Boston Beaneaters center fielder Hugh Duffy set the MLB single-season record for batting average (.440). He also led the NL in hits (237), home runs (18), total bases (374), and runs scored (160). He was second in the NL in slugging percentage (.694) and runs batted in (145). He was third in the NL in on-base percentage (.502) and adjusted OPS+ (173).[1][2][3]
New York Giants pitcher Amos Rusie had a win–loss record of 36–13 and led the NL in wins (36), earned run average (2.78), adjusted ERA+ (188), and strikeouts (195). He was second in the NL in innings pitched (444).[4][5]
January 6 – Marty Sullivan, 31, outfielder who hit .273 in 398 games for the White Stockings, Hoosiers, Beaneaters, and Spiders from 1887 to 1891.
February 28 – Edgar McNabb, 28, pitcher for the 1893 Baltimore Orioles of the National League.
March 3 – Ned Williamson, 36, third baseman and shortstop for the Chicago White Stockings, who set single-season records with 49 doubles in 1883, 27 home runs in 1884, while leading the National League in assists seven times and double plays six times.
March 24 – Mike Jones, 28, Canadian pitcher for the 1890 American Association champion Louisville Colonels.
April 3 – Billy Redmond, 41, shortstop who played for three different teams in two leagues between 1875 and 1878.
April 29 – Sparrow McCaffrey, 26, catcher for the 1889 Columbus Solons of the American Association.
May 3 – Bob Ferguson, 49, infielder and manager of eight teams, known as sport's first switch-hitter and nicknamed "Death to Flying Things" for defensive skill, who captained an 1870 team which defeated Cincinnati Red Stockings after 84 straight wins, was president of National Association from 1872 to 1875, and set record for career games as umpire.
May 19 – Bill Mountjoy, 35, Canadian pitcher who posted a 31–24 record and a 3.25 ERA for the Cincinnati and Baltimore National League teams from 1883 to 1885.
June 23 – Jimmy Say, 32, third baseman/shortstop for five different teams in three leagues between 1882 and 1887.
August 25 – Yank Robinson, 34, second baseman for six teams of four different leagues, most prominently for the St. Louis Browns squads that won four American Association pennants from 1885 to 1888 and the 1886 World Series.
August 28 – Gracie Pierce, [?], second baseman and outfielder for five different teams in two leagues from 1882 through 1884, who later umpired in the National League and the Players' League.
September 16 – Terry Larkin, 38, National League pitcher and an 89-game winner from 1877 to 1879, who committed suicide by slitting his throat with a razor.
September 26 – Nick Reeder, 27, third baseman who played one game for the 1891 Louisville Colonels of the American Association.
October 16 – Ed Conley, 30, pitcher for the 1884 Providence Grays of the National League.
November 2 – William Houseman, 35, pitcher for the 1886 Baltimore Orioles of the American Association.
November 2 – Alamazoo Jennings, 43, catcher for the 1878 Milwaukee Grays of the National League; worked intermittently as an umpire between 1882 and 1891 in the American Association and Union Association.
November 8 – King Kelly, 36, Hall of Fame catcher and right fielder for the Chicago and Boston National League teams, known as a fiery and alert competitor that developed the hit-and-run and caused numerous refinements of sport's rules upon his exploitation of loopholes, who batted .308 lifetime with two batting titles, led the league in runs and doubles three times each, starred on five Chicago champion teams, and managed Boston to the 1890 Players' League title.
December 24 – Charlie Duffee, 28, outfielder for four teams in two different leagues, who led all American Association outfielders in assists in the 1889 and 1891 seasons.
December 25 – Tom Cahill, 26, utility player for the 1891 Louisville Colonels of the American Association.
December 30 – Jack McMahon, 25, first baseman and catcher who played from 1892 to 1893 for the New York Giants of the National League.
