The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-04
WORLDS SERIES
Thirty-One Years Have Elapsed
Since First Games.
Old Providence Team Won the
First Title in 1884.

New York, Oct. 4.--Although thirty
one years have elapsed since the first
battle for the baseball championship
of the world was won by the Provi-
dence r. l., "Grays," there were sew
eral years in which the struggle was
not repeated so that the coming con-
test between the Boston Red Sox and
the Philadelphia Nationals will be the
tweaty-fourth series to be played 1or
the7premier title of the diamond.
The inaugural contest in 1884 was
wol by the Rhode Island team, then
chlmpion of the National league, IN
thee straight games from the metro
pditans, the standard bearers OF the
Old American association OF that year.
Unavoidable l-pSeS occurred in elght
o. the subsequent seasons There was
10 competition for the worlds honor
in 1891 or 1898. There was also a
five year lapse from 1898 to 1902 in
tlusive, but in 1903 the Boston Amerl-
cans beat the Pittsburg Nationals i've
games to three. The following year
championship was claimed by the
Boston Red Sox by default as the New
Y ork National League club would not
permit it's 1904 pennant winners TO
plaf the American league champions
On Solid Basis.
II 1905, however, the Two major
Ieatues arrived at an understanding
afttr the matter had been Thoroughly
discussed during the winter months,
ami the worlds championship com
petition was placed on solld basis;
Tie national commission assumed
cdltrol of the annual series and made
itcompulsory for the pennant winning
clubs in each league to have thelr
tams meet at the close OF the playing
SaSon every year, the worlds title to
90 to the club winning four out of seven
ameS. Rules were adopted by the
1ational commission which governed
Werything connected with the post /
A,-r-,, rvafe
completed regarding the disbursement |
Of the gate receipts between the win |
ming and losing players, the club own /
erS and the national commission and |
to the merest detail everything was |
done to the satisfaction of everybody
Under these new conditions the |
post-SeasOn games were resumed and
they have been played every year
regularly since 1905 In the fall af
that year the New York Giants defeat
ed the Athletics of Philadelphia four
games to one and scored the first win
ming of. the worlds title under the new
regime. The rival Chicago clubs had
the issue ~otween them in 1906; Com
sky's White Sox winning the honors
by four games to two. The Detroit
Tigers won tie American league pen
nant for the ext three years in sue
eession but failed to add the worlds
title to their string of victories as they
we're beaten in the post-season battles
IF 1907 and 1908 by the Chicago Cubs
md the following year they lost to
when the Pirates nailed
both the worlds championship and
National league pennants to their
mast. Connie Mack and his Athletics
we're dominant factors in the two fol-
owing years, they scored a four to one
-ictory ovar the Chicago Nationals in
go and in the 1911 series they
quarrel their defeat by the Giants in
sos by taking McGraws players into
amp four games to two in the battle I
or the worlds title.
SOX VS.. Giants.
Then followed the great eight game
cries between the Boston Americans
md the Giants. Probably for a long !
ime to come 1912 will be remem bered !
S the banner year" as in addition ,
o tie game the Red SOx players, sew
raj of whom are still in the Boston
lineup, went the limit and forced I
Manager McGraw to a four to three {
efeat. Philadelphia Connie Mack $
nd the Athletics scored a third 7
Torld's victory in 1913 with the :
iiants again losers, the New York !
cam winning only one game out of I
i've. Last year the Boston Braves +
made a clean sweep in the post-season
ames, taking four straight from the r
lthletics, after a sensation squirt and +
inal victory in the National league
ace.