1920 Sports Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1920 Sports Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 04 Jan Formation of National Negro Baseball League: The National Negro Baseball League was established on January 4, 1920, in Kansas City, Missouri. This league provided a professional platform for African American baseball players during a time when racial segregation limited their opportunities in Major League Baseball. source: baseball-reference.com
- 05 Jan Curse of the Bambino: Babe Ruth Traded to Yankees: On January 5, 1920, the New York Yankees announced the purchase of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000. This transaction marked a pivotal moment in baseball history, leading to the Yankees' dominance in the following decades. source: history.com
- 30 Jan NHL goal-scoring record set: On January 30, 1920, the National Hockey League (NHL) saw a significant milestone with the establishment of its first official goal-scoring record. This event marked a pivotal moment in the history of professional ice hockey, setting the stage for future records and achievements in the sport. source: britannica.com
- 01 Feb Pierre Jonquères d'Oriola - Olympic Equestrian Champion: Pierre Jonquères d'Oriola was a renowned French equestrian jumper who won Olympic gold medals in 1952 and 1964, establishing himself as a legendary figure in Olympic equestrian sports.
- 09 Feb Baseball Rules Commission regulates equipment: On February 9, 1920, the Baseball Rules Commission implemented regulations concerning equipment used in the sport. This move aimed to standardize equipment and ensure fair play across the league.
- 10 Feb Baseball Pitching Rule Change: Major League Baseball officially outlaws all pitches involving tampering with the baseball, establishing a new standard of fair play and integrity in the sport.
- 12 Feb Baseball League Governance Decisions: Major baseball leagues made significant administrative decisions: the National League voted 6-2 for a single commissioner, while the American League voted 6-2 to maintain its group commission structure.
- 22 Feb First dog race track with mechanical rabbit in California: The first dog race track featuring a mechanical rabbit opened in California, marking a significant development in the sport of dog racing. This innovation changed the dynamics of the races, providing a more engaging experience for spectators. source: britannica.com
- 10 Mar Joe Malone scores six goals for Quebec Bulldogs against Ottawa Senators: On March 10, 1920, Joe Malone of the Quebec Bulldogs scored six goals in a 10-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators, nearly matching his own NHL record of seven goals in a single game set on January 31, 1920. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 20 Mar US Men's Figure Skating Championship: Sherwin Badger won the United States Men's Figure Skating Championship, demonstrating his skill and prowess in the sport during the early 1920s.
- 01 Apr Ottawa Senators Win Stanley Cup: The Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL) defeated the Seattle team from the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) in a thrilling championship series, winning three games to two in the Stanley Cup finals.
- 08 Apr LONGA soccer team established: The LONGA soccer team was established on April 8, 1920, in Portugal. It has since become a significant part of the local sports culture and history. source: britannica.com
- 26 Apr Ice Hockey Olympic Debut: Ice hockey makes its inaugural Olympic appearance at the Antwerp Games. In a spectacular performance, Canadian player Frank Fredrickson scores an impressive seven goals, leading Canada to a dominant 12-1 victory over Sweden in the gold medal match, establishing Canada's early supremacy in the sport.
- 01 May Babe Ruth Hits Historic Home Run for Yankees: On May 1, 1920, Babe Ruth hit his first home run for the New York Yankees, marking a significant moment in baseball history.
- 02 May Founding of the Negro National League: On May 2, 1920, the Negro National League was founded, providing a professional baseball league for African American players during the era of segregation.
- 03 May Sugar Ray Robinson Born: Sugar Ray Robinson, an American professional boxer, was born on May 3, 1920.
- 14 May Walter Johnson achieves 300-win milestone: Walter Johnson, one of baseball's greatest pitchers, reached the milestone of 300 career wins on May 14, 1920. This achievement solidified his legacy in Major League Baseball history. source: baseball-almanac.com
- 15 May ADO '20 Soccer Team Formation: A local soccer team, ADO '20, was established in Heemskerk, Netherlands, contributing to the region's sporting landscape.
- 17 May Death of Maitland Hathorn: Maitland Hathorn, a notable South African cricket player who scored 325 runs across 12 Test matches between 1901 and 1911, passed away on May 17, 1920. His contributions to early 20th-century cricket represent an important moment in the sport's historical development.
- 30 May Ralph Metcalfe - Olympic athlete born: Ralph Metcalfe, an American Olympic athlete renowned for his sprinting prowess, was born on May 30, 1920. He later became a prominent figure in track and field, earning multiple Olympic medals. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 31 May Gaston Chevrolet triumphs at Indianapolis 500: Gaston Chevrolet won the Indianapolis 500 on May 31, 1920, becoming the first French-born driver to secure victory in this prestigious American automobile race. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 01 Jun Formation of RKSV Volendam soccer team: On June 1, 1920, the Dutch soccer club RKSV Volendam was formed, which later became one of the prominent teams in the Netherlands. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 05 Jun Marion Motley: Pioneering African American Football Player: Marion Motley, a groundbreaking African American athlete, emerged as a prominent fullback in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and later the National Football League (NFL), playing notably for the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh teams. His career was significant in breaking racial barriers in professional football during the early 20th century.
- 01 Jul Walter Johnson pitches no-hitter against Boston Red Sox: On July 1, 1920, Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, winning 1-0. This was the only no-hitter of Johnson's illustrious career. source: baseballhall.org
- 19 Jul 1920 Summer Olympics Open in Antwerp: The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, opened in Antwerp, Belgium, on July 19, 1920. The Games were awarded to Antwerp to honor the Belgian people for their suffering during World War I. The opening ceremony introduced the Olympic flag and featured the release of doves as a symbol of peace. source: britannica.com
- 20 Jul Heerenveen Soccer Team Founded: SC Heerenveen, a professional soccer club based in the Netherlands, was officially formed. The team would go on to become a significant part of Dutch football history.
- 27 Jul America's Cup: Resolute Defeats Shamrock IV: On July 27, 1920, the American yacht Resolute won the fifth and final race of the America's Cup series against the British challenger Shamrock IV, retaining the Cup for the United States. source: americascup.com
- 01 Aug Papendrecht Soccer Team Established: The Papendrecht soccer team was formally established, contributing to the local sports landscape in the Netherlands during the early 20th century.
- 14 Aug VII Summer Olympics open in Antwerp: The VII Summer Olympics were officially opened in Antwerp, Belgium, on August 14, 1920. This event marked the first Olympics held after World War I and featured athletes from 29 nations competing in various sports. source: britannica.com
- 16 Aug Ray Chapman fatal baseball incident: On August 16, 1920, Ray Chapman, a shortstop for the Cleveland Indians, was struck in the head by a pitch and died the following day. This incident marked the first fatality in Major League Baseball history and led to significant changes in player safety regulations. source: britannica.com
- 18 Aug Ray Chapman's Tragic Baseball Death: Ray Chapman, a shortstop for the Cleveland Indians, died on August 18, 1920, after being struck in the head by a pitch. His death led to significant changes in baseball safety regulations, including the mandatory use of helmets. source: britannica.com
- 20 Aug National Football League Founded: The National Football League (NFL) was founded on August 20, 1920, in Canton, Ohio. This organization would grow to become the premier professional football league in the United States. source: britannica.com
- 21 Aug 3rd PGA Championship Won by Jock Hutchison: Jock Hutchison won the 3rd PGA Championship on August 21, 1920, marking a significant achievement in his golfing career. This tournament is one of the major championships in professional golf. source: britannica.com
- 12 Sep VII Olympic Games close in Antwerp, Belgium: The VII Olympic Games concluded in Antwerp, Belgium, on September 12, 1920, marking the end of the first Olympic Games after World War I. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 17 Sep National Football League Founding: On September 17, 1920, the National Football League (NFL) was founded in Canton, Ohio, as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The league was established to organize professional football teams and set standardized rules for the sport. source: profootballhof.com
- 22 Sep Black Sox scandal investigation begins: The investigation into the Black Sox scandal began on September 22, 1920, following allegations that several players conspired to fix the 1919 World Series. This scandal had a lasting impact on Major League Baseball. source: britannica.com
- 28 Sep Eddie Cicotte's confession in Black Sox scandal: On September 28, 1920, Chicago White Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte confessed to a grand jury his involvement in fixing the 1919 World Series. He admitted to accepting a $10,000 bribe from gamblers to intentionally lose games during the series. This confession was pivotal in exposing the Black Sox scandal, leading to the indictment of eight players and several gamblers. Cicotte later recanted his confession, but the damage to his career was irreversible, resulting in his lifetime ban from baseball. source: encyclopedia.com
- 02 Oct Cincinnati Reds Tripleheader Baseball Record: On October 2, 1920, the Cincinnati Reds made baseball history by playing a rare tripleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds won two out of three games with scores of 13-4 and 7-3, while the Pirates won the final game 6-0. This was the only tripleheader recorded in the century, making it a unique sporting event.
- 03 Oct First professional football games played in America: On October 3, 1920, the first professional football games in America were played, marking the beginning of the National Football League (NFL). source: profootballhof.com
- 05 Oct 1920 World Series: Cleveland Indians triumph with historic plays: On October 5, 1920, the Cleveland Indians won the 1920 World Series, featuring historic plays that contributed to their victory. source: baseball-reference.com
- 09 Oct First World Series game in Cleveland: The first World Series game held in Cleveland took place on October 9, 1920, featuring the Cleveland Indians.
- 10 Oct 1920 World Series: Cleveland Indians triumph: On October 10, 1920, the Cleveland Indians won the 1920 World Series, marking a significant achievement in the team's history.
- 12 Oct Cleveland Indians win World Series: On October 12, 1920, the Cleveland Indians secured their first World Series championship by defeating the Brooklyn Robins in a best-of-nine series, clinching the title with a 5-2 victory in Game 7. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 17 Oct Chicago Bears play their first NFL game and win 7-0: On October 17, 1920, the Decatur Staleys, later known as the Chicago Bears, played their first NFL game, defeating the Muncie Flyers 7-0. source: history.com
- 22 Oct Grand jury indicts eight Chicago White Sox players in Black Sox Scandal: On October 22, 1920, a Chicago grand jury indicted eight members of the Chicago White Sox on charges of fixing the 1919 World Series. The accused players were pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude "Lefty" Williams, first baseman Arnold "Chick" Gandil, shortstop Charles "Swede" Risberg, third baseman George "Buck" Weaver, outfielders Joe "Shoeless Joe" Jackson and Oscar "Happy" Felsch, and utility infielder Fred McMullin. Court records suggest that the eight players received $70,000 to $100,000 for losing five games to three. source: britannica.com
- 29 Oct Ed Barrow becomes Yankees General Manager: Ed Barrow, previously the manager of the Boston Red Sox, was appointed as the business manager (de facto general manager) of the New York Yankees in 1920. He played a pivotal role in building the Yankees' roster, leading to 14 American League pennants and 10 World Series championships during his tenure. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 08 Nov Major League Baseball leadership conflict: On November 8, 1920, Major League Baseball owners convened to address the governance of the sport following the Black Sox Scandal. They unanimously selected Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis as the sole commissioner, granting him virtually unchecked authority to restore integrity to the game. This decision marked a significant shift in baseball's leadership structure. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 21 Nov Stan Musial born: Stan Musial, an iconic American baseball player, was born on November 21, 1920, in Donora, Pennsylvania. He became one of the most celebrated players in Major League Baseball history, known for his exceptional hitting and sportsmanship. source: britannica.com
- 20 Dec Bert Collins' Test cricket debut: Bert Collins made his Test cricket debut on December 20, 1920, representing Australia in international cricket. His performance in this match contributed to the rich history of Australian cricket. Collins is remembered for his contributions to the sport during his career. source: espncricinfo.com
- 31 Dec Roy Park's unfortunate Test cricket debut: Australian cricketer Roy Park made his Test debut against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 31, 1920, but was dismissed for a duck (zero runs) on the first ball he faced. source: en.wikipedia.org
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