1920 Baseball Season Highlights

Rube Foster, 1920
Rube Foster opened up
baseball in 1920 when he
started the Negro
National League.
During the 1920 baseball season, the sport underwent several changes in rules to prevent any further scandals like the 1919 World Series dump. Additionally, Babe Ruth continued to set records, and Rube Foster started up the Negro National League. See more highlights of the 1920 baseball season below.
  • In January, the Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000.

  • Cleveland wins its first major league pennant.

  • Brooklyn triumphs for the second time in five years in the National League.

  • Cleveland wins the 1920 World Series five games to two.

  • In game five of the 1920 World Series, Cleveland second baseman Bill Wambsganss makes an unassisted triple play.

  • Stan Coveleski wins three games for Cleveland in the 1920 World Series.

  • Doc Johnston (Cleveland) and brother Jimmy (Brooklyn) oppose each other in the 1920 World Series.

  • Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman is beaned by NY pitcher Carl Mays August 16 and dies the next day.

  • Babe Ruth hits a major league record 54 homers.

  • Ruth scores 158 runs, also a new major league record.

  • Ruth sets a major league record with an .847 slugging average.

  • Ruth produces 241 runs, also a new record.

  • St. Louis' George Sisler wins the American League bat title with a .407 average.

  • Rogers Hornsby cops his first National League bat title (.370).

  • Jim Bagby of Cleveland is the last American League righty until 1968 to win 30 games.

  • Late in the season, eight members of the White Sox are suspended for allegedly dumping the 1919 World Series.

  • Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis is named the first commissioner of baseball, a post he'll serve for the next 24 years.
Find more highlights from the 1920 baseball season on the next page.

To learn more about baseball, see: