1920 Major League Baseball season

At the time, MLB was governed by a three-man National Baseball Commission composed of American League President Ban Johnson, National League President John Heydler and Cincinnati Reds owner Garry Herrmann.

With the Black Sox scandal exposed on September 30, 1920, Heydler began calling for the Lasker Plan.

[2] The teams in support of the Lasker Plan wanted federal judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis to take the office of Baseball Commissioner.

Johnson, who opposed the plan and thus, the appointment of Landis, had allies in the other five AL clubs, and attempted to get Minor League Baseball to side with him.

While Landis' record as Commissioner would eventually attract considerable controversy, especially with respect to his role in maintaining the color line, at the time a near autocratic leader was widely believed to be needed for baseball since the Black Sox scandal had placed the public's trust in baseball on shaky ground.

Opening Day took place on April 14 with all but the Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox playing.

The final day of the regular season was on October 3, with all teams but the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees playing.

[15] The White Sox again were contending for the American League title and were in a near-dead heat with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees.