Cold, Wet Facts in Cleveland
Retelling the 1920 Indians Story
Every self-respecting Indians fan will tell you they never left a game before the end, even if it’s a lie. However, many admit thinking about bailing when Northeast Ohio gets cold and moist. Your job during this report is to declare when you would want to pack it in and leave League Park on April 20, 1920.
History has not recorded precise details about the weather that day but the Plain Dealer described it as “anything but favorable for baseball.” The front page said “probably rain. No change in temperature.”
So you probably slogged through a sloppy Cleveland day to see two Hall of Famers for the Tigers, Ty Cobb and Harry Heilmann. Cobb got his only hit of the game in the first inning and Heilmann struck out moments later. It was cold but you were probably hoping for more.
Then the Indians scored five runs in the bottom of the first and it could have been more if Les Nunamaker didn’t get picked off second base. OK, you stayed.
The Tribe added a run in the second inning, so you probably felt the home team had the game in the bag early. A warm set of dry clothes probably was on your mind.
You got a clue of how the game would deteriorate in the top of the third inning when Cobb walked and came in on a three-run double by Bobby Veach. If you knew there would be 18 walks on this day, would you stick around?
The Indians kept splashing away and got the score to 11–5 heading to the top of the eighth inning. Are you still with us?
Well, that eighth inning would be quite a challenge as Indians pitchers Elmer Myers and Tony Faeth walked SIX BATTERS, helping Detroit to get the score to 11–10. Now that’s action folks! If you knew that would be the final score, you might leave and miss three more walks in the ninth inning as Guy Morton destroyed any faith manager Tris Speaker had in the right-hander. The better part of a century later, statisticians would credit him with a “hold,” because, yeah, he didn’t allow a run. That was only because Gerorge Uhle had to go out in the rain and cold and coax Ralph Young to ground out.
Drive home safely. Oh, wait, you probably walked or took a street car. Don’t slip in the mud
Here’s how the PD summed it up:
“And they call it big league baseball. Cleveland yesterday made it three straight from Detroit by winning, 11 to 10, in a game in which ten pitchers — count ’em — issued eighteen bases on balls and one hit batsman, a game that lasted three hours and four minutes.”
This was when three hours was a long time for a ballgame.
Writer Henry P. Edwards, suggested Speaker — known as Spoke to many — had a chance to have the game postponed, and one might detect a bit of sarcasm in Edwards’ report.
“Only a small crowd was present, but Spoke, a firm believer in the adage that it pays to get ’em while the getting is good, decided the game should be played as he preferred tackling the Tigers when the pitchers were not ready than meeting them later with conditions possibly reversed.”
Edwards couldn’t resist another chilly image when describing the final out as the Tribe flirted with soggy humiliation with Morton on the mound.
“A hit meant a possible victory for the Tigers, but Uhle, something of an iceberg when under fire, was equal to the occasion. He got the ball over and with something on it. He caused (Ralph) Young to hit a sharp grounder to Wamby.” That would be Bill Wambsganss to his friends and fans who struggled with unexpected consonants.
The game left the Indians 4–1 and in second place behind the 2–0 White Sox.
Here’s a more legible box score!
I choose the games to I feature weekly based on the game itself and an opportunity to write about significant players and events of that season. Below, you will see a recreation of the game using Strat-O-Matic, a dice and computer simulation I have played for decades. Please keep scrolling.
Dave Scott was a newspaper writer and editor for 40 years. He is a lifelong baseball fan and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research for decades, although SABR records might indicate I skipped my dues on occasion! DavidAScott@gmail.com I owe a great debt to the Cleveland Public Library for its excellent resources.
Please email me if you would like an email alert when new blog entries are posted, hopefully every Wednesday.
The following have helped me tremendously with editing, error correction and technical advice:
David Bodemer
Ken Krsolovic
Joe Shaw
Vince Guerrieri
Thanks to all of you!
Previous blog posts:
The Spitter Starts Sliding Out of Baseball
It Happens Every Spring — in Cleveland Anyway
Cleveland Fans Party — Tribe Style
The dice are in control
In this game, the Indians were throwing strikes and dominating the Tigers in every way. The got to Detroit starter Ernie Alten for seven runs and eight hits in just 1 1/3 inning. The Tiger pitchers followed and allowed no earned runs although Frank Okrie gave up three unearned runs in the second inning. Shortstop Donie Bush made the boot.
Cobb collected on hit and Heilmann was hitless in four times up.
Speaker was 3-for-3 and raised his batting average to .588. It’s still early folks!
Steve Feldheim, who was rolling the dice for the Tigers from his home in Brooklyn, wasn’t too high on his chances from the start.
“The available pitchers for the Tigers were so pitiful, I was just hoping we could keep the game in reach for a few innings, but the Indians ended that hope quickly with the big 3rd inning.”
If you play Strat and would like to participate, send me an email.
