Forfeits in baseball might seem rare today, but they were once a frequent part of the game. From 1883 to 1907, there was at least one forfeit in the major leagues every year, with a staggering 13 in 1884 alone. These forfeits often highlighted the chaotic and unrefined nature of early professional baseball.
Imagine a team refusing to show up because they feared for their safety or a pitcher standing on the mound, refusing to throw a pitch in protest. Such incidents were not uncommon.
Teams even forfeited games because they ran out of baseballs or needed to catch a train.