The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-01
.>>v,;NLY : :, 300 AT
 CAME OF FIRST
 WORLDS SERIES

Nothing shows the growth of base bal more than a comparison Of gate receipts taken in during the different series played for the baseball cham fpionship of the world. In the year 1884 about 300 people attended the final game between the Providence team and the Metropolitan Club, champions of their respective leagues, and the total attendance at all three games was less than 5000. That amount of paid admissions at a. dollar each would hardly pay the umpires of the present series. Radbourne and Keefe, the opposing hurlers, were at the height of their respective careers, but they failed to draw the throngs However, the players did ont worry, as there was nothing in it for them except glory.
 In the season of 1885 the series was a failure from all standpoints. Only 5000 saw the six contests between the men of Anson and the Browns led by Charles Comiskey. The series was marked by continual scrapping and at times real fighting. The series broke up or ended with honors in games won and verbal scraps fifty and fifty" In 1886 the first real series for the worlds championship was staged and pulled off in a successful manner The six games drew out 40O0O and the net receipts were $140OO, which was handed over to the St. Louis Browns as per agreement. Anson and his merry men did not even get pleasant smile out of the encounter
 The series of 1887 was considered a wonderful affair at that period, with an attendance of 50,O0o and gate re- ce1pts amounting to $42,O00, which amount caused unusual amazement in baseball circles at that time The teams travelled in special cars, and the whole affair was carried on on a scale of magnificenee never before at tempted in baseball. Fifteen games were played and ten cities got the prfs1lege of witnessing the two best teams battle. Chicago had a "grouch'' and when the Detroit and St. Louis played that city 1t sent out 365 spec tators. Brooklyn turned out the larg- est crowd, 6,746. Detroit won hands down, with ten contests to their credit
 Perhaps the best series of all early day affairs was played in the season of 1889, between Brooklyn and the Giants. Forty-seven thousand fans saw the nine games and paid s46, ,O0t for the privilege. New York won ir easy fashion.
 The season of 1890 was a failure as s worlds series. One was played be. -x tween the Brooklyn club and the Louisville team, champions of the Ma, uonal and American associations Tht winners of the Players League. th. Bostons, were by long odds the hes club in the land that season, but the, were regarded as outlaws. so the othe law-abtding organizations Ignored them entirely. The two aboye-nanet contenders played seven games of tn, ten agreed upon, and the struggl ended in a tie, and the balance of t17 games for the supremacy of the base ball world were postponed until tn next spring, but no record can b found where they met and settle their argument, and it is probable ths it isn't settled yet Seven games wer played, one being a tie, and 1900 people attended the entire series.
 From the year 1892 until 1897 Sn worlds series games took place. Tilt were held between the winners of tn first and second seasons of the bi twelve-club National League, br they lacked the intense rivalry whic exists today. For six years the far of the country had to be satisfie with watching the annual strugg between the first and second contend CTS for the flag in their respecti1 leagues.
 In the year 1903 the first big bait was staged for worlds championsht honors in baseball, and from tn
 date the crowning event in the gre
 national game has grown steadil and today 1t is regarded as the grea
 est event in the athletic world.