<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> World Series </Td> <Td> 1904 → </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> World Series </Td> <Td> 1904 → </Td> </Tr> <P> The 1903 World Series was the first modern World Series to be played in Major League Baseball . It matched the Boston Americans of the American League against the Pittsburg Pirates of the National League in a best - of - nine series, with Boston prevailing five games to three, winning the last four . </P> <P> Pittsburg pitcher Sam Leever injured his shoulder while trap - shooting, so his teammate Deacon Phillippe pitched five complete games . Phillippe won three of his games, but it was not enough to overcome the club from the new American League . Boston pitchers Bill Dinneen and Cy Young led Boston to victory . In Game 1, Phillippe struck out ten Boston batters . The next day, Dinneen bettered that mark, striking out eleven Pittsburg batters in Game 2 . </P>

Who played in the first world series and who won