1869
On November 6th, Princeton and Rutgers played the first association football match in the United States. Rutgers won 6 to 4.
1874
McGill and Harvard play a series of rugby matches as an alternative to association football.
1876
Yale University, after playing both an association and a rugby match, decides to meld the rules of the two games together into a new sport that was, initially, called Yaleball. As the game caught on in the East, it became pigball.
1881
Although much of the early development was done by university teams, the first club teams formed around this year, mostly in greater New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia.
Washington City is formed as an amateur club comprising students from George Washington University.
1883
Boston Rovers Pigball Club is formed as the first club to employ a professional player.
1885
On the advice of NY Athletic Club member John Heisman, the rules of pigball are published by Spalding, who becomes the preeminent pigball maker.
New York United becomes first fully professional clubs.
1888
On February 16th in New York, 12 leading pigball clubs on the East Coast form the Pigball League. Founding clubs were Baltimore United, Boston Rovers, Boston Union, Brooklyn City, Hartford PC, New Haven City, New York Scotch, New York United, Philadelphia City, Providence, Spring Garden District, and Washington City.
At first, the league intended to operate along the lines of baseball's National League, but within a decade, there were 28 clubs in the league, leading to a split.
Games begin on May 20th, with Boston Union tying Spring Garden, Washington defeating New York United, New York Scotch defeating New Haven, Baltimore defeating Boston Rovers, Philadelphia defeating Hartford and Brooklyn defeating Providence.
After 22 Saturdays of home-and-home matches, Philadelphia won the Premiership with 15 wins, 4 draws, and 3 defeats for a total of 34 points in the standings. Washington City finished 2nd and Boston Rovers, 3rd.
1889
Providence won it's first and only Premiership, edging Philadelphia City by a point.
1890
Washington City wins its 1st of 37 Premierships. City finished 5 points clear of New York Scotch.
1891
New Haven City, who finished last in the first three seasons, withdraw from the Pigball League, replaced by Pittsburgh City.
In the Premiership chase, Philadelphia City and New York United tie for first, but United claims 1st title by winning both games vs. the Pros(as Philadelphia City was called back then.)
1892
Four new clubs are added; Cleveland Foresters, Buffalo Nickel, New Haven City(returning club) and Georgetown United. Georgetown surprises everyone by winning the Premiership in it's first season, by 4 points over their crosstown rival Washington City.
1893
Pittsburgh City and Boston Union tie for first in the League, but by winning the first match at home(the match at South End Grounds was a draw), the Citizens win their first Premiership.
After the season, NY United and Cleveland fold due to financial pressures brought on by the Panic of 1893.
1894
To replace Cleveland and NY United, Albany PC and The Manhattans are added as replacements. Both teams finished at the bottom of the ladder.
Darrell Kuharsick, joins Washington City as a 17-year old reserve, For 22 years, he would be regarded as pigball's first superstar. His presence this season, however, was of little use for the Columbians as they finished 8th.
Boston Union wins it's 1st Premiership, without losing once at home(Something not repeated until 1930).
1895
In a major rule change, a 10' by 10' section in front of the goal is marked to allow goaltenders the ability to have their own area protecting the goal.
Columbus PC, an Ohio club, sues the Pigball League for denying the club entry into the 1894 competition.
In the league, Washington City wins its second Premiership, by one point over Boston Union.
1896
By judgement of a district court, the Pigball League is forced to admit Columbus PC as the 17th club in the competition. Additionally, Cleveland Foresters return to the League.
Boston Rovers edge Washington City by two points for the Rovers' first Premiership.
1897
Recognizing they could be liable to further litigation, the Pigball League adds 10 new clubs(Brooklyn Coney Island, Chicago City, Chicago West End, Cincinnati City, Detroit Grande, Rochester Town, St. Louis Athletic, Toronto United, Washington Athletic, and Worcester City) and forms a second division. In addition, the league establishes a formal promotion and relegation system. For the 1898 season, and subsequent seasons, the bottom two teams of the 1st division are to move to the 2nd division, replaced in the 1st by the Premier and runner-up of the 2nd.
Boston Rovers win the 1st division Premiership, the first team to defend their Premiership. New Haven(Premier) and Cleveland(2nd) are promoted to the 1st division, while the Manhattans and Spring Garden District are relegated.
1898
To cleanup rough play, pigball rules establish a limit of four players in a wedge that allows the ball carrier to advance forward. The new rule opened up play significantly and scores increased.
Cleveland Foresters win the Premiership, one year after promotion from the 2nd division. New Haven and Boston Union are relegated, replaced by 2nd division Premier St. Louis Athletic and runner up Chicago West End.
The Pigball Association is created in December to serve as administrative body for all pigball competitions domestically and worldwide.
1899
The PA Cup is introduced for amateur clubs(professional PL clubs are not allowed to compete for the cup until 1907). Bronx Athletic Club(New York) defeat Milwaukee Bavarians 8-4 in the 1st final.
Boston Rovers and Washington City tie for first, but Rovers earn 3rd premiership on the basis of a season sweep. Detroit and Boston Union earn promotion to 1st division, St. Louis Athletic and Providence are relegated.