February 22 –George Wright signs a contract to play for theBoston Red Caps after sitting out the1880 season. Wright will only play part-time in order to devote more time to his sporting goods business.
March 8 – TheNational League agrees on an 84-game schedule for the upcoming season. The owners are polled and pick theChicago White Stockings as the pre-season favorite to win the pennant.
March 9 – TheNational League releases a list of 23 umpires approved to call league games.
April 11 – The Eastern Association is formed and includes the New York Metropolitans, the Washington Nationals, and Brooklyn Atlantics, all teams that have regularly played competitively againstNational League teams.
April 27 – With pitcher George Bradley already out with pneumonia, theDetroit Wolverines lose their other hurlerBill Sweeney to apulmonary hemorrhage. Neither pitcher will ever play a single game for the Wolverines.
May 14 –Charley Jones wins a judgement against theBoston Red Caps for his unpaid salary due from1880 in anOhio court.Cleveland law enforcement will take the money from the Red Caps share of gate receipts when Boston plays in Cleveland.
May 20 –Mike "King" Kelly scores the go-ahead run by cutting short the distance rounding the bases. Kelly doesn't come close to touching third while the umpire is looking a different direction. Kelly then pulls off thehidden ball trick in the 9th inning to preserve the win for theChicago White Stockings.
May 28 – A man is arrested for trying to bribeJohn Clapp of theCleveland Blues to throw a game. Clapp will acquire the nickname "Honest John" because he went to the police after the bribe offer was made.
June 1 –Tommy Bond is released by theBoston Red Caps after starting the season 0–3. After averaging nearly 500 innings pitched per season over the last 7 years, Bond's arm is no longer what it once was. Bond will never regain his once-dominating form.
June 18 – The Washington Nationals of the Eastern League disband, citing lack of interest after being rejected to join theNational League.
June 20 – A new team is formed inCincinnati after the demise of the previousCincinnati Reds team. This new club will succeed and become the modern-dayCincinnati Reds.
August 27 –Tony Mullane makes his major league debut for theDetroit Wolverines and beats the first placeChicago White Stockings 9–1. Despite the win, Mullane will be released within a month by the Wolverines. He will go on to post 284 career wins.
September 3 –Lip Pike of theWorcester Worcesters makes 3 errors in the 9th inning which gives theBoston Red Caps 2 runs and a 3–2 victory. Worcester accuses Pike of throwing the game and immediately suspends him. Pike will only play in 1 more game in his career, in1887.
September 15 –Davy Force of theBuffalo Bisons turns 2 unassisted double plays, participates in 2 other double plays and starts a triple play for the Bisons. Despite his feat, Buffalo loses in 12 innings, 7–6 to theWorcester Worcesters.
September 25 – TheNational League announces that all 8 teams will return for the1882 season. This is the first time that the major leagues have had the same teams in 2 consecutive seasons.
September 27 – TheTroy Trojans lose to the championChicago White Stockings 10–8 in a heavy rain storm in front of 12 spectators, setting a record for the least attended game.
September 29 – TheNational League issues a list of 10 blacklisted players who will require unanimous league approval for reinstatement. The reason given for the blacklisting is "confirmed dissipation and general insubordination."
November 3 – TheAmerican Association elects Denny McKnight as president. The new league will have no reserve clause and will allow Sunday games, liquor sales and 25¢ tickets, all in opposition toNational League policies, in an effort to take the established major league head-on.
