The 1886 World Series was won by the St. Louis Browns of the American Association over the Chicago White Stockings of the National League, four games to two. It was played from October 18–23 in Chicago and St. Louis.

Background[edit]

In 1886, the St. Louis Browns won the American Association championship with a record of 93–46, while the Chicago White Stockings won the National League championship with a record of 90–34. The two teams agreed to meet each other in a best-of-seven pre-modern-era World Series, with the winner taking all the prize money.^[1][2] It was the second straight year that the Browns and White Stockings met in the World Series.^[3] The six games of the series were played on six consecutive days.^[4]

Game summaries[edit]

Tip O'Neill

• October 18: The series started in Chicago. White Stockings pitcher John Clarkson threw a five-hit shutout to beat the Browns, 6–0.^[3]
• October 19: The Browns won 12–0 in a game shortened to eight innings due to darkness. St. Louis pitcher Bob Caruthers allowed one hit, and Tip O'Neill hit two home runs.^[3]
• October 20: Caruthers asked to pitch for the second day in a row, and he lost to Clarkson and the White Stockings, 11–4, in eight innings.^[1][4]
• October 21: The series moved to St. Louis, and Clarkson pitched for the third time in four days.^[5] The game was tied 5–5 until the Browns scored three runs in the sixth inning to win, 8–5. It was called after seven innings.^[3]
• October 22: Due to Chicago's lack of pitchers, shortstop Ned Williamson and outfielder Jimmy Ryan had to pitch. The White Stockings lost, 10–3.^[1][4]
• October 23: Caruthers started the game for St. Louis, while Clarkson started for Chicago. The White Stockings led 3–0 until the eighth inning, when the Browns scored three runs to tie the game. With one out in the bottom of the tenth, the Browns' Curt Welch was on third base when Clarkson threw a pitch that got by catcher King Kelly. Welch scored, and St. Louis won the game, 4–3, and the series, four games to two. It is disputed whether or not Welch slid across the plate, but the play was known as the "$15,000 slide" and was the most famous play in 19th-century baseball.^[3][4][5]

Overview[edit]

The Browns' O'Neill led all players with a .400 batting average, eight hits, and two home runs in the series. Welch had the second-highest batting average, at .350. Caruthers, who started three games for St. Louis, went 2–1 with a 2.42 earned run average. Clarkson started four games for Chicago and went 2–2 with a 2.03 ERA.^[2]

For winning the series, St. Louis earned $13,920 in prize money. This was the American Association's only undisputed championship over the National League.^[4]

See also[edit]

Baseball portal

• The original World Series
• Cardinals-Cubs Rivalry

References[edit]

World Series No World Series was held in 1904 because the NL champions refused to participate; no World Series was held in 1994 due to a players' strike. 1900s 1900 · 1901 · 1902 · 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 See also Pre-World Series champions World Series champions Most Valuable Players Starting Pitchers Babe Ruth Award Commissioner's Trophy Streaks Droughts Broadcasters TV ratings ALCS NLCS ALDS NLDS ALWC NLWC 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake Dauvray Cup Temple Cup Chronicle-Telegraph Cup Game 6 Game 7 World Series ring Book:World Series