▁the ▁modern ▁baseball ▁era . ▁Until ▁about ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁some ▁sources ▁treated ▁the ▁ 1 9 th - century ▁Series ▁on ▁an ▁equal ▁basis ▁with ▁the ▁post - 1 9 th - century ▁series . ▁After ▁about ▁ 1 9 3 0 , ▁however , ▁many ▁authorities ▁list ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁the ▁World ▁Series ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 3 ▁and ▁discuss ▁the ▁earlier ▁cont ests ▁separately . ▁( For ▁example , ▁the ▁ 1 9 2 9 ▁World ▁Al man ac ▁and ▁Book ▁of ▁Fact s ▁lists ▁" Base ball ▁World ' s ▁Championships ▁ 1 8 8 4 – 1 9 2 8 " ▁in ▁a ▁single ▁table , ▁but ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁edition ▁lists ▁" Base ball ▁World ▁Championships ▁ 1 9 0 3 – 1 9 4 2 ". ) ▁▁ 1 8 9 2 – 1 9 0 0 : ▁" The ▁Mon opol y ▁Years " ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁collapse ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Association ▁after ▁the ▁ 1 8 9 1 ▁season , ▁the ▁National ▁League ▁was ▁again ▁the ▁only ▁major ▁league . ▁The ▁league ▁championship ▁was ▁awarded ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 2 ▁by ▁a ▁play off ▁between ▁half - season ▁champions . ▁This ▁scheme ▁was ▁abandoned ▁after ▁one ▁season . ▁Begin ning ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 — and ▁continu ing ▁until ▁divis ional ▁play ▁was ▁introduced ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 9 — the ▁p enn ant ▁was ▁awarded ▁to ▁the ▁first - place ▁club ▁in