The 1886 New York Giants season was the franchise's fourth season. The team had a record of 75–44, finishing third in the National League, 12.5 games behind the Chicago White Stockings.

James J. Mutrie was an American baseball pioneer who was the co-founder and first manager of both the original New York Metropolitans and the New York Giants. He had a winning percentage of .611, the highest for the 19th century for managers. It remains the third highest by any major league manager with at least 600 wins, trailing only Joe McCarthy's mark of .615 and Dave Roberts.