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William Temple, the president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, proposed in 1893 that a postseason series be played between the National League's first- and second-place teams. In the 1880s, there had been postseason play between the winners of the NL and the American Association, but in 1892 the NL absorbed the AA (becoming a 12-team circuit) and played a split season. That plan was roundly criticized, and was dropped after just one year; in 1893 the Pirates had finished second to the Boston Beaneaters, and Temple felt they had missed a series that was due them. The Temple Cup series was patterned after the earlier Dauvray Cup; permanent possession of the Cup, which cost $800, would go to the first team to win it three times. Lack of enthusiasm on the part of the players doomed the series; their apathy spread to the fans, who stayed away in droves in later years. The series was dropped after 1897, with no team taking the Cup, although the Orioles were close with two winning series; had they taken it seriously in their first two efforts, they would most likely have captured it. Instead, the league returned it to Mr. Temple; it is now in the Hall of Fame. (SH)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 8th, 1894: New York whips NL regular season champion Baltimore 16-3 to sweep the best-of-7 Temple Cup series. » October 2nd, 1895: Cleveland wins the first game of the Temple Cup series over Baltimore 5-4 with 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th. » October 8th, 1895: Cleveland takes the Temple Cup by beating the Baltimore Orioles for the 4th time in 5 games. The lack of respect accorded the Cup is reflected in the "very cold reception" Cleveland receives after returning from Baltimore on October 9. » October 2nd, 1896: Following a rainout, Baltimore and Bill Hoffer defeat 2nd-place Cleveland and Cy Young 7-1 in the first game of the Temple Cup. » October 8th, 1896: Following another rainout, the Orioles defeat Cleveland 5-0 to win the Temple Cup in a 4-game sweep. The Cup games are poorly attended, while the rowdy behavior of both teams does nothing to enhance the stature of the troubled series. » October 4th, 1897: The contest for the Temple Cup starts with a 13-12 home victory for Boston over Baltimore, before 9,600. Charley "Kid" Nichols and Ted Lewis pitch for the winners; Jerry Nops hurls for the Orioles. » October 11th, 1897: Baltimore wins the Temple Cup, and $310 for each player, by defeating Boston 9-3. The crowd is so small that management refuses to give the exact number. » November 13th, 1897: At the NL meetings, President Young announces that the Temple Cup Series has been discontinued, and that there will be 2 umpires per game next year.