The newly developed Players League debuted in 1890 with eight teams (Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, New York Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) as the Buffalo Bisons recorded the greatest opening day winning margin with a 23-2 victory over the Cleveland Infants.

The short-lived Players League folded in December returning all of their players to their original teams. The Pittsburgh franchise deviated from the agreement though and signed second baseman Louis Bierbauer who had originally belonged to the Philadelphia Phillies. After being accused in the papers of being “Pirates” the team adopted the nickname and refused to return Bierbauer to their cross-state rivals.

The only known / found logo from the defunct Players League belongs to the 1890 Boston Red Stockings and it is pictured below: