Carl Mays wins his American League record 23rd straight game over the Athletics, although the Mackmen knock him out of the box for the first time in his win streak. He leaves with one out in the 6th and the Yankees winning, 7 – 2. New York prevails, 11 – 6, in game 1, but the A’s win the nitecap, 4 – 0.

1921 – In Cincinnati, the Cubs’ Grover Alexander outpitches his former teammate Eppa Rixey to win, 7 – 0. Chicago is mired in 7th place.

1920 – Shaken by the possible effects of the scandal surrounding baseball, club owners begin a series of meetings to reform the game. Albert D. Lasker, a Chicago advertising man and minority stockholder, of the Cubs, proposes a 3-man board of non-baseball men, with the chairman to be paid $25,000 year. Among the names mentioned: Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, former president William Howard Taft, General George Pershing, Senator Hiram Johnson, General Leonard Wood, and ex-treasury secretary William McAdoo.

Warren G. Harding, who will serve as the next president of the United States, throws three pitches for the Kerrigan Tailors, a semi-pro team, in an exhibition game played against the Cubs. The contest, in which the Giants, Reds, and Indians declined to be participants, was arranged in the presidential candidate’s hometown to make him more appealing to the masses.

1919 – The National Commission recommends a best-of-9 World Series. The lengthier series is seen as a sign of greed and is abandoned after three years.

In Washington, the Senators end the year on a light note, by splitting with the A’s. Philadelphia wins the opener and the Nats take the nitecap, 8 – 3. The second game is Washington’s traditional year-end laugher, and 43-year-old coach Nick Altrock finishes in relief, one of his five appearance this season. Altrock bats in the bottom of the 8th and Wickey McAvoy, a catcher playing first for the day, comes in to throw. Altrock finally lines one of his lobs into the outfield, rambles around the bases and neglects to touch second and third base. Ump Billy Evans calls Altrock safe at home for the only homer by a Senator hit at home this season. For Altrock, it’s been 14 years since his last round-tripper. The game ends with General Peyton March, Army Chief of Staff, throwing out the last ball; he’ll toss out the first next year.

Brooklyn ends the abbreviated season by splitting a doubleheader with the Phils, losing the first game, 4 – 2, before taking the nitecap, 5 – 3.

1917 – The first-place White Sox take a pair from the Tigers, winning, 7 – 2 and 6 – 5. The Sox bunch four in the 1st and three more in the 3rd to make the shine ball’s leading proponent, Ed Cicotte, a winner over Willie Mitchell. In the nitecap, the Sox snap a tie in the 9th when Eddie Collins, with one stolen base already, swipes second and third base after a walk. Joe Jackson’s sac fly brings him home.

Babe Ruth is hitless at bat, but pitches the Red Sox to an 8 – 3 win over the host Athletics. He strikes out 5.

The visiting Phillies sweep two from the Giants, winning, 3 – 1 and 2 – 0. Jeff Tesreau and Christy Mathewson take the losses, while Grover Alexander is the shutout winner in the nitecap.