Dropping their 13th consecutive decision, the Tigers still do not have a victory this season when the team loses to Cleveland, 5-2. The club’s futile 0-13 start matches the major league mark set by the 1904 Washington Senators.

ByTom

Dropping their 13th consecutive decision, the Tigers still do not have a victory this season when the team loses to Cleveland, 5-2. The club’s futile 0-13 start matches the major league mark set by the 1904 Washington Senators.

Babe Ruth hits his 50th career home run, the first of the 659 round-trippers he will collect playing for the Yankees. The New York right fielder also contributes a double in the team’s 6-0 victory over the Red Sox at the Polo Grounds, the ballpark they share with the National League’s Giants.

ByTom

Babe Ruth hits his 50th career home run, the first of the 659 round-trippers he will collect playing for the Yankees. The New York right fielder also contributes a double in the team’s 6-0 victory over the Red Sox at the Polo Grounds, the ballpark they share with the National League’s Giants.

Al Schacht

Washington Senators pitcher Al Schacht, who will later become the “Clown Prince of Baseball,” throws a 7 – 0 shutout 

ByTom

1920 – Washington Senators pitcher Al Schacht, who will later become the “Clown Prince of Baseball,” throws a 7 – 0 shutout against the Philadelphia Athletics.

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.

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.

ByTom

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.

ByTom

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.”

ByTom

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

ByTom

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.

Confessions of Baseball: Lee Magee’s Admission in 1920

Confessions of Baseball: Lee Magee’s Admission in 1920

ByTom

“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.