8. The 1922 World Series was all New York
In 1922 the New York Yankees, with national superstar Babe Ruth, met the New York Giants in the World Series. Both teams shared the Polo Grounds as their home, which meant the entire series was played on the same field. One of the most controversial games in the history of the World Series, Game 2, ended in a tie, due to gathering darkness. Thus, although the record books show the Giants winning the series 4-0, five games were actually played. Commissioner Landis ordered the teams to donate the gate receipts for the tie to a charity, rather than profit from the additional game. It was not the first such tie game in the World Series, two preceded it. But to date, it was the last, and likely will ever remain so. As with most tie games, it left nobody happy with the result, including Commissioner Landis.
Outside the environs of New York City, the World Series was followed with the same fervor as its predecessors. Then, however, a new aspect of the game had appeared. The burning question, for both Giants and Yankees fans, focused on what the Babe did. Westinghouse Broadcasting carried the game on radio and made the broadcasts available to any commercial radio station which wanted to carry it, making it heard across the country. Since like all baseball games of the 1920s the games were played during normal business hours, commerce suffered. Fans gathered around radios to hear the broadcast, waiting for Ruth’s appearances at the plate. They were largely disappointed. Ruth had just two hits in his 17 at bats over the series, with just one run batted in. To that point, the Yankees had yet to win a World Series. They were not yet America’s team.