August 23, 2026
August 23, 2026
Major League Baseball was trying to rebound from the Black Sox Scandal, which had rocked the sport and cost some fans their trust in the game. Though the actions of eight Chicago White Sox players still hovered over the game like a dark cloud, the 1920 regular season went on as scheduled.
Thankfully, there was no controversy to speak of concerning the Cleveland Indians, who went 98-56 in 1920, finishing 2 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox and 3 games ahead of the New York Yankees to win the American League pennant. The Indians went 51-27 at their home ballpark, Dunn Field, which was more commonly known as League Park, and went 47-29 on the road.
Toward the end of the regular season, the aftermath of the Black Sox Scandal finally hit the White Sox hard, as their star players were suspended for the last three games of the season. Before the suspensions, the Indians and the White Sox were locked in a virtual tie in the standings. The Yankees, meanwhile, were on the verge of becoming a long-lasting power in baseball after acquiring pitcher and outfielder Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox in a trade following the 1919 season.
Cleveland’s starting rotation was arguably the best in baseball, as Jim Bagby went 31-12 with 73 strikeouts and posted a 2.89 ERA, 30 complete games and 3 shutouts. Stan Coveleski went 24-14 with 133 strikeouts and posted a 2.49 ERA, 26 complete games, 3 shutouts and 2 saves. Ray Caldwell went 20-10 with 80 strikeouts and posted a 3.86 ERA, 20 complete games and 1 shutout. Guy Morton went 8-6 with 72 strikeouts and posted 6 complete games, 1 shutout and 3 saves. Relief pitcher Dick Niehaus had 2 saves, while George Uhle and Elmer Myers each had 1 save.
Though they weren’t known for crushing the ball for home runs, the Indians had an effective offense that could get on base, move runners around and score. Outfielder Tris Speaker batted .388 with 8 home runs and 107 RBIs off 214 hits, 50 doubles, 11 triples and 10 stolen bases. Catcher Steve O’Neill batted .321 with 157 hits and 39 doubles. Outfielder Charlie Jamieson batted .319 with 118 hits, 17 doubles and 7 triples.
Outfielder Elmer Smith batted .316 with 12 home runs and 103 RBIs off 144 hits, 37 doubles and 10 triples. Third baseman Larry Gardner batted .310 with 118 RBIs off 185 hits, 31 doubles and 11 triples. Shortstop Ray Chapman batted .303 with 132 hits, 27 doubles, 8 triples and 13 stolen bases. First baseman Doc Johnston batted .292 with 156 hits, 24 doubles, 10 triples and 13 stolen bases. Second baseman Bill Wambsganss had 138 hits, 16 doubles, 11 triples and 9 stolen bases.
The Indians put together a seven-game winning streak that began with a 14-0 win over the Philadelphia Athletics on September 15 and ended with a 12-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on September 21.
The Cleveland Indians faced the Brooklyn Dodgers, who also went by the nickname Robins, in the 1920 World Series, and though Brooklyn applied plenty of pressure in the early games, Cleveland closed the series out in style.
In Game 1 on October 5 at Ebbets Field, the Indians won 3-1. Stan Coveleski pitched a complete game, giving up 5 hits and 1 run while recording 3 strikeouts. In the top of the 2nd inning, first baseman George Burns had an RBI single, and Steve O’Neill followed with an RBI double. O’Neill came back in the top of the 4th with another RBI double. Brooklyn first baseman Ed Konetchy had an RBI groundout in the bottom of the 7th, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
The Dodgers responded in Game 2 on October 6 with a 3-0 shutout victory. Brooklyn starting pitcher Burleigh Grimes pitched a complete game, giving up 7 hits and 4 walks while recording 2 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Dodgers left fielder Zack Wheat had an RBI single, and right fielder Tommy Griffith followed with an RBI double in the bottom of the 3rd. Griffith added another RBI single in the bottom of the 5th.
The Dodgers won again in Game 3 on October 7 by a score of 2-1. Sherry Smith pitched another complete game for Brooklyn, giving up 3 hits, 2 walks and 1 run while recording 2 strikeouts. Zack Wheat again had an RBI single in the bottom of the 1st inning, and center fielder Hi Myers followed with his own RBI single. Tris Speaker got the Indians on the board with an RBI double in the top of the 4th, but Cleveland couldn’t get its bats going.
Returning to Dunn Field for Game 4 on October 9, the Indians tied the series at two games apiece with a 5-1 victory. Stan Coveleski pitched another complete game, giving up 5 hits, 1 walk and 1 run while recording 4 strikeouts. Elmer Smith had an RBI single in the bottom of the 1st inning, and Larry Gardner followed with a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the 3rd, George Burns had a two-run single, and though Tommy Griffith put Brooklyn on the board with an RBI double in the top of the 4th, the Indians pulled away on a Bill Wambsganss infield RBI single in the bottom of the 6th.
The Indians then won Game 5 on October 10 by a score of 8-1, but the game would be remembered for something even bigger: the only unassisted triple play in World Series history. Second baseman Bill Wambsganss caught a line drive hit by pitcher Clarence Mitchell, stepped on second base to force out Brooklyn second baseman Pete Kilduff, and then tagged out catcher Otto Miller, who was running from first base.
Jim Bagby pitched a complete game, giving up 13 hits and 1 run while recording 3 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Elmer Smith hit the first grand slam in World Series history, and in the bottom of the 4th, Jim Bagby hit a three-run home run, becoming the first pitcher ever to homer in a World Series. Larry Gardner added an RBI single in the bottom of the 5th.
The Indians claimed a 1-0 shutout victory in Game 6 on October 11 behind a complete-game performance from Duster Mails, who gave up 3 hits and 2 walks while recording 4 strikeouts. The only run Cleveland needed came on an RBI double by George Burns in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Needing to win five games in the best-of-nine series to be crowned champions, the Indians did just that, shutting out the Dodgers 3-0 in Game 7 on October 12. Stan Coveleski pitched his third complete game of the series, giving up 5 hits and recording 1 strikeout. With Steve O’Neill batting in the bottom of the 4th inning, Doc Johnston stole second base, allowing Larry Gardner to score on a throwing error. Tris Speaker added an RBI triple in the bottom of the 5th, and Charlie Jamieson capped the scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the 7th.
The 1920 World Series title remains one of only two championships in Cleveland franchise history, along with the 1948 World Series title.
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