The 1920 American League pennant race was as tight as one could get. Three teams were within a half-game as the middle of August approached. Cleveland (70-40, .636) was in a virtual tie with Chicago (72-42, .632). New York (72-43, .626) was a half-game behind them and breathing down their necks.
Cleveland hit the rails for its last swing through the Eastern teams in 1920. The trip would begin in New York and continue through Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington. The Indians would play 15 games before heading home to face Detroit on September 3.
The opener in New York on August 16 featured a dandy of a pitching matchup between Cleveland’s Stan Coveleski (18-9) and New York’s Carl Mays (18-8). Both right-handers were at the top of their game, while using different styles to get their results. Coveleski used the traditional overhand motion while Mays used a submarine-like delivery. It was said that Mays’s delivery was so low that on occasion his knuckles would graze the dirt on the pitching mound.
