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1884: The Union Association became a third Major League in 1884, but the league was hardly on the same level as the National League of the American Association. Henry Lucas was the force behind the new league which was created in part to challenge the reserve clause which tied players to one team. Lucas however, seemed to have ulterior motives hoping to force his way into the National League. The Union League may have had top level talent but hardly looked like a Major League as teams drifted in and out throughout the season leading many to deride the UA as the “Onion League”. The St. Louis Maroons were the only team capable of competing in a high level as they won their first 20 games and went on to walk away with the pennant with a record of 94-19.

1885: The Union Association would fold after one season, as the St. Louis Maroons joined the National League. The poor quality of the UA was further demonstrated as the Maroons who dominated the Onion League struggled all year in their first NL season at Sportsman’s Park, which they shared with AA rival the St. Louis Brownstockings. The Maroons would finish dead last with a record of 36-72.

1886: The St. Louis Maroons would not fare much better in their second season in the National League, as they finished sixth in an eight team league with a record of 43-79. The lone highlight of the season was on May 24th when Fred Dunlap hit for the cycle in and 11-8 loss to the New York Giants at Sportsman’s Park. At the same time the Maroons struggled in the National League, the Brown Stockings were the dominant team in the American Association. This would lead Owner Henry Lucas to selling his team to John T. Brush, who moved the Maroons to Indianapolis following the season. In their final season Alex McKinnon was the Maroons star player hitting .301 with eight home runs and seemed to be a rising star. McKinnon would be traded to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys for Otto Schomberg and $400. Sadly, he would contract typhoid and died midway through the 1887 season.