FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-012

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (January 28, 2026) – This issue of Fun with Maps gets us out of the cold and into the warmth of baseball and thoughts of warm spring and summer sun.

The Junior Circuit

Today is the 125th anniversary of the modern era of baseball in the US.

On this day – January 28, 1901 the American League was founded.  With its establishment, the stage was set for a rivalry between two leagues – the National League being already in existence for almost 25 years – which would lead to a championship World Series.

The American League was established in Milwaukee and was made up of 8 teams – Baltimore Orioles, Boston Americans, Chicago White Stockings, Cleveland Blues, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators.

The American Association, The Union Association, and the Players League failed to compete with the National League, and only the American League was strong enough to make the leap from the minors to the major baseball scene.

The Chicago White Stockings won the league’s first game – April 24, 1901, against the Cleveland Blues, 8-2 – and its first ever pennant at the end of the season.

This map of Wisconsin by Tanner from 1844 predates statehood by four years.  Milwaukee is on the board.  Note the county development from southeast to the north and west.  

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.