Formed for the 1877 season, the New England Association began play on May 3, 1877, as an eight–team league, but ended the season reduced to four teams. The league was one of the earliest minor leagues. On August 27, 1877, Providence turned a
triple play in a game against Lowell. The
Lowell Ladies Men, with a 33–7 record, won the championship, finishing 4.0 games ahead of the second place Manchester Reds who finished with a 29–11 record. Lowell and Manchester were followed in the final standings by the
Fall River Cascades (19–21) and
Providence Rhode Islanders (11–29). Both Lowell and Fall River had also been members of the 1877
League Alliance agreement, and in one game on June 12, 1877, future Hall of Famer
Pud Galvin pitched the
International Association member
Pittsburgh Alleghenies to a 3–2 win over Lowell. The Lynn Live Oaks (8–22), Fitchburg, Haverhill and Lawrence franchises all folded before the 1877 New England Association season ended on October 15, 1877. The New England Association folded after the 1877 season. In November 1877, the Lowell Ladies Men defeated the
major leagues'
National League champion
Boston Red Caps 9–4 in an exhibition contest. The New England Association had two
Baseball Hall of Fame members in the 1877 league. Hall of Fame inductee
Candy Cummings managed the 1877
Lynn Live Oaks, while fellow Baseball Hall of Fame member
Ned Hanlon played for the 1877
Fall River Casscades at age 19. In 1895, the New England Association reformed as a six–team independent league under the direction of president J.C. Morse. The six franchises were Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lawrence Indians, Lowell, Nashua Rainmakers and Salem. On May 3, 1895, in a game at Nashua, Lawrence defeated Nashua 36–17. The Fitchburg and Haverhill franchises both disbanded on June 20, 1895. Salem moved to Haverhill on June 20, 1895. On May 21, 1895, William Regan of Salem threw the New England Association's only
no-hitter against Fitchburg in a 6–0 victory. The New England Association permanently disbanded mid–season on July 8, 1895. At season's end, the Lawrence Indians won the New England Association championship with a 33–19 record, followed by the Nashua Rainmakers (27–21), Lowell (24–24) and Salem/Haverhill (20–28). ==New England Association franchises==