1888 World Series Scorecard--New York Giants vs. St. Louis Browns....

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The National League and American Association battle for baseball supremacy!

1888 World Series Scorecard--New York Giants vs. St. Louis Browns. In order to head off any confusion before we delve into the supreme significance and rarity of this ancient scorecard, we should address the printed dates of "89" and "1889" applied to front and rear covers respectively. While this would seem to undermine our contention that the program dates to 1888, it is rather an expression of a long-abandoned policy of designating teams as "reigning" champions of the subsequent seasons, rather than conquerors of the season in which the championship was won.

Check the "Franchise History" pages for each team at the essential Baseball Reference website and you'll find that the St. Louis Browns pictured on the front cover finished first among the eight American Association teams in 1885, 1886, 1887 and 1888, but not in 1889. Likewise, the New York Giants claimed their first National League pennant in 1888, and while they'd repeat the feat in 1889, only a single championship season is printed here. Those seeking further assurances will consider the fact that these two teams crossed swords only once perhaps the most compelling evidence of all, as the Giants would meet the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in the 1889 World Series. And so, having clarified that matter, we turn our attentions to the relic itself, and the event from which it derives.

While the "modern" World Series, featuring pennant-winners of the National and American Leagues, began in 1903, the first championship series between rival leagues ran from 1884 to 1890, when the American Association was the National League's primary competition. While the series ranged from best-of-three to best-of-fifteen, this fifth edition was a best-of-ten event--don't ask us why an even number of games was chosen. The Giants claimed their clinching sixth victory in Game Eight, but the final two games were played nonetheless for revenue purposes, with the Browns taking both victories for a six games to four final.

This four-page program (two full color covers and two pages of scorecard) is unmarked, so all we can know for certain is that it derives from a St. Louis home game--the Browns front cover, the Charles Comiskey interior text providing the evidence. While the Browns were a powerful force indeed, the Giants were positively brimming with future Hall of Fame talent, as the names on the scorecard confirm: Ewing, Connor, Ward, O'Rourke, Keefe and Welch. Spine is split two and a half inches (2.5") at bottom and a half-inch (0.5") at top, and a small chip is missing from top right corner of front cover. Various bends and light staining is apparent throughout, but any and all such condition concerns must be surrendered in acknowledgment of the staggering odds conquered to survive to present day. Each page of the program measures 7x4".