National Association

The National Association (NA) was a very loose league to play in. Anyone could join provided they pay the $10 ($200 today) entry fee and play each other team at least five times. The teams made their own schedules. Bill James says the National Association was like the USA under the Articles of Confederation versus the National League is to the USA under the Constitution. Their was no central authority, no consistency in umpiring, field conditions, or ticket prices. Teams would often schedule games then not show up to play them and haggle over how the gate was to be split. Players would jump from one team to another. This paved the way for some of the stronger teams to form the National League.