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World Series Logo Display Cases

The History of the World Series
Before the birth of the World Series in 1903, there were other postseason championships that took place as early as 1884. Although they are not officially recognized as part of World Series history, they provide a basis for the establishment of what has become recognized as "The Fall Classic."

The Fall Classic has provided us with many magical moments. The first World Series, in 1903, was a best-of-nine affair arranged between the champions of the older National League (founded in 1876) and the American League. The AL's Boston Pilgrims upset the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 games to 3.

The 1904 NL champion New York Giants refused to play Boston the following year, so there was no Series. But the league presidents smoothed out their differences, and the Series resumed in 1905, when the Giants agreed to play Philadelphia in a best-of-7 game series.

Since then the World Series has followed the best-of-seven format -- except from 1919-21, when it returned briefly to best-of-nine.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Facts About The (ROMLB) Rawlings Official Major League Baseball
Supplied exclusively by Rawlings® for over a quarter-century, each ball comes
carefully crafted, weighed, measured, tested, inspected, and re-inspected. 5 ounces.
108 stitches. Absolute Perfection.

Rawlings - Costa Rica produces 80,000 dozen major league game balls a year, Minor
league baseballs are made at the Rawlings plant in China.

Six-seven dozen baseballs are used in a typical Major League game.
The average life of a baseball in the Majors is 6 pitches.

It takes about 10 minutes for a sewer to sew the 108 stitches on each baseball. The
first and last stitches are perfectly hidden.

The terms "live" and "dead" have been applied to baseballs for more than 100 years.
In the early years, the home team was often expected to provide the ball, and a good
hitting team might wind its balls tightly, for a "lively" effect, while a team of
defensive specialists might create looser, softer, or "dead" balls.

In 1857 the length of a game was set at nine innings, pitching was underarm from a
distance of 45 feet and the batter was out if a fielder caught the ball on the first
bounce.

Rawlings: History of the Company
1887
George and Alfred Rawlings announce opening of retail sporting goods store in downtown St. Louis

1920
Rawlings introduces historic Bill Doak glove. This revolutionary glove featured a multi-thong web laced into the first finger and thumb with a natural formed deep pocket. Becomes the prototype for all-purpose gloves of the future.

1941
Rawlings hears fielders' plea. Develops the Trapper - a three-fingered, deep well pocket glove that changes the design of first base mitts and sets the standard for Major League specifications.

1946
The Rawlings glove line expands to include a glove for each position - with a name, position and number.

1947
Rawlings introduces The Playmaker, a new three-fingered glove.

1957
Rawlings establishes the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® to recognize fielding excellence.

1959
The Trap-Eze, or so-called "six-finger" glove, is introduced by Rawlings and quickly becomes a favorite of many major league players.

1970
Rawlings joins with Adirondack to supply the Major League bats with the distinct Pro Ring design.

1976
Rawlings is awarded the contract as exclusive supplier of baseballs to the American and National leagues.

1985
Rawlings awarded the contract to become the "Official Uniform Supplier to Major League Baseball" and named an "Official Sponsor of Major League Baseball".

Rawlings started manufacturing baseballs for Major League Baseball in 1976 putting out a ball for the American League and one for the National League. In 2000 Rawlings started making the ROMLB for both leagues. The ROMLB is the official baseball and is the same ball used during each major league game.