Founder of the National League in a startling coup d'tat that replaced the stumbling National Association, Hulbert held great disdain for Henry Chadwick for his role in siding with the Philadelphia Athletics in the Davey Force affair. As a result, Hulbert conspired to form a new baseball association without one of the leading figures in the game. Hulbert founded the National League in 1876 along with Albert Spalding. Once the League was established, Chadwick was eventually brought up to date.
Hulbert died of heart disease in 1882.