Professionalism
During this era of baseball, the game was strictly an amateur sport. However, it had rumored that clubs circumvented this rule by paying players in an under-the-table manner. Clubs would hire the player in a created position within the their administration, with the understanding that there were no actual duties required. In 1860, the Excelsior Club lured Creighton, along with teammates George Flanley, Asa Brainard, and his brother Henry Brainard. All but Henry were quietly paid a salary, with Creighton earning $500, thus are believed to be the first "professional" baseball players. After winning the National Association championship in 1860, Creighton and Asa Brainard, jumped from the Excelsior Club to the Atlantic Club of Brooklyn. This move lasted only three weeks, and without having played any games, both players returned to the Excelsior Club. While this practise spread over all of baseball in the coming years, open professionalism didn't begin until the 1869 season, with the Cincinnati Red Stockings paying a salary to each member of the team.
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