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Now that the playoffs are upon us, here's a brain teaser. From 1903 to 1952 all 16 major league teams stayed put. The question is, what would be the minimum number of railroads required for all the teams' regular season travel needs and which ones were they?
For the record the major league cities during that period were as follows. National League: Boston, New York (2 teams), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis. American League: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago & St. Louis.
Bonus: Were there any possible World Series matchups that would have required any additional railroads?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Two roads; the NYC, PRR and their subsidiaries, or NH & PRR. Any team could get "from anywhere to anywhere' - regular season or World Series.
However, being reasonable and practical, more roads were used such as NYC Chicago-Detroit and GM&Q Chi-Stl.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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Seems like my Minnesota Twins (moved in 1961) would have required the addition of one of four* previously unused railroads. Or six if you count NP and GN as separate from CBQ.
*Milwaukee, CNW, Soo or the Quincy. Rock Island might be preferred to get them to a series with the Dodgers or Giants (was there a Kansas City or Texas in '61?).
Oops, I forgot about the Milwaukee Braves. Never mind.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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When first the Giants folowed by the Dodgers lstened to Horrace Greeley rather than their fans, such established air travel as the standard means for the teams to get about.
Actually, the Dodgers owned an aircraft prior to the move; so they had apparently abandoned rail travel while Major League Baseball was still confined the the Northeast/North Central regions.
yukon11 Member # 2997
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Going way back in time, here is a quote from a historian discussing the train tours by the Cincinnati Red Stocking, who were established in 1869....
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A brief narrative description of the journal article, document, or resource. During its century and a half history, baseball has been given continued impetus by the development of new technologies in communication--the telegraph, the sports page, the radio and television. Perhaps the most important in the initial spread of baseball throughout America was the railroad. The completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869 made possible a western tour by the Cincinnati Red Stockings, during which games were played in St. Louis, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Omaha. The impact of the tour is debatable--it did create a heightened fervor for the sport in the short run, but the overwhelming superiority of the Red Stockings may have slowed the development of baseball competition on the west coast, where sailing, horseracing, billiards, footracing, velocipede riding, and cricket claimed much larger followings. The tour's most prolonged impact may have been in Carson City and Virginia City, Nevada. A baseball rivalry had already grown between these two mining communities and was intensified by the impending arrival of the Red Stockings, invited to play by the Carson City team. However, the Red Stockings traveled straight through to Omaha, and the Carson City team, frustrated but with enthusiasm undampened, was left to continue its local rivalry with Virginia City. (MB) ********************************
Richard
railrev Member # 2640
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During most of the 1903-1952 period, games were played mostly in the day time, allowing for a lot of over night train trips to the next city.
I wonder if the playing schedule had a few more off days for travel then.
Did teams travel with the regular passengers or did they have special cars?
I wonder how today's pampered players would get along with overnight train rides for road travel?
wayne72145 Member # 4503
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I once read a book about porters and they detested baseball players. Lots of extra work with no tips.
MetSox Member # 6035
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The answer is five; New Haven, New York Central, Pennsylvania, Baltimore & Ohio and Wabash. These would be the bare minimum for all major league teams during this period to travel directly between all cites in each league.
The breakdown goes like this:
Boston to: New York-NH; Phila, Wash, Pitt-NH/PRR; Cleve, Cin, Det, Chi, St.Lou-NYC.
New York to: Phila, Wash, Pitt-PRR; Cleve,Cin, Det, Chi, St.Lou-PRR or NYC.
Philadelphia to: Wash-PRR or B&O; Pitt, Cleve, Cin, Det, Chi, St.Lou-PRR.
Washington to: Cleve, Det-B&O; Chi, St.Lou-B&O or PRR.
Pittsburgh to: Cin, St.Lou-PRR; Chi-PRR or B&O.
Cleveland to: Det, Chi, St.Lou-NYC.
Cincinnati to: Chi-NYC or PRR; St.Lou-B&O.
Detroit to: Chi-NYC; St.Lou-WAB
Chicago to: St. Louis-WAB.
For the bonus question, the answer is no. The five railroads above would also be able to accomodate any other possible World Series matchups between one team cities.
Of course there would also be plenty of alternatives like Jersey Central/Reading, Nickel Plate, Erie, Chicago & Alton (GM&O), Illinois Central and Chesapeake & Ohio.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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OK Mr. MetSox, you sort of changed the rules of the game after the ump yelled play ball. In your originating posting, you make no reference whatever to DIRECT.
However, modifying your original inquiry to include DIRECT, you have likely identified the direct routes between the MLB cities circa 1950; the only comment I have is that the GM&O was the predominant carrier on the Chi-StL route, however the Wabash did attract national attention with a "pocket streamliner' named the Blue Bird. Talk about a consist for a 285 mile run; Bagg-Cafe Diner, 3 Dome Coaches, Diner, Dome Parlor Obs - 6 cars all Budd and perfectly matched.
Lastly, we should note that this year appears to be shaping up towards a "USScare Series' rather than an "Acela Series".
palmland Member # 4344
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Does anyone know what equipment was required to move a team?
Given a 25 man roster and assorted coaches and members of the press, I suspect a couple sleepers (12 section-1 DR) and maybe a diner/lounge. Would love to see a book that would describe what those trips were like. I suspect the liquor flowed and probably more smoke from the cigars than the engines. Unlike today, the Pullman company could readily provide the needed cars.
I do wonder what would happen on an extra innining night game that lasted beyond the departure time for the midnight special.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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And if the Cubs and Sox ever manage to win their respective league pennants the same year, they could commute between ballparks on the L, from Addison to Sox-35th, about a 35-minute train ride, the shortest in the nation.
That's the Chicago Transit Authority, formerly Chicago Rapid Transit. Or the Old Smelly Rattly-Clank, as we commuters from Evanston called it during my working days. It was slow, it was noisy, but it was (mostly) reliable.
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