Three World Series Firsts in a Single Game

On October 10, 1920, Game 5 of the World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Brooklyn Robins produced three events that had never occurred in postseason play. Elmer Smith hit the first World Series grand slam. Jim Bagby hit the first World Series home run by a pitcher. And Bill Wambsganss completed the only unassisted triple play in World Series history. Cleveland won 8-1 at League Park to take a three-games-to-two lead.

Smith's grand slam came in the first inning off Brooklyn starter Burleigh Grimes, clearing the right-field wall and the 45-foot screen above it. Bagby, Cleveland's starting pitcher and a 31-game winner during the regular season, added his solo home run in the fourth to stretch the lead.

The triple play came in the fifth inning. With Pete Kilduff on second base and Otto Miller on first, both running on contact, Brooklyn pitcher Clarence Mitchell lined a ball toward second base. Wambsganss caught the line drive, stepped on second to retire Kilduff, and turned to tag Miller, who was running directly into him. Three outs on one play, completed by one fielder.

More than a century later, no other player has turned an unassisted triple play in the World Series. The feat has occurred only 15 times in regular-season history. Cleveland went on to win the Series in seven games, claiming the franchise's first championship and honoring the memory of shortstop Ray Chapman, who had been killed by a pitch during the regular season. The 1920 World Series was the last played under the best-of-nine format.