The very first World Series was played in 1903 between the Boston American League club (now the Boston Red Sox) and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Although the first world series wasn’t played until 1903, there was a previous championship called “The Championship of the United States” and “World’s Championship Series”, which the winners of the National League and American Association had played from 1884 to 1891. The Series ended when the American Association folded in 1891.
Ban Johnson formed the American League in 1901 to try and take advantage of the National League’s cut down from twelve teams down to eight. Ban Johnson and fellow owners raided the senior circuit and signed away many star players. This constant …