FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff, and the winning team is awarded the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Prior to the AL and NL being split into divisions in 1969, the team with the best regular-season win–loss record in each league automatically clinched its league’s pennant and advanced to the World Series, barring the rare tie necessitating a pennant playoff. Since then each league has conducted a League Championship Series (ALCS and NLCS) preceding the World Series to determine which teams will advance, while those series have in turn been preceded by Division Series (ALDS and NLDS) since 1995 and by wild card games in each league since 2012. The World Series has been contested 117 times as of 2021, with the AL winning 66 and the NL winning 51.
Until 2002, home-field advantage in the World Series alternated from year to year between the AL and NL. From 2003 to 2016, home-field advantage was given to the league that won that year’s All-Star Game. Starting in 2017, home-field advantage was awarded to the league champion team with the better regular-season win–loss record.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Month of October
In the ancient Roman calendar, October was the name of the eighth month of the year. Its name comes from octo, the Latin word for “eight.” When the Romans converted to a 12-month calendar, they tried to rename this month after various Roman emperors, but the name October stuck. In Old England, the month was called Winmonath, which means “wine month,” for this was the time of year when wine was made. The English also called it Winterfylleth, or “Winter Full Moon.” They considered this full Moon to be the start of winter. In weather lore, we note, “If October brings heavy frosts and winds, then will January and February be mild.”
Question of the Day
Do blackberry plants need full sun, and what would they like that I can add to the ground to amend the soil?
Blackberries need full sun for good production. They aren’t particularly fussy about soil, provided that it is well drained. Manure or compost mixed into the soil may be all the nutrition that they need. Add lime, if needed, to bring soil pH up to 5.5–7.5. A light layer of organic mulch will keep the soil moisture even. —Gardening experts George and Becky Lohmiller, Hancock, New Hampshire
Advice of the Day
When the donkey blows his horn, ‘Tis time to house your hay and corn.
Home Hint of the Day
If soft chewing gum is stuck in fabric, harden it before you try to remove it by placing the item in a plastic bag and putting it in your freezer. Then scrape off the residue and remove any leftover grease stain with dishwashing liquid or lighter fluid.
Word of the Day
Solar Cycle
A period of 28 years in the Julian calendar, at the end of which the days of the month return to the same days of the week.
Puzzle of the Day
What kind of dog does a vampire have?
A bloodhound.
Born
- Henry III of England – 1207
- James Lawrence (U.S. naval captain) – 1781
- William Boeing (airplane manufacturer) – 1881
- Faith Baldwin (author) – 1893
- Vladimir Horowitz (pianist) – 1904
- Rudy Bond (actor) – 1912
- Walter Matthau (actor) – 1920
- Jimmy Carter (39th U.S. president) – 1924
- William Rehnquist (Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court) – 1924
- Tom Bosley (actor) – 1927
- Sir Richard Harris (actor) – 1930
- Julie Andrews (actress) – 1935
- Mark McGwire (baseball player) – 1963
- Kevin Griffin (musician) – 1968
- Rosanna Tomiuk (water polo player/coach) – 1984
Died
- E. B. White (author) – 1985
- Margaret Gorman Cahill (first Miss America) – 1995
- Walter Annenberg (launched TV Guide magazine and ambassador to Britain) – 2002
- Joyce Jillson (astrologer) – 2004
- George Grizzard (actor) – 2007
- House Peters Jr. (actor; the original Mr. Clean”“) – 2008
- Nick Reynolds (founding member of the Kingston Trio) – 2008
- Tom Clancy (author) – 2013
Events
- The first agricultural fair in the U.S. was held in Pittsfield, MA– 1810
- Maria Mitchell discovered comet Mitchell 1847VI– 1847
- Game 1 in the first World Series played. Boston’s Cy Young threw the first pitch.– 1903
- Henry Ford’s Model T automobile was introduced at a price of $850– 1908
- Sea Gull Monument was unveiled in Salt Lake City, Utah– 1913
- Pilot Lt. George Gorman pursued UFO over Fargo, North Dakota– 1948
- The Honeymooners makes its TV debut– 1955
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) founded– 1958
- Johnny Carson first hosted The Tonight Show– 1962
- Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Florida– 1971
- Panama gained sovereignty over Canal, in adherence to treaty provisions– 1979
Weather
- Pilot Lt. George Gorman pursued a UFO over Fargo, North Dakota. The official explanation later stated that what he chased was a weather balloon – but many people remain unconvinced.– 1948
- Topeka, Kansas, had a low temperature of 32 degrees F– 1958
COURTESY www.almanac.com
