League and American League were the only major leagues. The Federal League wanted to offer another option for players and fans. It was seen as a rival to the existing baseball powerhouses.

A New Baseball Idea

The idea for the Federal League started in 1913. It began as a minor league, but its owners quickly decided to make it a major league. They wanted to challenge the way baseball was run. They hoped to attract top players by offering them good salaries. This created a lot of excitement and competition in the baseball world.

Teams and Cities

The Federal League had teams in several big cities across the United States. These cities included places like Chicago, St. Louis, and Baltimore. Each team had its own group of owners and fans. They built new baseball parks or used existing ones for their games. The league tried to make baseball popular in new areas and bring more fans to the sport.

Famous Players Who Joined

Many baseball players were interested in joining the Federal League. Some well-known players from the National and American Leagues moved to the new league. This was a big deal because it showed that players wanted more choices. It also made the games more exciting for fans. Players like Joe Tinker and Mordecai Brown played in the Federal League.

Why It Didn't Last

Even though the Federal League had big dreams, it only lasted for two seasons. Competing with the National and American Leagues was very difficult. The older leagues had more money and more experience. They also had many loyal fans. The Federal League faced many challenges, including legal battles and financial problems.

The End of the League

By the end of the 1915 season, the Federal League was struggling. The owners decided it was best to stop playing. Some of the teams and players from the Federal League joined the National or American Leagues. This brought an end to the idea of a third major baseball league. Even though it was short-lived, the Federal League is still an interesting part of baseball history. It showed how much people loved baseball and how much competition there could be.

Images for kids

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  James A. Gilmore was the president of the Federal League around 1913.

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  William E. Robertson was president of the Buffalo, New York Federal League baseball team, the Buffalo Blues.

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  C. C. Madison in 1915. He was a former owner of the Kansas City, Missouri baseball club of the Federal League, the Kansas City Packers.

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  Washington Park in April 1915, a baseball park used by the Federal League.

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  The 1914 Brooklyn Tip-Tops team.

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  Joe Tinker managed the 1915 Chicago Whales team.

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  George Textor played for Indianapolis in 1913.

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  Bill McKechnie played for Indianapolis in 1914.

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  Mordecai Brown played for Chicago in 1915.