Although the Chicago White Stockings finished with the best regular-season record – making them the default NL champions as no playoff existed – the White Stockings and Brown Stockings agreed to face off in an unofficial five-game playoff for the title "Champions of the West." The Brown Stockings won the series
| TEAM | W | L | Pct | GB | ||
 | Chicago | 52 | 14 | .788 | - | |
 | Hartford | 47 | 21 | .691 | 6.0 | |
 | St. Louis | 45 | 19 | .703 | 6.0 | |
 | Boston | 39 | 31 | .557 | 15.0 | |
 | Louisville | 30 | 36 | .455 | 22.0 | |
 | New York | 21 | 35 | .375 | 26.0 | |
 | Philadelphia | 14 | 45 | .237 | 34.5 | |
 | Cincinnati | 9 | 56 | .138 | 42.5 |