The Miniature World Series

In the early 1900s Rhode Island was no stranger to major league baseball stars playing games in the state and in one series in particular it participated in was one to remember. It all started when Attleboro & North Attleboro were in competition with each other as far as jewelry manufacturing was concerned. The competition spilled over into other areas and eventually erupted into a baseball rivalry. For years both cities would play a series of games against each other with teams consisting of local talent. In 1919 the series took on a new dimension. After the second game, millionaire Oscar Wolfenden asked the Attleboro manager, Dan O’Connell, if maybe some of his Major League baseball connections could get him some big league players to participate in the series. Money was no object! By the time the fourth game was played in the 1919 series the media was referring to the event as the “Little World Series.” The name seemed to fit the hoopla surrounding the games & the amount of great baseball talent on the field. It was said that the Attleboro payroll for the finale was around $3,500. However the actual price tag for the value of the players represented was probably around a million dollars. Between 1919 and 1923, Attleboro and North Attleboro squared off in a series that featured some of the best baseball players of the era including Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, George Sisler, Harry Hooper, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Jim Thorpe, and "Rabbit" Maranville. All in all there were 17 players involved in the “Little World Series” that ended up in the Hall of Fame including the "Big Train" himself, Walter Johnson and the "Babe", Babe Ruth. Rhode Island born Big Leaguers who participated included Jack Flynn and Eddy Eayrs of Providence, Jimmy Cooney of Cranston and Joe Connelly of North Smithfield.

North Attleboro took the series 3-2 in 1919 and Attleboro was victorious in 1920 2-1. By 1921 the competition had gotten so intense that North Attleboro decided to drop out because Attleboro was spending so much money on major Leaguers to play in the Series. The popular manager Dan O’Connell knew lots of Big Leaguers and they all wanted to play for him. A Providence team organized by Roy Rock (former Providence Gray star shortstop) replaced North Attleboro against Attleboro. In Game 1 Walter Johnson took the hill for Providence and allowed all but four hits winning 7-1 in front of 4500 at Hayward Stadium in Attleboro. "Pitching as he did, the two runs that resulted when he hit a ball into deep left field for the circuit would have been sufficient to win." was the Attleboro Sun description of Johnson's performance in Game One. Providence jewelers also took great interest in the series after the game one win. At a large banquet for the players it was announced that $50 in gold would be awarded to the winning pitcher, sterling silver match boxes to those who hit triples and a knife and silver chain for every player who stole a base. Game 2 was played at Weston Field in Cranston, RI. with Cranston Mayor Horton throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Attleboro tied the series 3-1 in a tight battle in front of 5000 spectators. Manager Rock lost the coin toss and game 3 was played at Hayward Field in Attleboro. Attleboro overcame a 5-0 deficit to topple Providence 6-5 in a windy affair to take the series. Native Rhode Islanders Eayrs suited up for Providence in all three games batting leadoff while Cooney did so for Attleboro manning second base in game one.

By 1922 the teams consisted mainly of local talent. Fans stayed away until 1923 when money induced some Major Leaguers once again to get involved in the series. Attleboro won both games. By 1924 the money had run out, fan interest had waned, national attention was gone and the Series was over. It was a singular and unique moment in the long history of the game. Members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame who participated in the "Little World Series" between Attleboro and North Attleboro/Providence also included Grover Cleveland Alexander, Dave Bancroft, Eddie Collins, Frankie Frisch, Goose Goslin, Bucky Harris, Harry Heilman, Harry Hooper, Rogers Hornsby, Rabbit Maranville, Rube Marquard, Sam Rice, George Sisler, Pie Traynor, Zack Wheat, and Ross "Pep" Youngs. Also participating was Olympic champion Jim Thorpe who played right field for Attleboro in 1919.