John McGraw arrives in Florida and is installed as president of a real estate development near Bradenton called Pennant Park

John McGraw arrives in Florida and is installed as president of a real estate development near Bradenton called Pennant Park

1925 – John McGraw arrives in Florida and is installed as president of a real estate development near Bradenton called Pennant Park. With streets named for early New York Giants heroes, and lots offered for $2,500 to $5,000, McGraw hires a fleet of salesmen and heads north. New York newspapers run a series of full-page ads featuring a picture of John McGraw with the bold caption “You’ve followed me, now follow me in real estate.” A year later, the boom will go bust, washed away by two hurricanes. McGraw will incur a loss of $100,000 after paying off close friends, players, and other investors, and will be hounded by creditors.

Changing the Game: The Evolution of World Series Protocol in 1925

1925 – At an American League meeting, a plan is adopted to alternate the site of future World Series openers by league rather than deciding it by a coin toss, with Games One, Two, Six, and Seven in one park and Three, Four, Five in the other, unless a ban on Sunday baseball interferes in one city. The clubs finishing fourth in the AL will share in the World Series pool. World Series umpires get a raise to $2,500, while umps in city series will earn $700. The plan was proposed in 1924, but is formally adopted at this meeting.