The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs was formed in 1876 with the eight teams listed here. They were asked to play seventy games between April 22 and October 21 .
May 30 - The Chicago White Stockings play at Boston , with 4 players raided from the Red Caps in the off-season, in front of an estimated 14,000 fans. The largest crowd ever to attend a baseball game sees Chicago take a 5-1 victory.
August 4 - Trailing the Chicago White Stockings with rain looming, the Louisville Grays stall the game by committing error after error until the umpire rules the game a forfeit. The game result would later be removed from the official league standings.
September 11 - The Philadelphia Athletics inform the league office that they will be unable to make their last western road trip due to financial trouble.
September 16 - The New York Mutuals announce they will not make their final road trip of the season due to lack of funds.
December 10 - At its winter meetings held in Cleveland , the National League announces the expulsion of the Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Mutuals for failure to complete their required schedule in the 1876 season. Neither storied club, who were both so instrumental in the evolution of professional baseball, will ever appear again in Major League Baseball .
