The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10
CHAMPIONSHIP BALL GAMES
BOOST THE NATIONAL SPORT

series once more demonstrate the wonder
ful popularity OF the national game in
every city and town throughout the
United States. II was good business on
the part Of the two major leagues when
they decided upon this annual test of
skill. for they established not only an
Incentive for the players Of the pennant-
winning teams to show the fighting spirit
right up 10 the end OF the campaigns.
but also provided a climax which has
caused widespread interest wherever
baseball Is. discussed.
This idea Of the so-called worlds series
did not originate with the present major
league magnates. however. The first
series was the result OF rivalry between
the National League and the. old Amer
lean Association. organized in 1882 Up TO
that year the National League had
monopoly Of baseball patronage In the
large cities. but with the advent Of the
American Association there was a sharp
struggle FOR first honOrs. which culm-
mated in a battle on the diamond between
the champion teams.
IL was In 1884 that Inc first worlds
series was played, between the champion
providence team. Of the National League,
and the Metrpoltans. OF New York, pen
nant winners in the American Associa-
ton. After that there was an annual
struggle up 70 the end of the season Of
1886 Then came the war between
the rival organizations. and Of course
the worlds series was abolished, and
as the twelve-club National League
was formed In 1892 there was no further
test, except a meeting OF the winners Of
the first and second seasons" In 1888.
The Temple cup was offered for COM
petition In 1894. and the Baltimores, cham
pions, met the New Yorks, who finished
second. This trophy was played for
every year after that until the end Of
1887, when the magnates decided TO cut
out the series because OF the squabbles
over the players share of the prize
money. For six years after that there
was no series of any kind after the regu-
lar season, except interleagua contests In
different cities. which were si:nply gate
money affairs OF no particular import.
Peace Pact Makes Opening.
When the American League expanded
In 1901. which brought on a bitter fight,
entaiiing heavy financial loss, there was
no chance for a worlds championship,
but when the peace agreement between
the big circuits was signed the following
year 1t was decided TO have a meeting
between the two pennant winners. So
in the fail Of 1893 the Pittsburg Nation
ais and the Boston Americans locked
horns to settle the question Of supremacy.
Boston won the American League pen
nant in 1904 and issued the usual chal-
lenge to the Giants, who had been sue
cessful in the National League, but John
T. Brush for some unknown reason de-
clined to play the series, and the Hub
team laid claim to the worlds title by de-
fault. Later Mr.. Brush explained his
action by stating that no formal rules
governing such a series had been adopted.
and proceeded to draw up a code himself
Excepting a few amendments. the code
was adopted by the rival leagues. and
the worlds series has been governed by
It ever since.
The series Is under the absolute con-
troll Of the national baseball commits
sion. with the COntesting clubs forced
20 give bonds In the sum Of $4,000 each
TO guarantee good faith and strict
obedience TO the rules, The number Of
games is fixed at not more than seven,
three 70 be played in each city, with
the deciding battle-ground, II necessary,
to be selected BY the commission. Two
umpires, representing each league, must
ofhciate. The winning team receives a
pennant and each member OF Il egts an
emblem provided by the commission The
players OF the rival teams receive Is
per cent OF the gross receipts OF the
first four games. with 60 per cent of this
money 10 the winners and 10 per cent 10
the losers. The commission gets 10 per
cent OF the gross receipts from all OF
tho games played, while the balance Of
the money. minus the players end, is
divided equally between the rival clue
owners.
The series in 1884 between the Provi-
dence Nationals and the Metropolitans
consisted OF only three games. all played
at the Polo Grounds in New York Provl-
dence made a clean sweep, winning by
6 TO 0, TO /. and II to . Frank Ban
croft was the manager OF the Provl-
dence team, which included Pitchers Rad
bourne and Sweeney. Catchers Gilligan
and Maya, Inhelders Start, Farrell
Denny. and Irwin and Odthelders Carroll
Hines, and Radford. The Nets had Tim
Keefe and Jack Lynch as pitchers, with
Holbert and Reipsehlager behind the bat !;
Dave Orr. Dasher Troy, and Dude Ester
brook on the bases: Jack Nelson, short
stop: Eddie Kennedy, Chief Rossman and
Steve Brady in the outfeld while the
famous Jim Mutrie. with mis- 1--WE are
the people" war cry. was the manager.
AnsOn's Colts Tied I'm Series.
Anson's Chicagoes and Comiskey's ST.
Louis Browns were the competitors In
1855. Each team won three games, while
one contest was a draw, these being the
results: At Chicago. St. Louis .. Chicago
5 (eight innings); at st. Louis, Chicago
8. St Louis 0 (eight innings; forfeited) /;
at st. Louis. ST. LOUIS Z. Chicago 4; at
ST. Louis st. Louis 3. Chicago 2: at
Pittsburg. Chicago 9. st. Louis (seven
innings; at Cincinnati. Chicago Q, st.
Louis 2; at Chicago. ST. Louis 13. Chicago
T. Arson played first base for Chicago
that year and had Pitchers Clarkson
and Mccormick; Catcher Flint Second
Baseman Pfeffer, Third Baseman viii
hanson, Shortstop Burns, and Outnelders
Dalrymple Gore. Mike Kelly, and Billy
Sunday. Comiskey had some famous
players, Pitchers Carruthers and Dave
Foutz Catcher Bushong. Second Base
man Robinson, Third Baseman Arlie
Latham. shortstop Gleason. and Outfeld-
ers Curt welch, Tip O'Neil and Hugh
Nicol. Commy played first base and was
a star there, too. Chicago and st. Louis
hooked up again In 1856, the Browns win
ming the worlds championship by four
games to two. the scores being Chicago
6. ST. Louis 0; St Louis r. Chicago 0;
Chicago Il, ST. Louis 4; st. Louis 8
Chicago s; ST. Louis 10. Chicago 3; 81.
Louis 1. Chicago 3. The teams we're
practically the same as in 1856, except
tnat Comiskey had Hudson as an extra
pitcher. while Arson had Kelly behind
the bat. with Flint and Jim Ryan in the
outfleld.
The St Louis Browns won the AnYeri-
can Association pennant in 1887 for the
third consecutive time They met the
heavy hitting Detroits. champion Of the
National League, IN the worlds series
and were crushed by ten victories to
..In l..