1920 International League season

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The 1920 International League season marked the start of the live ball era, as it did across baseball. The league went from a .268 average and 183 home runs in 1919 to .290 and 405 HR in 1920. The league saw some shuffling, with Syracuse returning to replace Binghamton and the Akron Buckeyes replacing Newark. The league saw an exciting pennant race as Toronto won 20 of their last 22 games, but still fell 2 1/2 behind Baltimore, which won their last 25 games. Toronto set a IL record for winning percentage by a second-place team. The league had a clear break between its top four teams (88 to 110 wins each) and bottom four (33 to 65 wins, 85 to 116 losses), with last-place Syracuse finishing 75 games out.

Lefty Grove made his IL debut, going 12-2 with a 3.81 ERA for the Baltimore juggernaut, but the big star was his teammate Jack Bentley, who not only led in ERA (2.11) but also hit .371 with 20 home runs. The league's home run record fell, no surprise in the 1920 year of the live ball, as Jake Drauby's 1894 record of 21 was eclipsed by Mike Konnick and Frank Brower; their mark held just two years.

Final standings[edit]

W L Pct. GB Manager Affiliation
Baltimore Orioles 110 43 .719 -- Jack Dunn
Toronto Maple Leafs 108 46 .701 2.5 Hugh Duffy
Buffalo Bisons 96 57 .627 14 Hooks Wiltse
Akron Buckeyes 88 63 .583 21 Dick Hoblitzel
Reading Marines 65 85 .433 33.5 John Hummel
Jersey City Skeeters 62 91 .405 48 Bill Donovan
Rochester Hustlers 45 106 .298 63.5 George Stallings
Syracuse Stars 33 116 .221 75 Tony Cummings - Amby McConnell - John Engman - Bunny Madden

League Leaders[edit]

Batting[edit]

Pitching[edit]

References[edit]