Doyle became the first manager of the team, which drew 6,000 fans to its first home game on May 12, 1883, against the Trenton team. (This was actually the second game the club played in Brooklyn; three days earlier, with Washington Park not yet ready, the Greys beat Harrisburg 7–1 at the Parade Ground.[1] It was the only professional match ever held at the ground, with some 2,000 fans in attendance.) The team won the league title after the Camden Merritt club disbanded on July 20 and Brooklyn picked up some of its better players. The Grays were invited to join the American Association for the following season.[2]
