Bill Klem (NL), Tommy Connolly (AL), Hank O'Day (NL), Bill Dinneen (AL)
Hall of Famers
Umpires: Bill Klem Tommy Connolly Hank O'Day Indians: Stan Coveleski Joe Sewell Tris Speaker Robins: Wilbert Robinson (mgr.) Rube Marquard Zack Wheat Burleigh Grimes
← 1919
World Series
1921 →
The 1920 World Series was the championship series for Major League Baseball's 1920 season. The series was a best-of-nine format played between the American League (AL) champion Cleveland Indians and the National League (NL) champion Brooklyn Robins, with the Indians defeating the Robins five games to two. The only World Series triple play, the first World Series grand slam, and the first World Series home run by a pitcher all occurred in Game 5 of this series. This was also the first World Series and first Big Four championship series to feature two brothers on opposing teams, with Doc Johnston playing for Cleveland and Jimmy Johnston playing for Brooklyn.[1]
The Indians won the series in memory of their former shortstop Ray Chapman, who had been killed earlier in the season when struck in the head by a pitched ball.
In Game 5, Cleveland second basemen Bill Wambsganss turned an unassisted triple play. He caught a line drive off the bat of Clarence Mitchell, stepped on second base to put out Pete Kilduff, and tagged Otto Miller coming from first base. It was the second of 15 (as of 2022) unassisted triple plays in major-league baseball history, and it remains the only one in postseason play. Mitchell made history again in the eighth inning by hitting into a double play, accounting for five outs in two straight at-bats.
The fifth game also saw the first grand slam in World Series history (hit by Cleveland's Elmer Smith) and the first Series home run by a pitcher (Cleveland's Jim Bagby, Sr.). And in that same game, Brooklyn outhit Cleveland but lost 8–1.
Cleveland had won the American League pennant in a close race with the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees. The Sox's participation in the Black Sox Scandal the previous year had caught up to them late in the season, and their star players were suspended with three games left in the season, when they were in a virtual tie with the Indians. The Yankees, with their recently acquired star Babe Ruth, were almost ready to start their eventual World Series dynasty.
This was the second of three consecutive World Series to use a best-of-nine format, instead of the usual best-of-seven. To reduce travel during the Series, the 2-3-2-2 format that was used in 1919 was changed to 3-4-2. Notably, all seven games of the 1920 World Series were won by the team who scored first. In fact, Game 4 was the only game in which the losing team scored a run before the winning team had scored all of its runs. The lead never changed hands in any game.
This would be the last World Series until 1980 to feature two franchises that had not previously won a championship.
^McEvoy, Colin (February 9, 2023). "The Ultimate Sibling Rivalry: 8 Sets of Brothers Who Faced Off in Sports Championships". Biography. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
The 1920WorldSeries was the championship series for Major League Baseball's 1920 season. The series was a best-of-nine format played between the American...
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at Dunn Field in Cleveland, Ohio October 12, 1920, at Dunn Field in Cleveland, Ohio 1920WorldSeries (5–2): Cleveland Indians (A.L.) over Brooklyn Robins...
(ERA) once each during his nine years with the club. The star of the 1920WorldSeries, he led the Indians to their first title with three complete-game...
unassisted triple play in WorldSeries history, in fact the only Series triple play of any kind. The team would not reach the heights of 1920 again for 28 years...
Making Series An Even Break". Another example of the use of the many nicknames is found on the program issued at Ebbets Field for the 1920WorldSeries, which...
1920 January February March April May June July August September October November December Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1920. 1920 (MCMXX) was...
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winning none and losing one. He also appeared in four games in the 1920WorldSeries. Wood finished his major league career after the 1922 season with...
black armbands for the remainder of the season. The Indians won the 1920WorldSeries and dedicated their victory to Chapman. A bronze plaque was designed...
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