Formed for the 1884 season, the Massachusetts State Association began play on May 1, 1884, as an eight–team league, with teams scheduled for one or two games per week. The league was a Non-Signatory
Independent level league under president M. H. Nichols. The league lost four teams during the season, on July 21, 1884. The Massachusetts State Association played in 1884. The charter members were the
Boston Reserves and teams from
Holyoke, Massachusetts,
Lawrence, Massachusetts,
Lynn, Massachusetts,
Salem, Massachusetts,
Springfield, Massachusetts,
Waltham, Massachusetts and
Worcester, Massachusetts. The 1884 Boston Reserves were the first minor league baseball team to play in
Boston, Massachusetts. The Reserves were owned and operated by the
Boston Beaneaters of the
National League and may have been the first true baseball
farm team. On July 21, 1884, the Worcester, Waltham, Lynn and Salem teams all disbanded, leaving the Massachusetts State Association with four remaining teams. The league concluded play on August 15, 1884. The Massachusetts State Association standings were led by first place Springfield with a 12–5 record, 1.0 games ahead of the second place Boston Reserves (13–8), followed by Holyoke (7–11) and Lawrence (7–15). Lynn (4–8), Salem (2–11), Waltham (9–6) and Worcester (11–4) had previously folded. After the season, the Massachusetts State Association permanently folded, playing only the 1884 season. ==Massachusetts State Association teams==