Program from first ever World Series up for auction

The World Series is just a few weeks away, and is there a better way to get prepared than purchasing a program from the first ever World Series? Yes, of course there is, but you can still do it. 

Bidding opened Monday on an original program from the 1903 World's Championship Games contested between the Pittsburg Pirates (no "h" in those days) and the Boston Americans (later the Red Sox). 

1903 world series program

Courtesy of Goldin Auctions

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Courtesy of Goldin Auctions

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Courtesy of Goldin Auctions

The program is just a simple scorecard from first game of the best of nine series, featuring Cy Young as Boston's starting pitcher and Honus Wagner batting cleanup for Pittsburg. The game was played at the Huntington Avenue Base Ball Grounds.

In a lot of ways it's similar to programs at modern games, with plenty of ads for alcohol. "You will be hoarse and thirsty after game," one ad says. "Ask for Frank Jones' Portsmouth Ale, accept no substitute."

The program cost ten cents in 1903, but the starting bid is $25,000. Inflation is really out of control. 

- Dan Gartland