South End Grounds (first) opens.

The Boston Red Stockings lose their first home game to the Troy Haymakers 29-14 at the park on the former Union Recreational Area near today’s Ruggles Station and today’s St. Cyprian’s Place (then Medford Street and later Walpole Street). A member of the new, loosely organized National Association, the team was relocated from Cincinnati to Boston by brothers George and Harry Wright. The Red Stockings go on to the league championship every year from 1872 until 1875 when the league disbands. The last game played in the ballpark is on September 10, 1887. It is replaced by a new stadium (second) in 1888,* and then another (third), both on the same site, in 1894.*