Post by billmcdee on Oct 1, 2022 20:48:48 GMT -5
Former United States President James Earl (Jimmy) Carter was born October 1st, 1924, making him 98 years young today. To the best of my recollection, he is the oldest former U.S. President in our nation's history by far.
Also on this date back in 1903, the very first World Series began. Game 1 of the 1903 Fall Classic featured the Boston Pilgrims/Americans (Red Sox) versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 1903 Series was a best 5 out of 9 affair, and spoiler alert.....the upstate Boston club won it 5 games to 3. All other World Series have been the best 4 games out of 7, except for 1919, 1920 and 1921.
The Red Sox were part of the "new" American League, which began in 1901. The Pirates were around since 1882 and were in the more established National League, which officially formed and began in 1876.
There was no World Series in 1904 as the owner of the then New York (now San Francisco) Giants, John Brush, refused to accept the challenge from the repeat American League champs, the Red Sox. Official rules were then developed for how a World Series should be played, and are known as the "Brush Rules". The World Series resumed in 1905 and was played every year during the 20th century, including during both World Wars, with the one exception being 1994, when a mid-season players' strike interrupted the regular season, and negotiations broke down, thus cancelling the 1994 Fall Classic.
In this writer's humble opinion, that incident was the beginning of the end for Major League Baseball.
Adding to the decline of the once popular "National pastime" was steroid usage plus playoff games and especially World Series games starting so late on the East Coast, which has led to abysmal television ratings in the last quarter century or so. Combined all this with constant inter league play, and the special uniqueness that the World Series once held, no longer does for me, and I dare say many other former baseball fans as well.
Also on this date back in 1903, the very first World Series began. Game 1 of the 1903 Fall Classic featured the Boston Pilgrims/Americans (Red Sox) versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 1903 Series was a best 5 out of 9 affair, and spoiler alert.....the upstate Boston club won it 5 games to 3. All other World Series have been the best 4 games out of 7, except for 1919, 1920 and 1921.
The Red Sox were part of the "new" American League, which began in 1901. The Pirates were around since 1882 and were in the more established National League, which officially formed and began in 1876.
There was no World Series in 1904 as the owner of the then New York (now San Francisco) Giants, John Brush, refused to accept the challenge from the repeat American League champs, the Red Sox. Official rules were then developed for how a World Series should be played, and are known as the "Brush Rules". The World Series resumed in 1905 and was played every year during the 20th century, including during both World Wars, with the one exception being 1994, when a mid-season players' strike interrupted the regular season, and negotiations broke down, thus cancelling the 1994 Fall Classic.
In this writer's humble opinion, that incident was the beginning of the end for Major League Baseball.
Adding to the decline of the once popular "National pastime" was steroid usage plus playoff games and especially World Series games starting so late on the East Coast, which has led to abysmal television ratings in the last quarter century or so. Combined all this with constant inter league play, and the special uniqueness that the World Series once held, no longer does for me, and I dare say many other former baseball fans as well.
