Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-12-29
Sport Achievements
During 1920
By Jack veiock


Baseball was in the midst of
me of the most prosperous seas
ms in it's history when the bomb
hell of the 1919 worlds series
candal was exploded in Chicago,
asting pail over the game and
reating sensation that gave the
,astime the hardest jolt it has
yer received-baseban wars or
he past or scandals OF other days
Notwithstanding
But baseball shook Itself, tot
cred on its foundation for a brief
pace of time and settled down
olidly again. The indictment of
he eight Chicago players-Cicotte
reisch, Weaver, Jackson, Williams
dcMullen, Gandil and Risberg-
nd subsequent confessions made
" Cicotte and others was hard
low to the fans. Yet they real
sed apparently, that baseball is
iGger than any player or any
lub, and that the game itself was
ot unclean. The prompt drop
ing of the eight players by Owner
sl1arles Comiskey did much to res
ore confidence and the pennant
aces were finished with good at
andance at all games. The wind
D of the season in the annual
lassic-the worlds series prov
d that the game was little the
rorse for the blow it had received
he victory of the champion Cleve-
ind Indians over the Brooklyn
dodgers was impressive. The
ames drew immense crowds, the
ans packing the parks in both
rooklyn and the Forest City to
heir capacities. Incidentally,
ieveland's victory marked the
rst ever scored by a Forest City
sam in a major league pennant
ice and the first time that worlds
championship in baseball ever
ent to Cleveland.
The expose of the gamblers
wakened the club owners to the
Lct that war must be declared
nd waged against the gambling
aternity which had sought to
olson the game. But the magn-
tes came near to a war among
iemselves in attempting to settle
pom a method for renovating the
anne and putting it on new and
rmer foundation.
The National League, augmen-
ork, Boston and Chicago Ameri-
IN League clubs, handed down an
Itfmatum to Ban Johnson and his
oval five when they refused to
leet with the "stalwart eleven"
Chicago, threatening to organize
new twelveclub league in with
leir scheme for a new govern
lent for the game, built around
hat was known as the "Lasker
Ian"
Future Looks Bright.
For a time war clouds hung
lack and low on the horizon.
hen came a gathering of all the
hjor leaguers at Chicago; q sub
squent trip to Kansas City where
10 -upport of the minor leagues
as sought and the happy con-
usion of the trouble when Judge
!. M. Lands was offered and ac-
opted the position as the new
cad of basebah.
The future Of the game is bright
,w, and with Judge Lands lead
the organized forces in war
the gamblers and the magnates
armonizing, prosperity and a
ng term of peace loom ahead.
Baseball had another great SEN
tion this year. Babe Ruth Is
le answer.
The home run king set up re-
,rd that no ball player, no mat
what his hitting ability, had
.eamed of, in slamming the fifty
ason and breaking his own re-
lrd Of twenty-nine made the
fty-four home runs during his
l20 season and breaking his own
cord of twenty-nine made the
ar before.
Ruth Drew Records.
Ruth, as an attraction, drew
ore paid admissions to the, turn
lie Wherever buo AdANSS' P-N'
an any other player who ever
ore major league livery before
ne Yankees paid a record price
Fs135,O00 for Ruth, purchasing
m from the Boston club and ne
owed that he was worth H.
arly in the season the Yankees
.oke the attendance record at
e Polo Grounds tw;ce in success
On, when 3S,S00 odd fans crowd
into the big park, chiefly 10
Ruth in action.
The batting championship IN
e two majors passed from the
,nds of Eddie Roush, of the
eds. and Tyrus Cob, of Detroit.
oush was supplanted by Rogers
ornsby, brilliant and hard-h1t-
ng shortstop of the st. Louis
,rdinals. Ty Cobb was hauled
ON the king row by George Sis
'. Star first baseman and all
'ound utility player on the 81.
mis- Browns. Both of the new
,ampions set the pace for rival
semen nearly all season long,
Stanley Covoleskie and Burlelgh
rin,es. stars of the rival Cleve-
nd and Brooklyn pitching stairs,
ere the best day-in-and-day-out
tchers in their respective. leagues
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