Game five of the 1920 World Series was a big day in Cleveland baseball history, with the Indians beating the Brooklyn Dodgers and recording the only World Series unassisted triple play, the first World Series grand slam and the first World Series home run by a pitcher. All at League Park. Read our game-day coverage.
View full sizeThe 1920 world champion Indians pose for a photograph inside League Park. The Indians beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-2 in the best of seven series.
(Second in a series of three stories)
Saturday: Pitcher Cy Young led the Cleveland Spiders to a 12-3 victory over Cincinnati on May 1, 1891, in the opening game at League Park, home to Cleveland baseball for nearly half a century.Today: Game five of the 1920 World Series was a big day in Cleveland baseball history, with the Indians beating the Brooklyn Dodgers and recording the only World Series unassisted triple play, the first World Series grand slam and the first World Series home run by a pitcher. All at League Park.
Monday: Babe Ruth got his 500th home run at League Park on Aug. 11, 1929, and a local boy got $20 and the Bambino's autograph for returning the ball that was hit out of the park and onto Lexington Ave.
CLEVELAND, Ohio--Game five was the turning point in the 1920 World Series. The win at Cleveland's League Park put the Indians up 3-2 in the best of seven series. But it was the way Cleveland won - overwhelming the Brooklyn Dodgers and setting three important major league records - that gave the Tribe the confidence to go on and take all of the remaining games, winning the world championship.
Below is the game five story by The Plain Dealer:
Indians Win 8-1; Lead In Series
Rout Rivals in Fifth Game, Driving Dodgers' Star Pitcher From Box
Unassisted Triple Play by Wambsganss and Home Runs by Bagby and Smith Feature Triumph of Cleveland Clan; World Championship Hopes of Indians Now at Fever Heat as Result of Third Victory
by Richard T. F. Harding
When Elmer Smith hit the ball over the right field fence with the bases full in the first inning of yesterday's game with Brooklyn at League Park, he not only cinched the game for Cleveland but started a series of sensational hitting and fielding plays probably unparalleled at any previous world series game.
The Indians won 8 to 1, thereby making the series stand three games to two in their favor.
Burleigh Grimes, Brooklyn's top hole pitchers, was driven from the field by the onslaught of the Indians, and today baseball experts say Cleveland's chances of winning the world's championship are just about twice as good as they were before yesterday's game.
Of all the events of an eventful afternoon the most momentous was a triple play by Wambsganss unassisted. With runners on first and second Wambsganss leaped high and grabbed, with his gloved hand, a line drive from Mitchel's bat, one that looked as if it might fairly wind up be being a two-base hit. The runners, who had started as Bagby began to deliver the ball, were far on their way, so far that it was the work of but an instant for Wambsganss to step on second base, thus putting out Kilduff, then turn and touch Miller, who had come so fast and so far that he had no chance to turn back toward first.
Fans Momentarily Stunned
For a few seconds the crowd scarcely could realize what had happened. Everybody got to his feet, drew a long breath and then figured the play for himself before letting out a great yell.
Read the rest of the story by clicking the link below:
1920-World-Series-Game5-10October-Page1.pdf