July 19, 1900: The Métropolitain de Paris opens, as the French capital's rapid transit system. Its opening is part of the Exposition Universelle. But, as with the Eiffel Tower in 1889, it not only survived the World's Fair for which it was built, it is still in operation today.
Operated by the Régie autonome des transports parisiens (RATP), and known as the Métro for short, it is known for its uniform architecture, and its historical entrances, influenced by the Art Noveau movement. There are 16 lines, running through 321 stations. It is the 2nd-most-used subway system in Europe -- or 1st, if you don't count Russia, and therefore Moscow.
The Place du Châtelet, bordering the 1st and 4th arrondisements, stands as the system's centerpoint. Oddly, the Eiffel Tower, the city's most popular landmark, is about a 10-minute walk from the nearest station.
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July 19, 1900 was a Thursday. The only professional sport in business at the time was baseball, and these 4 games were played in the National League:
* The New York Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-3 at the 1891-1911 version of the Polo Grounds. Win Mercer outpitched Cy Young.
* The Brooklyn Superbas, forerunners of the Dodgers, beat the Cincinnati Reds, 12-8 at the 2nd Washington Park in Brooklyn.
* The Boston Beaneaters beat the Chicago Orphans, 5-1 at the 3rd South End Grounds in Boston. The Chicago team, formerly known as the White Stockings and, for their youth, as the Colts, had long been led by 1st baseman and manager Adrian Constantine Anson. He was known as "Cap," for "Captain," until he got older, and became known as "Pop." He retired after the 1897 season, and the team became known as the "Orphans," because "they missed their Pop." They were renamed the Chicago Cubs in 1903. The Beaneaters went through a few name changed before becoming the Boston Braves in 1912.
* And the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3 at National League Park (later renamed Baker Bowl) in Philadelphia.
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