1884 World Series Champion Providence Grays

1884 World Series News Clipping

Although the "Fall Classic" as we know it didn't begin until 1903, Major League Baseball had several versions of a post-season championship series before that. MLB logo Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ...

The first such championship series was in 1884, between the Providence Grays of the National League and the New York Metropolitans of the American Association at the Polo Grounds in New York. The Providence Grays were a 19th century baseball team. ... This article refers to the American baseball league. ... The Metropolitan Club (NOT New York Metropolitans) were the first professional baseball team to play in New York City. ... The American Association has been the name of at least two leagues of professional United States of America. ... The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in New York City used by Major League Baseballs New York Giants from 1883 until 1957, and by the New York Mets in their first two seasons of 1962 and 1963. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki (R) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ...

In 1884, Metropolitans manager Jim Mutrie issued a challenge to his NL counterpart, Frank Bancroft of the Grays. Mutrie's challenge was for a best-of-three series. Each team would put up a thousand dollars with the winner taking the booty.

The series would feature a pitching match-up of future Hall of Famers and 300-game winners Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn and Tim Keefe. Charles Radbourn on a 1887_1890 Goodwin & Company baseball card (Old Judge (N172)). Charles Gardner Radbourn (December 11, 1854 _ February 5, 1897), nicknamed Old Hoss, was a pitcher in Major League Baseball prior to the turn of the 20th century. ... Tim Keefe on an 1888 Goodwin & Company baseball card (Goodwin Champions (N162)). Timothy John Keefe (January 1, 1857 - April 23, 1933) was a 19th century Major League Baseball pitcher noted for his longevity and record-setting strikeout totals. ...

That was the year Radbourn won his season record 59 games for the Grays. Keefe was a mere 37-17. Playing under American Association rules, Radbourn and the Grays whipped the New York team in the first two games, 6-0 and 3-1.

Only the first game went the full nine innings; the others were called after seven and six, because of darkness and extreme cold, respectively. The third game should never have been played as the format was best-of-three, and Providence clinched in two. But nothing is more conducive to bad judgment than greed, and Game Three was played under the assumption that a big crowd would turn out.

This resulting crowd comprised 300 people. Radbourn, pitching his third complete game in three days, led the Grays to an 12-2 thrashing. For the series, Radbourn allowed 11 hits and no earned runs in 22 innings. As an indication that nobody was taking the game seriously, Keefe, the losing pitcher in the first two games, umpired the third one.

Local newspaper The New York Clipper called the series "The Championship of the United States." Several newspapers, such as The Sporting Life penned the Grays as "World Champions" and the new title stuck.

The total attendance for the three games was 3,800. Despite the low attendance, the two leagues continued the series, and attendance and prize money increased each of the next two years.

Post-season series between the champions of the two leagues continued until 1891, when renewed fighting between the leagues prevented further championship matches.

The World Series of 1884

Providence Grays (NL) (84-28) vs New York Metropolitans (AA) (75-32)

Game 1

Friday, October 23rd, at the Polo Grounds

Providence defeats New York 6-0

Game 2

Saturday, October 24th, at the Polo Grounds

Providence defeats New York 3-1 (7 innings)

Game 3

Sunday, October 25th, at the Polo Grounds

Providence defeats New York 12-2 (6 innings)

External Links

• Baseball-Reference's 1884 World Series page