In 1904, There was no World Series for the reason that John T. Brush, president of the National League champion New York Giants, declined to let his baseball team to compete against Boston, the representative of the "inferior" American League.

On the other hand, the fact that the baseball teams did not meet possibly had to do more with the manager of the Giants team John McGraw's personal hatred for American League president Ban Johnson than any National League sense of superiority. In winter, however, Brush planned the idea for a yearly matchup between the league champions.

His about-face spawned the "Brush Rules," a set of guidelines concerning to the on-field play and off-field finances of the World Series which survives to this day. The New York Giants, having ruined the 1904 World Series with an distinctive air of disdain, were willing participants in the 1905 fall classic. And with righthanded sensation Christy Mathewson in tow, why not? The 25-year-old Mathewson had just reached the 30-victory plateau for the third successive baseball season.

It's not that the 1904 New York Giants, National League champions by 13 games, had quaked in their cleats over thoughts of a Series date with the Boston Red Sox, repeat titleists 'in the American League. Instead, New York Giants owner John T. Brush and Manager John McGraw had pent-up feelings against the American League -- Brush being very angry over the entry of an AL team in New York and McGraw still fuming over what he supposed as injustices meted out by AL President Ban Johnson when McGraw was plying his trade for the AL's Baltimore Orioles.

1905 was an unusual story. With the public expressing its indignation over the Giants' "thanks, but no thanks" Series approach of the preceding season, Brush, McGraw and company were ready to take on the American League champion Philadelphia Athletics after an NL race in which the New York Giants won 105 baseball games. The Series would be challenged under guidelines drawn up by the New York Giants' owner, looking for stabilizing an event he earlier had torpedoed. Besides outlining a revenue formula, the John T. Brush Rules called for -- among other things -- a best-of-seven set-up.

The Athletics, reeling from the late-season loss of standout lefthander Rube Waddell, sidelined due to an injury, were faced with the prospect of going up against a Giants pitching rotation that featured Mathewson (31 victories), Joe McGinnity (21 victories) and Red Ames (22 victories) and also included Dummy Taylor (15 victories) and Hooks Wiltse (14 victories). New York wound up using only two of its "big five" as starters in the World Series, but that twosome proved more than enough.

GIANTS BASEBALL NEWS

Giants Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Giants had Thursday off before returning to their home park and playing the Pirates and Diamondbacks in the next week.

The buzz, as the team gathers for Friday's opener, will still be about 36-year-old Scott McClain, who hit his first big-league homer Wednesday in Denver during the Giants' only win on their six-game trip.

How rare is it for a player to homer for the first time at 36?

Put it this way. McClain is the oldest position player to hit his first major league homer since Cincinnati outfielder Bob Thurman, who previously played in the Negro Leagues, hit his first homer at age 37 on April 16, 1955.

That was researched by the Elias Sports Bureau, as was this:

Wednesday marked the first game in 2008 in which one team's rookies combined for...

Giants, behind Zito, slow Rockies with 9-2 victory (AP) It took Scott McClain 19 seasons to hit a major league home run. When he got his first one Wednesday, he soaked it in. "As it was leaving it was a moment of relief," the 36-year-old rookie said. "I'm glad I hit one that was a no-doubter." McLain's home run backed Barry Zito, who won for the third time in four starts.

Top O' The Order: Lincecum earns literary status, Cy candidacy (Yahoo! Sports) Five quick links to start your day ... 1. While I like watching Tim Lincecum for his tiny size and unorthodox...

Spilborghs singles in game-winner for Rockies (AP) The Colorado Rockies are trying to duplicate their incredible run to the 2007 World Series. Ryan Spilborghs gave them a reason to believe they can do it again. Spilborghs singled home Omar Quintanilla with one out in the bottom of the 12th and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5 on Tuesday night.