0s, including magazines devoted solely to sports. Advertising spending quintupled from $95 million in 1900 to $500 million in 1919. By the first decade of the 20th century, these developments were already leading to an explosion in popularity for Major League Baseball (Wallace 11).
Baseball had just ended its own war, with peace between the American and National Leagues resulting in the first World Series in 1903. Thus, the game entered this era well-positioned to take advantage of these changes. As the U.S. switched to a consumer-oriented economy, there stood baseball, ready to consume part of America's disposable income.
Baseball responded with a building binge. By 1919, 14 of the 16 Major League teams played in new stadiums. Concrete and steel stadiums replaced old wooden stands. The Philadelphia Athletics opened Shibe Park in 1909, the first double-decker grandstand. Pittsburgh followed with Forbes Field, which featured triple-decker stands and elevators. Forbes also had electric lights, telephones, ramps rather than stairs, and box seats that sold for
...