The 1920 major league baseball season began on April 14, 1920. The regular season ended on October 3, with the Brooklyn Robins and Cleveland Indians as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 17th World Series on October 5 and ended with Game 7 on October 12. The Indians defeated the Robins, five games to two, capturing their first championship in franchise history. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Cincinnati Reds from the season.
This was the final season to be presided over by the three-person National Baseball Commission, which ran the major and minor leagues—composed of the American League President, National League President, and one team owner as president. In the wake of the Black Sox scandal, the credibility of baseball had been tarnished with the public and fans and the owners of the teams clamored for credibility to be restored. The owners felt that creating one position with near-unlimited authority was the answer. After the season, the commission was replaced with the newly created office of Commissioner of Baseball.
Creation of the office of the Commissioner of Baseball Persisting rumors of the Chicago White Sox throwing the previous year's World Series to the Cincinnati Reds and another game during the 1920 season led to the game's brass looking for ways of dealing with the problems of gambling within the sport. At the time, MLB was governed by a three-man National Baseball Commission composed of American League President Ban Johnson, National League President John Heydler and Cincinnati Reds owner Garry Herrmann. At the request of the other owners, Herrmann left the office reducing the commission to be deadlocked by two. With the owners disliking one or both presidents, calls began for stronger leadership, although they opined they could support the continuation of the leagues' presidencies with a well-qualified Commissioner.
A plan that began to circulate and gain support was dubbed the "Lasker Plan", after Albert Lasker, a shareholder of the Chicago Cubs, called for a three-man commission with no financial interest in baseball. With the Black Sox scandal exposed on September 30, 1920, Heydler began calling for the Lasker Plan. All eight NL teams supported the plan, along with three AL teams. The three AL teams were the White Sox, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The teams in support of the Lasker Plan wanted federal judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis to take the office of Baseball Commissioner. Johnson, who opposed the plan and thus, the appointment of Landis, had allies in the other five AL clubs, and attempted to get Minor League Baseball to side with him. However, the minor leagues would not, and when the AL teams learned their position, they relented and instead went along with the Lasker Plan. The owners agreed that they needed a person with near-unlimited authority and a powerful person to fill the position of commissioner.
The owners approached Landis, who eventually accepted the position as the first Commissioner of Baseball. He drafted the agreement which gave him almost unlimited authority throughout the major and minor leagues – every owner on down to the batboys was accountable to the Commissioner – including barring owners from dismissing him, speaking critically of him in public or challenging him in court. Landis also kept his job as a federal judge.
While Landis' record as Commissioner would eventually attract considerable controversy, especially with respect to his role in maintaining the color line, at the time a near autocratic leader was widely believed to be needed for baseball since the Black Sox scandal had placed the public's trust in baseball on shaky ground. As a result, the owners accepted the terms of the agreement with a scant trace of opposition, if any.
Schedule
The 1920 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. The 154-game format had previously been used since , except for , and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.
Opening Day took place on April 14 with all but the Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox playing. The final day of the regular season was on October 3, with all teams but the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees playing. The World Series took place between October 5 and October 12.
Tripleheader
The 1920 season featured an extremely rare tripleheader—the third in National League and major-league history, having previously occurred only in 1890 and 1896—when the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the Cincinnati Reds on October 2 for three games, the day before the final day of the regular season. The Reds won the first two games while the Pirates won the third game, which was called after six innings on account of darkness.
Rule changes The 1920 season saw the following rule changes: Having previously withdrawn from the National Agreement over the previous offseason, the Rule 5 draft is reimplemented when the minor leagues voted to renew their working arrangement with the major leagues. Fly balls hit over the fence along the left and right-field lines will be judged fair or foul according to where the ball passes the fence, rather than where it landed; previously, umpires would judge based on where the ball landed. On June 25, the rule reverted to the 1919 version, which is based upon where the ball disappears from view. The rule would re-revert to the 1920 version before the season began. When a batter hits a ball over the fence to win the game, he is now credited with a home run. Previously, the batter would be rewarded with the number of bases needed for the team to win the game and were not considered home runs. Spitballs, shine balls, emery balls, and other unorthodox ("trick" or "freak") pitches, were outlawed. Foreign substances such as rosin, dirt or mud from the field to scar the ball, spit or phlegm, material from rubbing the ball on the glove or clothing, or any kind of defacing of the ball were banned. Violations to this rule would result in immediate ejection and being barred from any championship contest for a period of ten days. There were 17 pitchers who were exempted from the spitball rule, becoming legacy spitballers (the last of which retired in 1934). A balk was to be called if the pitcher releases the ball while the catcher is out of his box. The failure of a preceding runner to touch a base would not affect the status of a succeeding runner. Cases where the defense intentionally allows the runner to advance without attempting to put him out are scored as defensive indifference, also called fielder's indifference, and do not count as stolen bases. This is usually only scored late in games when it is clear that the defense's priority is getting the batter out. The lack of a putout attempt does not by itself indicate defensive indifference; the official scorer must also factor in the game situation and the defensive players' actions.
Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park27,000Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park28,000Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioDunn Field21,414Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganNavin Field23,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds38,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park23,000St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park24,040Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.National Park27,000Boston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field40,000Brooklyn RobinsNew York, New YorkEbbets Field30,000Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisCubs Park15,000Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioRedland Field20,696New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds38,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field25,000St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park24,040
Effect of the Black Sox scandal on the AL pennant race After an August 31 game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs, allegations began to arise that the game was fixed. The state court in Chicago opened a grand jury to investigate gambling within baseball. Gambler Billy Maharg came forward with information that he worked with New York gambler Arnold Rothstein and former boxer Abe Attell to get the White Sox to throw the 1919 World Series. The White Sox again were contending for the American League title and were in a near-dead heat with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. However, on September 28, eight White Sox players were indicted and suspended by owner Charlie Comiskey. The Indians pulled ahead and won the pennant by two games over the White Sox.
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 6 tie games (3 in AL, 3 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.
American League Boston Red Sox, 1 Detroit Tigers, 1 Philadelphia Athletics, 2 St. Louis Browns, 1 Washington Senators, 1
National League Boston Braves, 1 Brooklyn Robins, 1 Cincinnati Reds, 1 New York Giants, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 1
Postseason The postseason began on October 5 and ended on October 12 with the Cleveland Indians defeating the Brooklyn Robins in the 1920 World Series in seven games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerPittsburgh PiratesHugo BezdekGeorge Gibson
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG George Sisler (SLB) .407 OPS Babe Ruth (NYY) 1.379 HR Babe Ruth (NYY) 54 RBI Babe Ruth (NYY) 135 R Babe Ruth (NYY) 158 H George Sisler (SLB) 257 SB Sam Rice (WSH) 63
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Jim Bagby (CLE) 31 L Scott Perry (PHA) 25 ERA Bob Shawkey (NYY) 2.45 K Stan Coveleski (CLE) 133 IP Jim Bagby (CLE) 339.2 SV Dickey Kerr (CWS)Urban Shocker (SLB) 5 WHIP Stan Coveleski (CLE) 1.108
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Rogers Hornsby (STL) .370 OPS Rogers Hornsby (STL) .990 HR Cy Williams (PHI) 15 RBI Rogers Hornsby (STL)George Kelly (NYG) 94 R George Burns (NYG) 115 H Rogers Hornsby (STL) 218 SB Max Carey (PIT) 52
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Grover Alexander1 (CHC) 27 L Eppa Rixey (PHI) 22 ERA Grover Alexander1 (CHC) 1.91 K Grover Alexander1 (CHC) 173 IP Grover Alexander (CHC) 363.1 SV Bill Sherdel (STL) 6 WHIP Babe Adams (PIT) 0.981 1 National League Triple Crown pitching winner
Milestones Batters Cycles
George Sisler (SLB): Sisler hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on August 8 against the WSH. George Burns (NYG) Burns hit for his first cycle and fifth in franchise history, on September 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bobby Veach (DET): Veach hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on September 17 against the Boston Red Sox.
Pitchers No-hitters
Rube Marquard (NYG): Marquard threw his first career no-hitter and sixth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Brooklyn Robins 2–0 on April 15. Marquard walked two and struck out two.
Other pitching accomplishments Walter Johnson (WSH): Became the 10th member of the 300-win club, defeating the Detroit Tigers on May 14, winning 9–8.
Miscellaneous Chicago White Sox: Set a major league record for most runs scored in the 16th inning, by scoring eight runs against the Washington Senators on May 20. Everett Scott (BOS): Broke a Major League record for most consecutive games on June 21 by surpassing George Pinkney's record of 577. New York Yankees: Set a major league record for most runs scored in the fifth inning, by scoring 14 runs against the Washington Senators on July 6. New York Giants: