Aston Villa had a disappointing[opinion] 1890–91, their 3rd season, having finished ninth. They also had a poor season in the F.A. Cup going out in the second round against Stoke. As consolation Aston Villa won the 1890 National League of Baseball of Great Britain and remain National Baseball champions.
Aston Villa, now known exclusively as a football club, won the only professional baseball championship in 1890. The competition was hindered by poor weather and disappointing crowds and made a loss for its investors.[1] Aston Villa's win was not without controversy, however, with both Aston Villa and Preston North End being found guilty of cheating during the season.[2] For much of the season Derby Baseball Club did lead the championship, however, pressure from other teams in the league over the number of American players on the Derby team and low attendances led to Derby being expelled before the end of the season, though at the time the club insisted they had ‘retired’ as champions,[3] despite evidence to the contrary.
There were debuts for Walter Evans, Fred Marshall, Tom McKnight, Charles Harley, George Campbell, James Brown and Charlie Athersmith.[4]
The table below lists all the results of Aston Villa in the Football League for the 1890–91 season
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Sunderland | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 51 | 31 | 1.645 | 23[a] | |
| 8 | Burnley | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 52 | 63 | 0.825 | 21 | |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 45 | 58 | 0.776 | 18 | Re-elected |
| 10 | Accrington | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 28 | 50 | 0.560 | 16 | |
| 11 | Derby County | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 47 | 81 | 0.580 | 15 |
| 1890 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Team | Venue | Win/Draw/Lose | Score |
| 6 September | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away | Lost | 1–2 |
| 13 September | Notts County | Home | Win | 3–2 |
| 20 September | Burnley | Away | Lost | 1–2 |
| 27 September | West Bromwich Albion | Home | Lost | 0–4 |
| 4 October | Bolton Wanderers | Away | Lost | 0–4 |
| 11 October | Everton | Home | Draw | 2-2 |
| 18 October | Derby County | Away | Lost | 4–5 |
| 25 October | Derby County | Home | Won | 4–0 |
| 1 November | West Bromwich Albion | Away | Won | 3–0 |
| 8 November | Burnley | Home | Draw | 4–4 |
| 15 November | Accrington | Home | Won | 3–1 |
| 22 November | Bolton Wanderers | Away | Lost | 0–4 |
| 29 November | Notts County | Away | Lost | 1–7 |
| 6 December | Blackburn Rovers | Away | Lost | 1–5 |
| 13 December | Blackburn Rovers | Home | Draw | 2–2 |
| 26 December | Sunderland | Home | Draw | 0–0 |
| 1891 | ||||
| Date | Team | Venue | Win/Draw/Lose | Score |
| 1 January | Everton | Away | Lost | 0–5 |
| 10 January | Sunderland | Away | Lost | 1–5 |
| 24 January | Preston North End | Away | Lost | 1–4 |
| 9 January | Preston North End | Home | Lost | 0–1 |
| 14 January | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Home | Won | 6–2 |
| 21 March | Accrington | Away | Won | 3–1 |
