The majors see all nine scheduled games played to completion on July 9, 1920. The Red Sox hosted the Browns, Boston winning 2-1 for the low scoring game of the day. At the high end two games produced twelve runs. The Indians defeated the Senators 8-4 in Washington , while he Yankees beat the Tigers 9-3 at the Polo Grounds. It was a rather low scoring day, as games averaged 7.4 runs.

Bob Meusel of the Yankees turned in a superb day in the win over Washington for best offensive game of the day. He ended the game four for four with two doubles, a home run, and five RBI. I suspect an argument ensued about the headline for the news story. The top of the sports page reads, “Ruth Pounds Out 25th Homer,” but the sub-head reads “Lank Bob Meusel Real Hero in Game Won by Yankees.” Meusel is now among the AL leaders in all three long hit categories.

Meusel played as a true rookie in 1920, splitting time between the outfield and third base. He eventually would settle in as an outfielder. Meusel and Ruth would form two-thirds of the Yankees outfield for ten seasons. Meusel, like Ruth, was a big man for the day. He is listed as 6-3, 190 pounds. (Ruth is listed at 6-2, 215 pounds.) Meusel is basically the same size as Derek Jeter. The average height in 1920 (per plate apperance) was 70.2 innings. In Jeter’s rookie year of 1996, the average height per PA was 72.8 inches, two and a half inches taller.

On the pitching side, Pete Alexander of the Cubs goes the distance in a thirteen inning game to win best pitched game of the day. He allows ten hits and two walks, the two runs crossing the plate unearned. He also struck out five Giants as the Cubs take the game 3-2. Honorable mention goes to Al Mamaux of the Dodgers, who shuts out the Cardinals 8-0. He allowed seven hits and no walks, striking out six. Mamaux is now second in the NL in ERA at 1.94, and first in strikeouts per nine IP at 5.21.

Tris Speaker, player-manager of the Indians, leaves the game early after a three for three day due to an injury. He gains on George Sisler in the batting race, Sisler at .415, Speaker at .408.

The Indians and Yankees win as Cleveland maintains a 1/2 game lead in the AL pennant race. The Athletics beat the White Sox 5-4, dropping Chicago four games back in third place.

In the NL, the Dodgers split a doubleheader with the Cardinals, while the Reds fall to the Braves. Brooklyn takes a 1/2 game lead in the pennant race, despite being two games down in the loss column. The Cubs sit 3 1/2 games back, the Cardinals four games back, and the Pirates 4 1/2 games back as the NL remains a tight race. I don’t know if anyone was rooting for a massive tie scenario back in 1920.