The Cincinnati Reds won the first World Series in franchise history in 1919. Presented is an April 23, 1919, especially rare ticket stub (MK) (POP 1 - None Higher!) to the Opening Day of that '19 season at the Cincinnati's Reds' Redland Field, before 22,000, when the Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals by 6-2. The Reds had a 96-44 regular season record in '19. Hall of Fame outfielder Edd Roush led the NL in batting average, at .321. Third baseman Heinie Groh batted .310, and outfielder Greasy Neale, who also was a pro football player and later a famous college football coach, led the Reds in steals, with 28. Slim Sallee (21-7), Hod Eller (19-9), and Dutch Ruether (19-6), were the Reds' top pitchers. In the season opener, Dolf Luque picked up the win in relief and Greasy Neale was the Reds' batting star, with three RBIs.

In the '19 World Series, a best-of-nine event, the Reds won in games 5-3. In 1921, Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned eight Chicago White Sox for life for their involvement in baseball's biggest scandal as the White Sox threw the '19 Series to the Reds. What makes the offered ticket stub so special, in addition to its rarity, is that the Reds, even as the underdog in the Fall Classic, had an outstanding team and could very well have won the World Series without any help from the Black Sox. Thus, a part of the overwhelming shame and sadness that the crooked White Sox players caused, was that the Cincinnati Reds never had a chance to win the team's first World Championship on merit alone. 

The approx. 1.3x3.25" stub reads, in part, "OPENING DAY/APRIL 23 1919/Lower Gr. Stand 1.27/RAIN CHECK." The stub has a few very minor folds and some light fading. The stub has been encapsulated and PSA graded "PR 1(MK)." (116581551).  (POP 1 - NONE HIGHER).

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