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As America steamrolled through the 20th century, the country became immersed in the ideals of modernization and progressive reform. In the 19th century, as America became more and more industrialized, and cities grew well beyond their means, there was an increase in wealth and opportunity; but also increased poverty, and hazardous means of living. Whereas prior to the 20th century, when America was a predominantly rural, agricultural based society, the 20th century became all about urban life. The real America, lies in its cities.
Where New York, Boston, and Philadelphia had been the predominant cities of the country since its colonial days, America had grown even beyond what those megaplexes could handle. As America grew, west it went, forming new large cities, like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, and the grandest of all, Chicago. Up until the 1950s, there was no major league baseball on the west coast, and for the cities of St. Louis and Chicago, they were the west. But Chicago was the biggest of them all, rivaling the industrial growth of New York and Pittsburgh, as well ushering in the new waves of immigrantion like New York and Boston did. Chicago was booming, and both leagues knew a successful club in Chicago could bring about great financial success to their respective organizations. After the Giants won the 1905 World Series, New York became the center of the baseball world, attracting more and more fans, at record numbers. Success in a major American city, would lead to the sustained health of the sport. Whereas New York would become the heart of the baseball world, Chicago became the backbone that would stabilize the sport, by bringing the game to the far reaches of the country.
