Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-26-2020

Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger, October 26, 1920:

President Ban Johnson, of the American League, and his five “loyal” club owners will meet in Cleveland this week. They will agree to meet with the National League owners and the Comiskey-Ruppert-Frazee faction of the American League when the joint meeting is held [in Chicago] November 8.

The dark clouds have rolled by and indications point to a full house when the gathering assembles [in Chicago] to reorganize the controlling body of the national game.

There had been some speculation that the five other AL owners and Ban Johnson were going to walk away from the American League and start a new league. They were angry about the reorganization plan that eventually wound up with Judge Landis serving as commissioner.

Elsewhere in the news 100 years ago today, Browns second baseman Joe Gedeon will testify in front of the Black Sox grand jury and the Los Angeles County grand jury looking into PCL corruption is still ongoing.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-23-2020

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 23, 1920:

Indictments against 13 persons believed to have been implicated in the “throwing” of games in the 1919 world’s series by Chicago American League players were returned [yesterday] by a special Cook county grand jury which had been investigating the baseball scandal for more than a month.
...
Chase and Burns, former major league players, and Abe Attell, once the featherweight boxing champion of the world, have been accused by witness of being three of a clique which “framed” the world series and arranged to bribe White Sox players for sums said to range from $2,000 to $10,000 to try to lose games in the contests for the world’s baseball championship.

Elsewhere in the news 100 years ago today, a federal judge named K.M. Landis says he received an anonymous note threatening him if he continues to speak out against the socialist movement. (Please don’t turn this into a political discussion, folks. I just thought the timing of Black Sox indictments and Judge Landis perhaps having a motivation to get out of political life was interesting.)

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-22-2020

Chattanooga News, October 22, 1920:

Judge Kenesaw M. Landis, of the United States district court [in Chicago], will be offered the chairmanship of the national baseball commission at a salary of $25,000 per year, it was admitted [in Chicago] today by Alfred Austrian, attorney for both the Chicago American and Chicago National league clubs.

Austrian declared that the offer had not been made to Judge Landis, but other reports said the position had been tendered and accepted. This later rumor, however, could not be confirmed.

“I will not deny,” Austrian said, “that an offer is contemplated. Judge Landis has been mentioned frequently as an ideal man for the place.”

Elsewhere in the news 100 years ago today, the mayor of Baltimore says if the American League breaks up over the decision to hire a commissioner, his city is ready to have a big league team. Really, guys. We’re ready. Give us a team. Please. Guys? Please?

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-21-2020

Whenever Tubby Spencer pops up in the news, you know it’s going to be good.

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 21, 1920:

W.H. McCarthy, president of the Pacific Coast Baseball League, announced today he had received a letter from Edward Spencer, former catcher for the Salt Lake club, that Babe Borton, suspended Vernon player, had offered him a $1,700 bribe.

Borton emphatically denies Tubby’s accusation and insists that he only offered Spencer $500 to throw a game.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-16-2020

Seattle Star, October 16, 1920:

Decision to force a change in the governing body of baseball has been made by the eight National league clubs, according to President John Heydler today. Heydler leaves for Chicago tonight, where the American league magnates have been invited to meet Monday with the National league owners and discuss the abolishment of the national commission.

“Despite the objection of President Ban Johnson, of the American league, we are going thru with the meeting,” Heydler said.

This was one of the early steps in eliminating the National Commission and replacing it with a Commissioner.

Elsewhere in the news, the Black Sox grand jury in Chicago wants to talk to Abe Attell, but Attell is in Montreal and gloating that nobody can touch him there.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-15-2020

Pittsburgh Press, October 15, 1920:

It is still a matter of doubt whether the New York Yankees will have a new manager in 1921. Col. Til Huston, one of the owners of the club, wants a new leader, but Col. Jake Ruppert believes that Miller Huggins deserves another season.

The peculiar part of it is that Ruppert doesn’t claim Huggins is a world-beater as a team leader, but says that any manager whose team made as much money for its owners as the Yankees made this season is entitles to at least one more year.

Huggins is a likable fellow, but it is a question whether he will ever be ranked with the really great leaders of ball teams. He has had his chance, and failed. The Yankees looked good enough to win this year, and the manner in which the pilot handled his men and manipulated his pitchers is blamed for their failure.

The guy won 95 games and was called a failure. Tough crowd. Anyway, Huggins made it through this offseason unscathed and managed the Yankees until he died in 1929.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-14-2020

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 14, 1920:

Cleveland paid tribute to its world champion baseball team in a public demonstration in Wade Park, attended by approximately 50,000 persons. So great was the enthusiasm of the mob that it finally became uncontrollable and broke through ropes marking off the stage where city officials and the Cleveland players sat, smashed chairs, pushed several persons into a small lake and vocally and physically expressed its joy over the winners of the world’s series.

Special details of police were powerless aqnd not until long after the lights had been put out and ball players had left did the celebration end.

Heck, I’m overjoyed 100 years later.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-13-2020

Columnist Ralph Davis in the Pittsburgh Press, October 13, 1920:

Rube Marquard, the Brooklyn pitcher, was convicted yesterday of having attempted to scalp world’s series tickets. In sentencing him, the judge said: “You are a rube, for sure,” and the judge was right.

Marquard has proved himself the biggest ass in baseball. The idea that a ball player, in the midst of a series for the championship of the world, in which his team was playing, should stoop to such cheap stuff is almost beyond belief.
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[Charles] Ebbets should not only see to it that Marquard does not play with Brooklyn, but that he performs for no other club in organized baseball in 1920. Apparently, these highly cultured gentlemen who amuse the American public cannot appreciate anything but a wallop to the jaw—and a number of them have wallops coming to them.

Jeez, Ralph, tell me how you really feel. Marquard did a dumb thing, but goodness - a couple of weeks ago we were talking about some of the biggest stars in the game intentionally losing the World Series. Perspective, my dude. It’s bad but it’s not “ship him to Saint Helena” bad.

Anyway, Ebbets traded Marquard to Cincinnati for Dutch Ruether, who was one of the best young pitchers in baseball at this point. He was angry at Rube, but he wasn’t stupid.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-12-2020

Seattle Star, October 12, 1920:

The Cleveland Indians are champions of the baseball world. They were crowned on League Park field this afternoon, when they took the fourth straight game on their home grounds, beating the Brooklyn National by a score of 3 to 0, making the series count five games to two in their favor.
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When the game was over thousands of fans swarmed to the front of the grandstand and staged one of the most remarkable demonstrations ever seen in baseball. The moment that Sewell and Wamby retired the last Brooklyn player for the final out of the series, Manager Tris Speaker dashed to the stands from his place in the center field and embraced his gray-haired mother, who occupied a box. Mrs. Speaker threw her arms around the neck of her stalwart son and they kissed each other while the thousands of fans who had swarmed in his wake broke into a frenzied cheering.

I just wish there were video of this.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-9-2020

Memphis News Scimitar, Octobeer 9, 1920:

INDIANS WIN FOURTH OF SERIES

SCALP DODGERS AS HOME TRIBES RISE AND CHEER

The Cleveland Indians, fighting on their own reservation, scalped the Brooklyn Dodgers in the fourth game of the world series and thereby evened the count. Each club now has two victories to its credit.

All Cleveland came to League park today or tried to. Those that did not come stayed home to welcome the hundreds that surged into town from all over Ohio and other Central West states to see Cleveland take its world’s series baptism. Mayor Fitzgerald issued an official proclamation on his best office paper, for everybody to get out and root today for Speaker and his men. All factory whistles blew at noon and flags were flown where flags never flew before.

“No flags for us in Brooklyn,” said Jimmy Johnston, the Dodger third sacker, “except at the weather bureau.”

The imagery at the top of the story makes me wince, but it’s nice to see Indian Fever catching fire with everyone.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-8-2020

Pittsburgh Press, October 8, 1920:

CLEVELAND FANS STILL CONFIDENT

The big world series show was being shifted today from Brooklyn to Cleveland. Various and assorted players, umpires, scribes and a few faithful fans are due here today to look over the new battlefield and prepare for resumption of hostilities tomorrow.

Cleveland, disappointed some by the setback of her Indians, but thrilled nevertheless with the novelty of a world’s series in her own yard, anxiously awaited the arrival of Tris Speaker and his tribe to show the valiants that the home town is still behind them.

Unlike the fans of Flatbush, who failed to work up a thrill over the classic, the fans of the Forest City were talking baseball. General interest was very much more in evidence.

I don’t know that there’s ever been a time that I, as a Cleveland fan, have been confident. Interested yes. Confident? Man, I lived through Red Right 88 and the Fumble and the Drive and Jordan’s shot over Ehlo and on and on. Ain’t no confidence here.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-7-2020

Washington Evening Star, October 7, 1920:

DODGERS WIN BY 2 TO 1 IN THE “RUBBER” GAME

Another reel of the autumn world series thriller, entitled “Taking the Third Game,” was thrown this afternoon on the base ball screen with the gonfalon winners of the National and American leagues—Brooklyn and Cleveland—in the leading roles. Some 20,000 or more fans saw the Dodgers and Indians come to grips in the odd game on the Brooklyn’s ball lot before taking the trail westward tonight to engage in a four-ply affair on the Indians’ reservation in Cleveland.

The Dodgers knocked Cleveland starter Ray Caldwell out of the game with two runs in the first inning and made that lead stand. Duster Mails threw 6.2 innings of scoreless relief for Cleveland in a heroic if futile effort.

Knowing what I know about Caldwell, I kind of wonder if he was drunk - that was his one and only appearance in the series. Maybe Speaker was just skittish about pitchers unexpectedly falling apart with the Black Sox story breaking at the time. Or maybe Tris didn’t have faith that Caldwell could get people out. I don’t know. Just wondering aloud because it seems like a really quick hook to pull a starter after five batters.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-6-2020

Grand Forks Herald, October 6, 1920:

Burleigh Grimes fitted a fine coat of whitewash on the backs of the Cleveland Indians today and the Brooklyns, champions of the National League, walked off the field with a 3 to 0 victory in the second game of the World’s Series. Grimes’ spitball tied the backs of the Clevelanders in knots, while Brooklyn’s hitting was timely, the National Leaguers getting their hits in clusters which meant runs.
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“A wind blown fly was the cause of our downfall yesterday,” said Manager Robinson of the Brooklyns today. “With an even break on luck my club will show the way to victory.”
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“We have looked the Brooklyns over and my men feel they can take the majority of the games,” said [Cleveland manager] Speaker today. “Brooklyn has a fine ball club, make no mistake, and I have my troubles to find pitchers to beat them in a long series.”

*Duster Mails has entered the chat*

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-5-2020

Rock Island Argus, October 5, 1920:

INDIANS WIN FIRST GAME BY 3-1 SCORE

The Clevelands, champions of the American league, topples over the Brooklyns by a score of 3 to 1, today in the first game of the world series. The National league champions were helpless before the mystifying slants of the big spit-ball pitcher, Coveleskie. He was given sterling support by the Clevelands, especially Speaker who ranged far and near, robbing the hapless Brooklyns of seeming hits. O’Neill starred at the bat with two doubles. The official attendance was 23,984.

WIN ONE FOR CHAPPIE.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-2-2020

New York Herald, October 2, 1920:

“Babe” Ruth had a remarkable escape from death [in Meriden, Connecticut yesterday] when his new $12,000 roadster crashed into a truck and was wrecked. He and a male companion picked themselves out of the debris unhurt save for a few minor scratches and cuts.

With Ruth at the wheel the roadster was traveling to Springfield, Mass. The way led along the New Haven trunk highway and at Yalesville around what has come to be known as “Dead Man’s Curve.” Before he had navigated the curve Ruth say a heavy truck ahead. It was too late to avoid a collision.

The home run hitter next found himself sitting with a broken steering wheel in his hand. His eyes were able to see the roadway warning sign reading “Prepare to meet thy God.”

Ruth led the league in home runs, extra base hits, and wrecked cars.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-1-2020

Washington Times, October 1, 1920:

$20,000 FUND TO BRIBE GIANTS IS CHARGED

Garry Herrmann, President of Cincinnati Club, Claims 1919 Flag Was Thrown

The startling charge that a “slush” fund of $20,000 was used to bribe players of the New York Giants to lose the National League championship to Cincinnati is reported to have been made by Herrmann. Affidavits supporting the charge are said to have been presented to the grand jury by the Cincinnati magnate.

Herrmann was the first witness before the jury today. He brought with him affidavits of pitcher Pat Hogan, pitcher James Ring, outfielder Earl Neale, and Christy Mathewson, former manager of the Cincinnati team.

Although details of Herrmann’s testimony are not known, it is reported he gave the grand jury information indicating that the alleged $20,000 fund to corrupt the Giants was raised in Chicago, presumably as a part of the gambling scheme revealed in confessions of players of the Chicago White Sox.

By my count, three position players on the 1919 Giants (Chase, Zimmerman, and Kauff) were banned for life. Officially, Kauff was banned for his alleged role in an auto theft ring, but there were also allegations that Kauff threw games.

Pitcher Shufflin’ Phil Douglas (Giants 1919-1922) was also banned for life, but his ban came years later as a result of a threat to jump the team in the middle of a pennant race because he was mad at John McGraw.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-30-2020

Pittsburgh Press, September 30, 1920:

“Buck” Weaver, suspended third baseman of the Whitesox team, is expected to tell his story of the “throwing” of the series to the grand jury today. Fred McMullin, it is reported, may follow Weaver. Both have opened negotiations for the giving of their testimony.

“Swede” Risberg, shortstop, is said to have declared he was not going to confess because he has nothing to confess. “And if anybody squeals on me,” he is reported to have said, “I’ll put them out of business.”

Elsewhere on the front page, nobody can find Eddie Cicotte, Abe Attell says ten New York gamblers won a quarter million dollars from fixing the 1919 World Series, and there are rumors that gamblers are working to get the Dodgers to throw the 1920 Series. This is why Cleveland fans can’t have nice things.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-29-2020

Pittsburgh Press, September 29, 1920:

INDICT GAMBLERS

2 MORE WHITESOX CONFESS

Two more members of the Chicago Whitesox confessed today that they had connived to “throw” the 1919 world’s series to Cincinnati for a bribe of $100,000. They are Claude “Lefty” Williams, pitcher, who told his story to the grand jury, and Oscar “Happy” Felsch, center fielder, who admitted his part in the gigantic plot to the International News Service.

It was reported that George “Buck” Weaver, another of the eight players under indictment, was preparing to go before the grand jury and make a clean breast of his alleged connection with the scandal.

“I got my $5,000,” Felsch said in a statement to the International News Service, “and I guess the others did, too. We were double-crossed out of an even split of the $100,000.”

Elsewhere on the same page, Billy Maharg says he’ll testify in front of the grand jury if Charlie Comiskey gives him $10,000, Joe Jackson says the Sox played the 1920 season honestly, and Abe Attell is pointing a finger at Arnold Rothstein.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-28-2020

Seattle Star, September 28, 1920:

EIGHT INDICTED WHITE SOX PLAYERS ARE SUSPENDED FROM GAME

CHICAGO PITCHER CONFESSES ACCEPTING CROOKED MONEY

Details of the “confession” made by Eddie Cicotte, White Sox pitcher, on which eight members of the team were indicted by the Cook county grand jury for crookedness in the 1919 world series, were made public late today. Cicotte told the grand jury that each of the eight men were paid individually by the gamblers. He said he got $10,000, and Joe Jackson, another player, $5,000. “Jackson held out for $20,000 but he only got $5,000,” Cicotte told the grand jury. “They promised to pay Jackson the remainder but they never did.”

The crap had officially hit the fan.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-25-2020

New York Evening World, September 25, 1920:

Interest in the Grand Jury investigation of alleged crookedness in baseball centres to-day in the identity of the man whose name has been given by witnesses as the person who fixed the 1919 World’s Series for Cincinnati to win. H.H. Brigham, foreman of the jury, says that he has the name.

While reticent as to the matter, Mr. Brigham said that evidence thus far introduced had brought about a decision to call as witnesses Arnold Rothstein of New York, millionaire turfman and controlling owner of the Havre de Grace race track; William Burns, former Chicago (American) and Cincinnati (National League) pitcher; Abe Attell, former featherweight boxing champion, and several other well known sportsmen.

“I can’t tell you who was involved. In completely unrelated news, we want to talk to Attell, Burns, and Rothstein for…reasons.”

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-24-2020

Pittsburgh Press, September 24, 1920:

Rube Benton Says Pittsburg Betting Syndicate “Fixed” American Leaguers—Gleason’s Men Threatened

Ban Johnson, president of the American league, will be recalled today, it is expected, to tell the grand jury what he knows about an alleged plot to “blackmail” the Chicago Whitesox into losing the American league pennant this year. George M. Cohan, noted actor, and Mont Tennes, a well-known Chicago gambler, probably will be subpoenaed for questioning regarding reports that between them they lost $110,000 betting on the Whitesox in the 1919 world’s series.
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The statement by [Ban] Johnson declares that he has been informed that the “Whitesox will not dare to win the pennant in 1920,” and alleges that the gambling syndicate which is said to have “fixed” certain Sox players in the 1919 series is threatening the players with exposure if they should win the flag this year.

I don’t think I knew about this angle. Certainly casts at least a bit of a shadow on Cleveland’s 1920 World Series title, but if the Reds can celebrate 1919, I’m keeping 1920.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-22-2020

Seattle Star, September 22, 1920:

The chastity of baseball went on trial [in Chicago] today when the Cook county grand jury opened an active investigation of charges of “fixed games.”
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Rube Benton, New York Giant pitcher, said to have been offered $750 by a Chicago player to throw a game; Heinie Zimmerman, Lee Magee and Hal Chase, former players, were also expected to be quizzed.
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[Charles] Comiskey was expected to explain why bonus checks of eight White Sox players were held up last season and what his investigation of the world’s series scandal in 1919 produced.

Concerned Puppet dot JPEG.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-21-2020

Pittsburgh Press, September 21, 1920:

John A. Heydler and Ban B. Johnson, presidents of the National and American baseball leagues, are expected [in Chicago] tomorrow to testify before the county grand jury inquiring into alleged baseball gambling. Subpoenas for Rube Benton, New York Giants’ pitcher; Charles A. Comiskey, owner of the Chicago Whitesox; William Gleason, manager of the Sox; William L. Veek [sic], president of the Chicago Cubs, and Chicago baseball writers also were issued. Efforts to have Hal Chase, Heinie Zimmerman and Lee Magee, former players, testify will be made, it was said.

The world’s series of 1919 between the Whitesox and Cincinnati Nationals and the alleged “fixed” game of Aug. 31 between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia will be investigated.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-18-2020

Pittsburgh Press, September 18, 1920:

Sammy Bohne, recent purchaser [sic] of the Reds, has a lot of nerve. He has tried to steal home seven times this season and made the play on six occasions.

I was unsurprised to learn that Sam Bohne led the National League in caught stealing in 1921.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-17-2020

Montpelier [Idaho] Examiner, September 17, 1920:

PECULIAR PLAY PULLED IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Wingo was on first and Brazill at bat. The strike and steal was called for and Wingo went down with the pitch. Brazill failed to strike at the pitch, but after the ball had landed in the catcher’s hands and he had let loose of it on a throw to second, Brazill decided to swing. His bat hit the ball and it rolled foul.

Interference with the catcher’s throw, you say? Well, Umpire Bill Brennan ruled it an accident, according to the story, held that Wingo had stolen second and no penalty on Brazill.

If I were managing the team that was in the field, I would have absolutely lost my mind screaming at the umpire. I’d have been emphatically tossed.