1890 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1890 World Series was an end-of-the-year baseball playoff series between the National League
champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms
(later known as the Dodgers) and the American Association
champion Louisville Colonels
.
This Series was part of the pre-modern World Series, an annual competition between the champions of the National League and the American Association. The best-of-7 games Series ended without resolution. Each club won 3 games, with 1 game ending in a tie.
to their "cross-town" rivals, the New York Giants
(Brooklyn was actually a separate city until 1898), the Bridegrooms came back strong and won the American Association pennant in 1890, the first and only major league club to win consecutive pennants in two different leagues.
The major league world was in turmoil in 1890, as many of the best players had jumped to an outlaw organization called the Players' League. Although the Brotherhood only lasted the one season, it had a detrimental financial effect on the other two leagues, especially the Association.
Although the Boston Reds of the Players' League were probably the best team in the majors, and had floated the idea of a three-way World Series, the established leagues ignored them and made arrangements for the usual NL-AA contest, this time to be a conventional best-4-of-7 Series.
The games were held at the Bridegrooms' home field, Washington Park, and the Cyclones' home field, Eclipse Park. The first four were played in Louisville (including a tie in Game 3), and the remainder of the Series was scheduled for Brooklyn.
The Series commenced on October 17 and concluded on October 28. The weather had become progressively worse as the Series wore on, and prior to Game 7, the two managers agreed that this would be the final game, and if Louisville won the game to square the Series at 3-3-1 (which they did), that there would be a deciding championship game the following spring.
Unfortunately for that plan, the championship game was never held. Disputes arose between the League and the Association during the winter about the redistribution of players following the dissolution of the Players' League. The Association ended its relationship with the League before spring of 1891, so the anticipated championship game was canceled, and no World Series was held in 1891. Ironically, the 1891 pennant winners would be the Boston Beaneaters
of the NL and the Boston Reds of the AA, who had joined the Association from the Players' League. This would turn out to be the only time two Boston clubs would win their respective league championships. It would also turn out to be the second (and last) time that a club won pennants in consecutive years in different leagues.
Following the 1891 season, the Association folded, and four clubs were brought into the League. The League would attempt a championships series during the 1890s called the Temple Cup
Series, which would prove to be better organized and better attended than the NL-AA contests, and would help pave the way to the modern World Series
that would begin in 1903.
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(later known as the Dodgers) and the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
champion Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
.
This Series was part of the pre-modern World Series, an annual competition between the champions of the National League and the American Association. The best-of-7 games Series ended without resolution. Each club won 3 games, with 1 game ending in a tie.
World Series Summary
After losing the 1889 World Series1889 World Series
The 1889 World Series was an end-of-the-year baseball playoff series between the National League champion New York Giants and the American Association champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms ....
to their "cross-town" rivals, the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(Brooklyn was actually a separate city until 1898), the Bridegrooms came back strong and won the American Association pennant in 1890, the first and only major league club to win consecutive pennants in two different leagues.
The major league world was in turmoil in 1890, as many of the best players had jumped to an outlaw organization called the Players' League. Although the Brotherhood only lasted the one season, it had a detrimental financial effect on the other two leagues, especially the Association.
Although the Boston Reds of the Players' League were probably the best team in the majors, and had floated the idea of a three-way World Series, the established leagues ignored them and made arrangements for the usual NL-AA contest, this time to be a conventional best-4-of-7 Series.
The games were held at the Bridegrooms' home field, Washington Park, and the Cyclones' home field, Eclipse Park. The first four were played in Louisville (including a tie in Game 3), and the remainder of the Series was scheduled for Brooklyn.
The Series commenced on October 17 and concluded on October 28. The weather had become progressively worse as the Series wore on, and prior to Game 7, the two managers agreed that this would be the final game, and if Louisville won the game to square the Series at 3-3-1 (which they did), that there would be a deciding championship game the following spring.
- Game 1, October 17, at Louisville - Brooklyn 9, Louisville 0 (8 innings)
- Game 2, October 18, at Louisville - Brooklyn 5, Louisville 3
- Game 3, October 20, at Louisville - Brooklyn 7, Louisville 7 (8 innings - tied)
- Game 4, October 21, at Louisville - Louisville 5, Brooklyn 4
- Game 5, October 25, at Brooklyn - Brooklyn 7, Louisville 2
- Game 6, October 27, at Brooklyn - Louisville 9, Brooklyn 8
- Game 7, October 28, at Brooklyn - Louisville 6, Brooklyn 2
Unfortunately for that plan, the championship game was never held. Disputes arose between the League and the Association during the winter about the redistribution of players following the dissolution of the Players' League. The Association ended its relationship with the League before spring of 1891, so the anticipated championship game was canceled, and no World Series was held in 1891. Ironically, the 1891 pennant winners would be the Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
of the NL and the Boston Reds of the AA, who had joined the Association from the Players' League. This would turn out to be the only time two Boston clubs would win their respective league championships. It would also turn out to be the second (and last) time that a club won pennants in consecutive years in different leagues.
Following the 1891 season, the Association folded, and four clubs were brought into the League. The League would attempt a championships series during the 1890s called the Temple Cup
Temple Cup
The Temple Cup was a trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-seven, post-season championship series in the National League, from 1894–1897. The 30-inch-high silver cup was donated by coal, citrus, and lumber baron William Chase Temple, the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates at the time...
Series, which would prove to be better organized and better attended than the NL-AA contests, and would help pave the way to the modern World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
that would begin in 1903.
Sources
- Baseball Library chronology for 1890
- Glory Fades Away: The Nineteenth-Century World Series Rediscovered, by Jerry Lansche, Taylor Publishing, Dallas, Texas, 1991: pp. 183-204.
See also
- The original World Series