21 Feb 2006, hatchersj quoted JPC and replied. I have abbreviated both.

> --- In SABR_Records@yahoogroups.com, "Jean-Pierre CAILLAULT"
>> The Reach Guide from 1883 (and 1884 and probably many other years,
> too) says
>> "The club which shall have won the greatest percentage of games
> played in
>> the championship series, shall be declared the Champion Club of
> America, for
>> the season in which such games were played.

> I don't think tie games counted for anything before 1885 JP. They
> weren't even sent to the Secretary as were the box scores of decided
> games. The determining factor for the pennant in those days was
> victories.

"those days" is a broad brush

> In the NL meeting on December 6, 1882 printed in the 1883 Spalding
> Guide it states as follows: "Resolved, That the Chicago Ball Club of
> Chicago, Ill., having won the greatest number of games in the
> championship series, is hereby awarded the LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP of the
> United States for the year 1882." Later "revisionists" count drawn
> games which changed at least one batting championship.

First, that is the NL. Reach was the official Guide of the AA and its
rule governed their "Champion Club of America" declaration.

Second, in citing the Guides to 1883 and 1884 seasons, J-P has
adequately, maybe precisely, zeroed in on the first percentage rule
(let's call it that, for short). I recall reading that a percentage
rule was first adopted by the AA in 1882, not to say for the 1882
season. Frank Vaccaro recalls reading that one was adopted by the NL
for the 1883 season, not to say in that calendar year, and he presumes
that the AA followed. Unless the AA changed its rule governing 1882
mid-season, this AA rule and the NL rule governing 1883 were the
percentage rules first in effect in pro baseball, as far as we know.

Paul Wendt

P.S. "Revisionists" have added a lot more than tie games to the
official record. The leading revision by magnitude increases the 1877
season by 50% measured in games and by 20% measured in teams.