other league’s players… respect the other’s rights”(3) and to define the territories of each league. A National Commission ,which had members from both leagues, was established to enforce the rules made between the two leagues. The two leagues battle against one another , in attendance and popularity , during the following year. In 1903 , the two leagues decided to play a best of nine series between the winner from the National League and the winner from the American League. The series “ was a financial success for the owners”(4)and players and it was a popular success with the fans. The Boston team from the American League won the first world series in 1903 and the New York Giants from the National League won 1905. In 1904 , the National League choose not to play the world series because they did not want do anything to help the American League. This decision brought much criticism to the National League by fans , sportswriters , and players , so the National League decided to play the next year but in a seven game series instead. The National League winner in 1906 caused great controversy in baseball. Several weeks before the end of the season , the first place New York Giants were playing the second place Cubs in a pivotal game. In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants had two men at the corners and Al Bidwell of the Giants hit a single and the runner from third had scored ,to apparently win the game. After the man scored , Giants fans rushed the field , and Fred Merkle , the runner on first , went to the clubhouse in right ...
