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MLB: The History of the American Pastime

By Keaton Moore

Sep 30, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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1900-1909

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By the 20th century, the National League and historically phenomenal pitching dominated baseball’s earliest decade. Despite the threatening bats of Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner, dominant pitching from Walter Johnson, Cy Young, Christy Mathewson and others deemed the time from 1900-1919 the “dead ball era” in baseball.

During this 20-season span, fans came to the ballpark expecting to see very low scoring games. Small ball, bunting and singles highlighted baseball during the early 1900s. Meanwhile, home runs were rare and regarded as showboating.

Up until 1901, the National League comfortably ran professional baseball unchallenged. Although a number of rival leagues started up during the late 19th century, none lasted longer than five years as the National League prospered.

However, after abiding by the National Agreement since 1883, the American League broke apart, declaring itself a professional major league. The newly established league featured eight franchises, seven of which still exist today.

Despite their efforts to maintain their monopoly on baseball, the National League came to terms with signing a second National Agreement with the American League in 1903. This agreement deemed the National and American Leagues  professional and instituted an annual championship between both leagues, the World Series.

The World Series

With the second National Agreement came the first World Series between the Boston Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903. The first World Series came down to a deciding Game 8, in which the Americans shutout the Pirates.

One year later, due pride and bitterness felt towards the American League president, Ban Johnson, the New York Giants player-manager, John McGraw, refused to compete in the 1904 World Series. He felt that his team was superior to the “junior” American League and by being the National League champions, there was no need to play the Americans for the championship.

When the Giants repeated their National League championship, McGraw conceded and his team beat the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 World Series. In fact, besides three unearned runs, the Giants pitching staff posted a 0.00 World Series ERA.

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