Top 5 Players of the 1920 World Series

Originally published on Mar. 20, 2019

By Zane Miller

On Tuesday, October 12th, 1920, the Cleveland Indians defeated the Brooklyn Robins (now Los Angeles Dodgers) at League Park in Cleveland to clinch the 17th World Series five games to two. It was the first World Series championship for the Indians franchise and the first that was won in Ohio. These are the top five players that I felt most stood out during the series.

5. Sherry Smith (Robins)- P

Smith took player of the game in game three, going all nine innings allowing no earned runs with three hits and two walks as the Robins took the 2-1 win to briefly go ahead two games to one in the series, however, it would be the last game the team would win for the remainder of the series.

4. George Burns (Indians)- 1B

Burns won the player of the game in game four to help the Indians to the 5-1 victory, as he got two RBIs with a hit and a walk.

3. Elmer Smith (Indians)- RF

Smith was the player of the game in the Indians’ 8-1 win, earning four RBIs along with a run and three hits to give the team the series lead, which they would not look back from.

2. Duster Mails (Indians)- P

Mails pitched his way to game six player of the game honors, going the distance with no earned runs allowed on just three hits and a pair of walks in the Indians’ 1-0 victory.

1. Stan Coveleski (Indians)- P

Coveleski was the player of the game for the Indians in both games one and seven, as in the first game he threw a complete game with just one earned run allowed on five hits and one walk as the team won it 3-1. In game seven, Coveleski had a complete game shutout with five hits and no walks as the Indians won the series in the 3-0 win.

Players of the Game Breakdown:

Link to stats database: https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1920_WS.shtml