Nate Berkenstock, a 40-year-old amateur who played right field for Philadelphia that day due to injuries, made his only big-league appearance in the game.

[2] Dick McBride served as regular pitcher for more than a decade and as captain throughout the NA seasons, which gives him manager credit today.

[3] During their five-year existence the Athletics won 165 games and lost only 86 for a winning percentage of .657. Notable players on their roster included Hall of Famer Cap Anson, infielder Ezra Sutton, and pitcher and manager Dick McBride.

During the summer of 1875, the Chicago White Stockings moved decisively to improve its team by recruiting six stars then playing in Boston and Philadelphia.

Chicago's William Hulbert, assisted by player Albert Spalding and sportswriter Lewis Meacham,[4] moved at the same time to organize a new league.

New Haven was too small a city and the club had declined to travel west in 1875, playing only three home games apiece with Chicago and St. Louis.

On Saturday, April 22, 1876, the Athletics played in the first game in the history of Major League Baseball, losing to the Boston Red Caps, 6–5.

Near the end of the season, the financially troubled team refused to make a western road trip, finishing with 35 games played at home and 25 away.