Doc Moorefield became St. Pete’s Mr. Baseball for 1920
Part 3
The Nationals were set to visit on March 17. Moorefield somehow extracted a promise from Clark Griffith, the Nationals owner and manager, that Walter Johnson would pitch here. Not only was it St. Patrick’s Day, now it was Walter Johnson Day in St. Pete. Another flyover was scheduled with a ball drop for the first pitch. Businesses closed at 2:30 so employees could get to the park on time to take in the festivities.
Not only was Johnson to pitch, but the fans would be entertained by baseball clown Nick Altrock who doubled as the 1st base coach. Unbeknownst to many, the future “Clown Prince” of baseball, Al Schacht was on the Nationals roster as a pitcher. Although Schacht and Altrock didn’t get along well personally, they did make an excellent comedy duo. Johnson, the man of the day, put in five innings work to the enjoyment of the crowd.
The next week the Reds came to town. The Reds had played the Nationals two games in Tampa then came across the bay for a single game at Moorefield. The Reds are bringing their top squad over. Although it was not the gala event that Walter Johnson Day was, it was still a big event in St. Pete in the spring of 1920. Arguably the ace for the champs in ’19, Dutch Reuther pitches five innings and many of the Reds regulars, including Hall-of-famer Edd Roush and Greasy Neale, play the entire game. The Indians pull off the upset 5 – 4, despite the Reds scoring three in the top of the 1st. The Reds scored their other run in the top of the 9th. The Indians got three in the 6th after Reuther departs and walks it off with two in the 9th. Dutch Zwilling homered and Hank Schreiber, who had been a member of the ’19 Reds, doubles and comes home with the winning score two hits later.
A ticket window controversy held up the game for a bit. The Indians claim that Moorefield paid the Reds their share of the gate but is keeping the Indians share for himself. Al Lang steps in and tries to get Moorefield to give the Indians their share, which Moorefield initially refuses. The Indians threaten to leave immediately for either Tampa or Macon, Ga. Lang gets Moorefield to relent and pay the Indians. Lang insists the Indians stay as their part of the deal.
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