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The slender, strong-armed Bagby won 23 games in 1917 and 17 in each of the next two seasons. In 1920, when Cleveland won its first pennant, he led the AL in wins (31), winning percentage (.721), innings (339.2), hits allowed (338), and relief wins (6). In the World Series against Brooklyn he lost Game Two but came back to win Game Five. Bagby went the distance, giving up 13 hits but only one run, and became the first pitcher to hit a World Series home run. Two other Series firsts by teammates helped him: Elmer Smith's grand slam homer and Bill Wambsganss' unassisted triple play. His son, Jim Bagby Jr., also became a major league pitcher. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 30, 1917: Jim Bagby scatters 11 hits to give the Indians a 2–1 win over the Senators as Cleveland completes it's schedule. Cleveland's leadoff man, OF Jack Graney, walks once to lead the AL with 94 walks despite a .241 BA. No other player will lead a league in walks with so low a batting average until Gene Tenace with Oakland in 1974 draws 110 walks with a .211 BA. In 1919 Graney will walk 105 times and bat .234. » September 1, 1920: In the first of two games the Indians blow a 4–0 lead over the Tigers and Jim Bagby, in a rare relief appearance replacing Duster Mails, loses in the 10th, 5–4. Sewell's 2-base error put the winning run on base. Cleveland rebounds in the 2nd game and has a 10–3 lead in the 8th when the game is called because of darkness. Ray Caldwell wins his 20th game, a decision that assures the Indians of at least a tie for the pennant. » September 2, 1920: Jim Bagby wins his 31st game, clinching the pennant for the Indians with a 10–1 win over the Tigers. Tris Speaker contributes three hits to finish the year at .388, 2nd to George Sisler's .407. The Sox 10–7 victory over the Browns is not needed by the Indians. The Indians' victory is due primarily to a .303 team BA (the Browns lead the league at .308) and the pitching of Jim Bagby, 31-12, Stan Coveleski, 24-14, and Ray Caldwell, 20-10. A big boost came from Duster Mails, brought up from the Pacific Coast League at the end of August, who won seven without a loss on a 1.85 ERA. Despite the heavy hitting in the American League, there are ten 20-game winners; the White Sox have four of them—Red Faber, Eddie Cicotte, Dickie Kerr, and Lefty Williams. » September 6, 1920: When Wheeler Johnston pinch-hits for Cleveland in the 9th inning of game 2, his brother Jimmy is playing 3B for Brooklyn. They become the first brothers to take opposite sides in a World Series. Spitballer Burleigh Grimes (23-11) strands 10 Indians while the Robins chip away at Jim Bagby (31-12) for three single tallies and a 3–0 Series evener. » September 10, 1920: In the bottom of the first of an event-laden game, Grimes gives up hits to Charlie Jamieson, Bill Wambsganss, and Speaker. OF Elmer Smith then hits the first grand slam in World Series history, jumping on a Grimes spitter in the opening inning. In the 3rd, P Jim Bagby comes up with two on and crashes another Grimes delivery for a 3-run home run, the first ever by a pitcher in World Series play. Bagby is roughed for 13 hits, but he gets out of jams with the aid of three DPs and an unassisted triple play. In the 5th with Pete Kilduff on 2B and Otto Miller on 1B, relief pitcher Clarence Mitchell hits a line drive at SS Wambsganss, who steps on 2B and tags the off-and-running Miller before he can retreat. Cleveland dominates, 8–1. » September 15, 1920: The Indians give Jim Bagby 14 runs on 22 hits and he coasts over the A's 14–0. » September 19, 1920: Behind Jim Bagby, the Indians top the Red Sox, 2–0, in a Sunday game at home. It is Bagby's 29th win of the year and keeps the Indians one 1/2 games ahead of Chicago. » September 28, 1920: On the strength of Jim Bagby's 30th win, the Indians beat the Browns 9–5. The Indians now lead the idle Sox by one game and by three 1/2 over the New York, which can do no better than tie for the pennant now. » October 6, 1920: When Wheeler Johnston pinch-hits for Cleveland in the 9th inning of game 2, his brother Jimmy is playing 3B for Brooklyn. They become the first brothers to take opposite sides in a WS. Spitballer Burleigh Grimes (23-11) strands 10 Indians while the Robins chip away at Jim Bagby (31-12) for 3 single tallies and a 3-0 Series evener. » October 10, 1920: In the bottom of the first of an event-laden game, Grimes gives up hits to Charlie Jamieson, Bill Wambsganss, and Speaker. OF Elmer Smith then hits the first grand slam in WS history. In the 3rd, P Jim Bagby comes up with 2 on and crashes another Grimes delivery for a 3-run HR, the first ever by a pitcher in WS play. Bagby is roughed for 13 hits, but he gets out of jams with the aid of 3 DPs and an unassisted triple play. In the 5th with Pete Kilduff on 2B and Otto Miller on 1B, relief pitcher Clarence Mitchell hits a line drive at SS Wambsganss, who steps on 2B and tags the off-and-running Miller before he can retreat. Cleveland dominates 8-1. » November 5, 1922: Jim Bagby is waived by the Indians to Pittsburgh. Bagby won 31 games in 1920. » September 18, 1931: Lefty Grove wins his 30th game, beating the White Sox, 3–1, on five hits. He is the first to win 30 since Jim Bagby of Cleveland in 1920 and will be the last AL hurler to do so until Denny McLain in 1968. » July 17, 1941: In front of more than 60,000 fans at Cleveland, Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak is ended at 56 games. Indian P Al Smith and Jim Bagby, Sr., plus sensational plays by 3B Ken Keltner, stop the Yankee Clipper, but New York edges the Indians 6-5.