All eleven scheduled games play to completion on July 29, 1920, including three double headers. The Senators beat the Tigers in Detroit 2-1 in eleven innings in game one of their double header for the low scoring game of the day. The high scoring game was also an extra-inning affair, with Athletics beating the home team White Sox 12-6 in ten innings in game two of their doubleheader. The Yankees and Browns played the other twin bill, and all three ended in splits.

Donie Bush of the Tigers wins best offensive game of the day for his game two performance, a 13-3 Tigers win.. He goes three for four with two doubles, a run scored, and three RBI. Bush’s strength as an offensive player came from his ability to draw a walk. From 1909 through 1915, he led the league in walks five times and drew over 100 in three of those seasons. He finished his career with 1158 walks and an OBP of .356. He played a fine defensive shortstop as well.

Detroit also produces the best pitched game of the day, as Red Oldham takes that honor for his game one performance, despite taking the loss. Oldham gives up seven hits in eleven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, while walking one and striking out four. He did allow the home run to Sam Rice in the 11th, the mistake that cost him the game.

Oldham bounced back and forth between the minors and majors during his career. He played a bit for Detroit in 1914-1915, then made his way out to the Pacific Coast League and WWI. He returned to Detroit in 1920 and stayed through the 1922 season, disappeared for two years, then came back with the Pirates. He played the last six years of his career in the minors.

Tris Speaker of Cleveland goes two for four to put his BA at .416. He is 23 points ahead of George Sisler of the Browns in second place, who was two for eight on the day. You can see the various statistical races on the leader board page.

In the AL pennant race, the Indians beat the Red Sox 9-3. Both the Yankees and White Sox split a pair of games, so the Indians gain 1/2 game on each. Cleveland leads the Yankees by two games, but four in the loss column. The White Sox are 4 1/2 games back.

In the NL pennant race, the Reds take the second game of their series in Brooklyn by a score of 3-2. A triple by Pat Duncan and a sacrifice fly by Larry Kopf breaks a 2-2 in the top of the ninth.

I look at the newspaper with the game stories, which is published the next day. On page one of the July 30 New York Tribune is a column entitled “Ponzi Repays $500,000 to The Skeptics.” Yes, the story is about Charles Ponzi, for whom the famous pyramid scheme is named. He coming under investigation for his outrageous (and fake) profits.