Books and articles about Duster Mails

Self-proclaimed "The Great," Mails was, when not plagued by arm problems. Called up to the Indians in August of 1920, he won seven straight, including a pennant-clinching shutout over Chicago, then did not allow a run in his two World Series starts. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 26, 1916: The Dodgers split with the Giants, losing 11–8 before winning the nitecap, 2–1. New York takes a 6–0 lead in the opener, but the Dodgers score five in the 5th off starter Bill Perritt, then put two on against reliever Rube Schauer. Christy Mathewson then takes over and George Cutshaw cranks a 3-run homer to give the Dodgers an 8–6 lead. Matty allows just one other hit and New York comes back against Duster Mails to win. It is Mathewson's last major league victory. During the game, police at the Polo Grounds and arrest three fans for not throwing back baseballs hit into the stands. » 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 11, 1920: In game 6, Brooklyn's P Sherry Smith gives up a 6th-inning single to Tris Speaker and double to George Burns. That's all the scoring for the day, as Brooklyn reject Duster Mails yields three hits for a 1–0 win and 4–2 lead for Cleveland in the best-of-9 series. » September 16, 1920: Duster Mails delivers for the Indians, canceling the Senators 1–0 for his 4th win without a loss. Joe Sewell scores the lone run. » September 20, 1920: In Cleveland, Duster Mails cancels the Red Sox 8–3, for the Indians' 6th win in a row. The A's lose to the White Sox 13–6. » September 24, 1920: At League Park, Duster Mails pitches Cleveland to a Friday afternoon 2–0 victory over the White Sox, dropping them to one 1/2 games back. In the 5th, Mails walks three straight batters on 12 pitches, but stays in and strikes out the side. No Sox reach base after that. » September 27, 1920: The Indians continue on their warpath by topping the Browns, 8–4. Duster Mails wins his 6th straight and Tris Speaker breaks out of a slump by collecting two hits. He had been 1-for-19. Charlie Jamieson adds four hits. » April 28, 1922: In a 3–2 Browns win over Cleveland, Cy Williams provides the edge with a homer off Duster Mails.