Updated August 28, 2020 |
Infoplease Staff
Table of contents
When the National League met the American League for the first time in the 1903 World Series, it was not the N.L.'s first venture into post-season play. From 1882–90, the N.L. pennant winner engaged in a championship series with the champion of the American Association. The Nationals won four of the eight series, lost once, and tied three times.
| Year | Champion | Loser | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 | Chicago (N.L.) & Cincinnati (A.A.) | — | 1–1 |
| 1883 | No series | ||
| 1884 | Providence (N.L.) | New York (A.A.) | 3–0 |
| 1885 | Chicago (N.L.) & St. Louis (A.A.) | — | 3–3–1 |
| 1886 | St. Louis (A.A.) | Chicago (N.L.) | 4–2 |
| 1887 | Detroit (N.L.) | St. Louis (A.A.) | 10–5 |
| 1888 | New York (N.L.) | St. Louis (A.A.) | 6–4 |
| 1889 | New York (N.L.) | Brooklyn (A.A.) | 6–3 |
| 1890 | Brooklyn (N.L.) & Louisville (A.A.) | — | 3–3–1 |
| Before the World Series | Early N.L. and A.L. Pennant Winners |
