Professional Baseball Leagues

During the late 1800’s there was an intense rivalry between professional baseball leagues. A National Agreement was signed by the different leagues to govern relations between rival major leagues. After that agreement fell apart, a second agreement was signed in 1904, which ended the two-year war between the National League and the upstart American League. This legislation that was passed contained a formation of a commission. They created a National Commission to settle disputes regarding player contracts and arrange for an annual post-season championship series. This turned into the start of the World Series. This commission consisted of a chairperson, the American League president, and the National League president.

Only the chairperson himself was given a salary by the National Commission. The other members of the commission being the National League president and the American League president served on the National Commission without compensation. Some of the powers of the commission were to interpret and carry out the terms and provisions of the agreement while also being able to enact and enforce fines and suspensions. One of the major roles of the commission came whenever a National League or American League club claimed the services of the same player. The Chairman of the Commission decides the right to that player. The Chairman shall make said decision without the help of his two associates. If the Chairman of the Commission and the major league member entitled to vote on any question arising between a major and minor league club shall not agree, the Chairman's findings shall determine the case.

Within the commission was a serious conflict of interest because some members of the commission were club presidents of teams in the league so many believed self-interest influenced some decisions. Although the commission had its flaws, it created the first ever World Series where the great city of Boston defeated