This Series was part of the pre-modern-era World Series, an annual competition between the champions of the National League and the American Association. The Giants won this best-of-11-games series, 6 games to 3. The 1889 Series was the first involving solely New York City area clubs, and was part of the continuum of a long-standing rivalry that developed between the clubs in New York, particularly the Giants and the Dodgers. Brooklyn was then a separate city from New York; Brooklyn (and the other three boroughs) would merge with New York City in 1898. (see Timeline of New York City)
Despite this Series setback, the Brooklyn team would come back strong in 1890. The club transferred to the National League, and with the Giants suffering raids by the Players' League, would win the league championship; it was the first major league club to win consecutive pennants in two different leagues.
World Series summary
The New York Giants defeated the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in the 1889 World Series, 6 games to 3.
On October 17, the two clubs owners, John B. Day of the New York club and Charles H. Byrne of the Brooklyn club, met to arrange a post-season series. They agreed that the Series would end when one club had won six games. The Series commenced the next day, and continued through October 29, when the Giants won their sixth game, ending the Series.
Attendance was good for the first two games, at the Polo Grounds and Washington Park, respectively, but the weather turned cold and rainy, and the remainder of the Series was sparsely attended.