References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 28.

1880 May 18 6th Kentucky Derby: George Lewis aboard Fonso wins in 2:37.5. [1] May 28 8th Preakness: L Hughes aboard Grenada wins in 2:40.5. [1] June 10 Charlie Jones becomes first to hit two home runs in one inning. [1] June 12 First baseball perfect game-John Richmond of Worcester beats Cleve. [1] June 17 John Ward, Providence, pitches perfect game vs Buffalo. [1] 1881 May 17 7th Kentucky Derby: Jim McLaughlin aboard Hindoo wins in 2:40. [1] May 21 US Nation Lawn Tennis Association is formed. [1] May 27 9th Preakness: T Costello aboard Saunterer wins in 2:40.5. [1] August 3 US Nation Lawn Tennis Association removes "Nation" from name. [1] August 31 First US tennis championships (Newport, Rhode Island). [1] September 27 Chicago Cubs beat Troy 10-8 before record small "crowd" of 12. [1] 1882 February 7 Last bare knuckle champion John L Sullivan knocks out Paddy Ryan in Mississippi. [1] February 17 First Test Cricket match played at Sydney Cricket Ground. [1] March 11 Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association organized in Princeton New Jersey. [1] May 16 8th Kentucky Derby: Babe Hurd aboard Apollo wins in 2:40.25. [1] May 27 10th Preakness: T Costello aboard Vanguard wins in 2:44.5. [1] June 24 National League expells umpire Richard Higham for dishonesty. [1] September 25 First baseball doubleheader (Providence and Worcester). [1] 1883 January 4 Ontario Rugby Football Union (forerunner of Canadian Football League) formed. [1] January 6 Ontario Rugby Football Union forms. [1] January 16 Québec Rugby Football Union forms. [1] January 20 Billy Barnes takes a hat-trick, England vs Australia Melbourne Cricket Ground. [1] January 22 England complete first innings victory in Tests vs Australia Melbourne Cricket Ground. [1] January 30 England team presented with ashes of a bail after Sydney Test. [1] March 12 Murrumgunarriman [Twopenny], cricketer (Aboriginal team 1868), dies. [1] May 1 National League Baseball returns to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; first National League game since 1876. The Providence Grays beat the Philadelphia Quakers 4-3. [1] [56] May 22 Cub's Billy Sunday's first at bat, begins 14 consecutive strike-outs. [1] May 23 9th Kentucky Derby: William Donohue aboard Leonatus wins in 2:43. [1] Baseball game between one-armed and one-legged players. [1] May 26 11th Preakness: G Barbee aboard Jacobus wins in 2:42.5. [1] June 2 First night baseball under lights, Fort Wayne Indiana. [1] June 16 First baseball "Ladies' Day" (New York Gothams beat Cleveland Spiders 5-2). [1] August 23 Philadelphia Phillies make 27 errors against Providence (wild pitches, walks and passballs count as errors prior to 1888). [1] September 6 Chicago Cub's Burns (extra bases), Williamson and Pfeiffer get three hits in one inn. [1] September 8 New York Giants score 13 runs in an inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. [1] November 6 NYAC organizes first American cross-country championship race. [1] 1884 February 7 Canadian Rugby Football Union forms. [1] April 5 John Wisden publisher/cricketer (prominent Sussex player), dies. [1] May 1 Moses Walker became first black player in the major league. [1] May 16 10th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Buchanan wins in 2:40.25. [1] May 22 One-armed pitcher Hugh Daily fanned 13 hitters. [1] May 23 12th Preakness: S Fisher aboard Knight of Ellerslie wins in 2:39.5. [1] May 26 Fred Spofforth takes 7-34 and 7-3 vs England XI in four hours. [1] October 23 First world series OKed by AA, Providence (National League) beats New York Mets (AA) 6-0. [1] 1885 May 14 11th Kentucky Derby: Babe Henderson aboard Joe Cotton wins in 2:37.25. [1] May 22 13th Preakness: Jim McLaughlin aboard Tecumseh wins in 2:49. [1] August 29 Boxing's first heavyweight title fight with 3-oz gloves and 3-minute rounds fought between John L Sullivan and Dominick McCaffrey. [1] September 12 Highest score (35) recorded in any first-class soccer match is set. [1] September 16 Puritan (US) beats Genesta (England) in 6th running of America's Cup. [1] 1886 January 1 First Tournament of Roses, Pasadena California. [1] January 3 Birth of Arthur Mailey cricketer (great Aussie leg-spinner and cartoonist). [1] May 14 12th Kentucky Derby: Paul Duffy aboard Ben Ali wins in 2:36.5. [1] May 21 14th Preakness: S Fisher aboard Bard wins in 2:45. [1] August 15 Guy Hecker scores 7 runs in one game. [1] August 25 First international polo meet (US vs England). [1] September 11 Mayflower (US) beats Galatea (England) in 7th America's Cup. [1] 1887 January 28 England all out for 45 vs Australia SCG, their lowest total ever. [1] February 14 Chicago Cubs sell Mike King Kelly to Boston for record $10,000. [1] February 20 First minor league baseball association organizes (Pittsburgh). [1] February 26 George Lohmann took first 8-wicket haul in Test Crickets, 8-35 at SCG. [1] April 10 Soccer team Be Quick forms in Hairs Groningen. [1] April 30 First game played at Broad and Huntingdon Saint Park (Baker Bowl) in Philadelphia; Philadelphia Phillies beat New York Giants 19-10. [1] May 11 13th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Lewis aboard Montrose wins in 2:39.25. [1] May 13 15th Preakness: William Donohue aboard Dunboyne wins in 2:39.5. [1] June 28 Philadelphia Phillies most lopsided shut-out beating Indianapolis 24-0. [1] August 21 Mighty (Dan) Casey Struck-out in a game with the New York Giants. [1] September 30 Volunteer (US) beats Thistle (Scotland) in 8th America's Cup. [1] October 8 Philadelphia Phillies set club record 16th straight victory. [1] October 26 Detroit (National League) beats Saint Louis (AA) 10 games to 5 in the World Series. [1] November 23 Notre Dame loses its first football game 8-0 to Michigan. [1] November 30 First indoor softball game (Chicago). [1] 1888 February 22 John Reid of Scotland demonstrates golf to Americans (Yonkers New York). [1] March 10 Heavyweight Boxing champion John L Sullivan draws Charlie Mitchell in 30 rounds. [1] March 22 English Football League established. [1] April 1 Soccer team Sparta forms in Rotterdam. [1] May 11 16th Preakness: F Littlefield aboard Refund wins in 2:49. [1] May 14 14th Kentucky Derby: George Covington aboard MacBeth II wins in 2:38.25. [1] July 3 New York Giants pitcher Rube Marquard ties record of 19 game win-streak. [1] August 10 New York Giants pitcher Tim Keefe sets a 19 game win streak record. [1] August 25 Henry Slocum wins US Lawn Tennis Association singles title. [1] October 20 Chicago and All America baseball teams play exhibition in Auckland, New Zealand. [1] November 14 Saint Andrews Golf Club, Yonkers New York, opens with just six holes. [1] USC Trojans (then Methodists) play their first football game. [1] December 22 Heavyweight Boxing Champion John L Sullivan challenges Jake Kilrain. [1] December 25 First indoor baseball game played at fairgrounds in Philadelphia. [1] 1889 January 30 Victoria beat New South Wales after following on (New South Wales all out 63 needed 76). [1] February 12 Andrew Greenwood cricketer (batted in England's first two Tests 1877), dies. [1] March 12 Start of South Africa's first Test, vs England, Port Elizabeth. [1] March 25 First Test Cricket match played at Newlands, Cape Town vs England. [1] March 26 Bernard Tancred carries bat for 26 out of 47! South Africa vs England. [1] Johnny Briggs took 15-26 (7-17 and 8-11) vs South Africa at Newlands. [1] South Africa all out 47, then follow-on all out 43 vs England. [1] March 30 John T Reid opens first US golf course (Yonkers New York). [1] April 8 Henry Jupp cricketer (scored 63 on Test debut for England in 1877), dies. [1] May 9 15th Kentucky Derby: Thomas Kiley aboard Spokane wins in 2:34.5. [1] May 10 17th Preakness: W Anderson aboard Buddhist wins in 2:17.5. [1] June 22 Louisville Colonels set ML baseball record with 26th consecutive loss. [1] August 29 First American International pro lawn tennis contest (Newport Rhode Island). [1] October 18 First all New York City world series New York Giants (National League) play Brooklyn (AA) (World Series #86). [1] October 24 Softball rules adopted by Mid Winter Indoor Baseball League. [1] October 29 New York Giants (National League) beat Brooklyn (AA) in world series 6 games to 3. [1] November 4 Players League begins, declaring independence from baseball's National League. [1]