[CT Wolverine]

Metaphysical League Baseball (MLB)
1920 Season


The 1919 draft was light except for a couple of outstanding names. There was a surprise at the top. Highlights:
1. CF Braggo Roth, 20, Red Sox
2. LF Frank Robinson, 19, Senators
3. 2B Rod Carew, 20, Pirates
4. 1B Andre Thornton, 22, Tigers
5. 3B Bill Madlock, 20, Browns
6. SP Ben Sheets, 21, Cardinals
7. SP Andy Pettitte, 21, Robins

The 1920 pennant races were similar in character. The early going in the AL was dominated by the White Sox and the upstart Browns. As the White Sox faded, the Browns found themselves with a 2 ½ game margin over the Tigers at the end of July. But the Browns gave up their lead with a 4-9 spell in the first two weeks of August. The Tigers were never caught again, winning their first pennant by a 6-game margin over the Senators.

Back in the NL, the Reds held 1st place from the opening bell through late July. Then they dropped 7 in a row while the Robins won 6 in a row and the Robins took a 1 ½ game lead into August. Although the race was close, the Robins were never headed, finishing 3 games ahead of the Pirates and 4 games in front of the Reds. This was the Robins fourth pennant.

1920 World Series: Brooklyn Robins (84-70) vs Detroit Tigers (90-64)

This series was to be a best-of-nine affair. Each team was looking for its first World Championship, the Tigers on their first try, the Robins on their fourth try. The Tigers HR star RF Jerry Lynch was only at 70% but would still play in the series. The Robins, on the other hand, found themselves without 3 key players:
OF/3B Pete Reiser: 2-78-.345-19; 2B Nap Lajoie: 2-70-.318-16; and
SS Bud Harrelson: 1-50-.275-7

The clubs split the first two games in Detroit as the Tigers’ Johnny Marcum shut out the Robins in Game 1 and the Robins’ Don Gullett and Hector Carrasco combined to shut out the Tigers in Game 2. But then the Tigers reeled of 3 straight wins by scores of 6-2, 4-1 and 4-2, and it looked like the series was over. However the Robins bounced back behind Peavy and Saberhagen to take games 6 & 7 to pull with 4 games to 3. Game 8 was the only slugfest of the series. The Tigers outlasted the Robins 7-5 due to the bats of Player-of-the-Game Ryan Braun 3-5, RBI, 3 R; Rod Myers 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI; and Jerry Lynch 3-4, 3B, RBI, 2 R.

Detroit won the World Series on their first try. Series MVP was Johnny Marcum, 2-1-1.38.

Milestones
• 5/22 - Preacher Roe, 34, ChW, win #250 (4th all-time), 3-1 over Was @ Griffith Stadium. Line: 9 11 1 1 1 2. Career: 250-176-2.44



Records
• Rod Carew, Pit, NL single-season record: 215 H

Retirement:
• Jim Wynn, 36, NYG, 87-792-.256-338, 993 R, 1887 H, 1162 BB, 1042 K. Career: 1st BB & K; 4th R; 4th(t) HR; 5th G & AB; 7th RBI & TB; 9th H; LL HR ‘12-’14; 5-time Gold Glove
• Stephen Strasburg, 36, Det, 200-182-3-2.33. Career: 6th ShO; 7th GS; 8th IP; 9th W; 10th K; AL Pitcher of Year (& ERA) 1909
• Joel Hanrahan, 35, PhiN, 21-29-48-3.10. Career: 6th Sv; LL 1915

Other Events
• 5/23 - Rogers Hornsby, NYY, walk-off HR leading off bottom of 15th to complete cycle for 5-4 win over SLA
• 5/31 - Frank Snyder,. ChC, 23-game hitting streak (finished season hitting .348)

Awards
• Avg: AL Ty Cobb, Bos, .370 ; NL Rod Carew (rookie), Pit, .354
• Rookie of Year: AL Eppa Rixey, StL, 21-16-4-3.07, 32 GS, 275.1 IP, 270 H, 77 BB, 83 K, .257 avg.
• Rookie of Year: NL Rod Carew, Pit, 1-70-.354-26, 215 H, 102 R
• Best Pitcher: AL Fleury Sullivan, ChW, 21-12-3-2.33, 37 GS, 322.1 IP, 330 H, 66 BB, 110 K, .264 avg.
• Best Pitcher: NL Pud Galvin, ChC, Pitching Triple Crown, 24-16-5-2.47, 36 GS, 328.1 IP, 83 BB, 249 K, .236 avg.
• Best Hitter: AL Mickey Mantle, Cle, 12-77-.329-4, 192 H, 29 2B, 3 3B, 75 R; LL: OBP, BB, H
• Best Hitter: Rod Carew, Pit, 1-70-.354-26, 215 H, 34 2B, 16 3B, 102 R: NL Record: H; LL: Avg, R, TB