Even before the 1889 baseball season began, battle lines had been drawn, revels this history of 19th-century baseball. In the National League, the Players Brotherhood, led by New York Giants shortstop John Montgomery Ward, challenged the insulting classification system devised by league owners. While American Association players had no Brotherhood, they proved capable of organizing impromptu responses to abusive treatment by owners. Owners battled with their players and yet struggled to control overflow crowds on weekends and holidays as both major leagues staged the closest, most exciting pennant races of that time. Americans responded by pouring into ballparks in record-setting numbers.