Game 5 of the 1920 World Series was a contest of firsts. In the bottom of the first inning, Elmer Smith hit the first grand slam in Fall Classic history. In the fourth inning Smith’s Cleveland teammate Jim Bagby slugged the first postseason home run by a pitcher. Smith’s blast and Bagby’s three-run shot helped knock Brooklyn starter, Hall of Famer Burleigh Grimes out of the game.

In the very next frame, Wilbert Robinson’s Brooklyn club looked to climb back in the game. Second baseman Paul Kiduff singled to left and was moved to second when catcher Otto Miller laced a hit to center.

Up came Brooklyn pitcher Clarence Mitchell. Skilled with the bat, Mitchell hit .252 in 1,287 career at bats. With Wambsganss playing at the edge of the grass and a hit-and-run play on, Mitchell hit a line drive drive to the second-base side of Wambsganss.

The 5’11” Wamby leapt for the ball, snaring it at the top of his jump for the first out. Wambsganns continued to the second base bag and double off Kilduff. On the move with the pitch, Miller was fast approaching his fate of being the third out. Wambsganss tagged him out to record the third out.

In the January 22nd, 1966 edition of The Sporting News Wambsganss described the tag of Miller that completed the first unassisted triple play in World Series history.

“He stopped running and stood there, so I just tagged him. That was all there was to it,” he explained. “Just before I tagged him, he said, ‘Where’d you get that ball?’ I said, ‘Well, I’ve got it and you’re out number three.’”

Cleveland went on to win Game 5, 8-1. Two days later they clinched the first Fall Classic triumph in franchise history.

In the collection is this photo of Wamby hitting as a member of the Cleveland Indians. The second baseman signed the picture at the bottom.

The Indians first time at bat Game 5 of the 1920 World Series was a memorable one. With the Series tied at two games apiece, Brooklyn Skipper Wilbert Robinson turned to his ace, 23-game winner Burleigh Grimes.

Days earlier Grimes tamed the Cleveland hitters in a Game 2 complete-game shutout. Among those the spitballer dominated was Indians cleanup hitter Elmer Smith. The right fielder didn’t hit the ball out of the infield in an 0-for-4 performance that included a strikeout and a foul out to the catcher. In his team’s 3-0 loss Smith stranded four runners including two in scoring position.

On a pleasant Sunday afternoon in Cleveland in Game 5, the Indians and Smith immediately changed their luck. The Tribe opened their half of the first by loading the bases on three consecutive singles.

Smith came to the plate hoping for redemption. After swinging and missing at two spitters, Smith took a pitch for ball one. Grimes’ next offering was a fastball that the left-hand-hitting Smith swatted over the right field wall for the first grand slam in World Series history.

According to his SABR biography, Smith said of the at bat, “It was a straight fast one about chest high I crushed over the fence in the first round with the bases full. I wasn’t a bit nervous, though I had missed a couple of spitters and I was in the hole with two strikes and one ball charged against me and I knew that these three lads on the sacks were pulling hard for me to deliver, while I couldn’t help but feeling the excitement in the stands. That home-run pitch was just what the doctor ordered. I hit it as squarely on the nose as I ever hit any ball and I could feel it was destined to travel the way it cracked off my bat.”

Shown here is Smith’s handwritten remembrances. He pens, “The player that was really my idol was Ty Cobb and of course Babe Ruth was to. The highlight of my career was hitting a home run with the base loaded in 1920 World Series.”

Smith then signs the card beneath the inscription.

The Indians first championship season of 1920 was marred by the only death in baseball history due to on-field events. The tragedy occurred on August 16 with Cleveland in New York to take on Carl Mays and the Yankees.

Indians shortstop Ray Chapman led off the top of the fifth inning and was struck in the head by a Mays fastball. The sound of the pitch hitting Chapman’s head was so loud that Mays thought the ball hit Chapman’s bat. The pitcher fielded the carom and tossed the ball to first base.

As Chapman fell to the ground his teammates rushed out of the dugout. Bleeding from both ears, Chapman was rushed to the hospital. That night doctors operated on Chapman’s fractured scull. Early on the morning of the 17th, Chapman died.

Indians players and fans mourned. The 29-year old Chapman had spent his entire 9-year big league career with the Indians. Now his teammates had to pick up the pieces and continue the season. The players’ uniforms were outfitted with a black armband around the sleeve as a tribute to their fallen comrade.

To replace Chapman, Indians GM Ernest Barnard purchased the contract of 21-year old Joe Sewell from the Southern Association’s New Orleans. Sewell held down the position admirably, hitting .329 with a .414 on-base percentage in 22 games.

Sewell and 26-year old Tribe second baseman Bill Wambsganss meshed well defensively. The Indians won 98 games to earn the American League pennant. In October Cleveland took home the championship after a World Series triumph over the Brooklyn Robins.

Though the Indians won the Fall Classic, many defined the season by the tragic moment that led to Chapman’s death.

In the collection is this handwritten letter from Sewell describing the Indians uniforms after Chapman death.

“The picture was made in 1920 as the black band around the left arm in memory of Ray Chapman’s death. Everyone wore it the rest of the year. It was made in Cleveland Old League Park.

“Thanks for remembering me.

“Sincerely, Joe Sewell”