The major leagues see nine of the ten scheduled games played on August 21, 1920, including two doubleheaders. Three games produce a total of four runs, including two 4-0 shutouts, one by the Red Sox over the Indians (game 2), the other by by the Dodgers over the Reds. The Phillies on the road beat the Pirates 3-1 in the first game of their doubleheader. At the high end, the Tigers smash the Yankees 10-3 in New York.
The Indians poor play on the day bring Boston players both the best offensive game of the day and best pitched games of the day. The Red Sox win game one 12-0, then 4-0 in game two. The Cleveland team traveled from New York to home, attended the funeral of Ray Chapman, saw their manager and star player Tris Speaker go down with illness, then travel to Boston to play a double header in less than 48 hours. It’s clear from the scores that the team was worn out.
Everett Scott of the Red Sox hits great in game two, going four for four with two doubles and a triple. That’s after a two for four in game one. Scott hit poorly throughout his career, so this was a pretty special day for him. He would hit twelve triples on the season, which would be the single season high for him.
Waite Hoyt, pitching game one for Boston, posts the best game score of the day, 84, while Herb Pennock posts a game score of 81 in the second game. Both allowed just three hits in going the distance. Hoyt walked one and struck out four, however, while Pennock walked three and struck out three.
With Tris Speaker ill and George Sisler of the Browns rained out, the AL batting leaders do not change. Sisler sits at .408, Speaker at .400.
AL president Ban Johnson called a meeting of the league owners to discuss the Carl Mays situation. There were reports that some players would refuse to play against Mays. Ban Johnson himself said that Mays may not be able to continue pitching. In the article, the owner of the Red Sox disputes that the Red Sox were among those who would stand down against Mays, while the Yankees ownership disputes the ability of Mays to continue pitching:
Mays, while bowed down with grief, is not a broken reed. He will go along and follow his regular means of livelihood as a strong man should.
New York Tribune
Mays is schedule to pitch the next day for the Yankees. This is also an article on the sports page about testing of baseballs to see if Babe Ruth‘s home run total is due to juiced balls (some things never change). The balls are determined to be normal. In addition, the front page of the Sunday Magazine contains a n article on how fans are more interested in the question, “Did Babe Ruth get another one today?” instead of “How did the game come out?”
The White Sox beat the Senators 5-2, gaining 1 1/2 games on the Indians and one game on the Yankees. The AL champion Chicago club leads the AL by 1 1/2 games over Cleveland, and 2 1/2 games over the Yankees.
The Dodgers shutout of the Reds leaves Brooklyn one game back of Cincinnati, the Giants 8-3 win over the Cubs moving New York three games back.