1920 – Washington Senators pitcher Al Schacht, who will later become the “Clown Prince of Baseball,” throws a 7 – 0 shutout against the Philadelphia Athletics.
1920 – At spring training, Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson is out of control in his first intersquad game, hitting three batters and walking two. One of the batters he hits is Bucky Harris, who takes a pitch that glances off the side of his head. Johnson gives up seven runs in three innings.
1920 – In a spring training match between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Robins, a sweeping inside curve ball throw by Dodgers pitcher Jeff Pfeffer hits Chick Fewster, striking the Yankees’ shortstop behind the ear and flattening him. Fewster revives 10 minutes later but soon loses the ability to speak. Taken to the hospital with a skull fracture and a blood clot on his brain, Fewster will recover slowly and return to play in mid-season.
1920 – The Chicago Cubs give his unconditional release to Lee Magee after having learned from him a week ago that he has been betting against his team. Magee will sue the Cubs for his salary of $4,500, charging that his livelihood as a ballplayer was destroyed through the sudden canceling of his contract. The Cubs will ask for a dismissal of the suit, saying that “previous to the making of the contract the plaintiff was guilty of betting against the team of which he was a member, and sought to win bets by intentional bad playing to defeat said team.”
Dissatisfaction with the National Commission system comes to a head. The National League votes 6-2 for a one-man commission while the American League votes 6-2 for the status quo. Chairman Garry Herrmann resigns, stating his belief that no club owner should serve on the governing board. When the two leagues cannot agree on a chairman, it is left to the league presidents to decide disputes.
Frank “Home Run” Baker’s wife, Ottalee, dies at 31, leaving two small children. Baker will miss the entire season to stay home and take care of the family, returning in 1921 to hit .294.
In a defeat for American League president Ban Johnson, pitcher Carl Mays is reinstated, and the Yankees’ third-place finish is recognized. Furthermore, a two-man committee is appointed to review all fines over $100 and suspensions of more than 10 days.
“Wanting to make a clean breast of things”, Lee Magee admits to National League president John Heydler and Chicago Cubs president William Veeck that he tried to “toss” a game with the Boston Braves when he was with the Cincinnati Reds in 1918, but that the Reds won the game in the 13th inning. Heydler will later testify on June 8th that Magee told him he became suspicious that Hal Chase had double-crossed him and so he stopped payment on the check.
At a joint meeting in Chicago, IL, it is decided that all bleacher prices will be raised to 50 cents, pavilion seats to 75 cents, and grandstand seating to $1.00. Clubs may set aside bleacher space for kids under 14 at 15 and 25 cents if they wish. In other agreements, the May 15-August 30 player limits are raised from 21 to 25, and the American League prohibits player transfers after July 1st; the National League, after August 20th.
The Cards announce the first trade of the winter meetings. They acquire 1B Jack Fournier from the minor league Los Angeles Angels for four players, all acquired earlier. LA gets 1B Art Griggs, C Grover Hartley, P Claude Thomas, and IF Ike McAuley.
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