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Lot # 1127: 1920 World Series Game 5 Scorecard - The Wamby Game (Unassisted Triple Play)

Category: Cleveland Indians

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 0 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed

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Item was in Auction "2024 Summer Classic",
which ran from 6/9/2024 12:00 PM to
6/29/2024 10:00 PM



Complete scorecard section, removed from the official program issued for Game 5 of the 1920 World Series between the Brooklyn Robins and Cleveland Indians, fully scored to record Indians' second baseman Bill Wambsganss' historic unassisted triple play. In addition to Wambsganss' triple play, the game was also significant because it also featured the first grand slam in World Series history, which was hit by Indians right fielder Elmer Smith. While Smith's feat has been equaled numerous times since then, Wambganss' unassisted triple play is still the only one recorded in World Series play. Wambganss' memorable play occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning and was accomplished in almost a split second. Brooklyn had runners on first and second with no out when Brooklyn put on a hit-and-run play. Both runners took off with the pitch and the batter lined the ball up the middle towards second base. Wambganss, who was already moving in that direction, caught the liner, stepped on second to double off the lead runner, and then tagged the runner from first. It all happened so quickly that the fans took a few seconds to realize that the inning was over. An unassisted triple play is one of the rarest plays in all of baseball. To date, only fifteen have ever been recorded in Major League play since 1900, which is the reason that Wambganss' feat will most likely never again be repeated in World Series play. The scorecard has been neatly scored in pencil, with a blue fountain pen notation, noting Wambsganss' triple play, written vertically in Brooklyn's fifth-inning column. An additional blue-ink notation lists the date of the game on the Cleveland portion of the scorecard. As mentioned earlier, this scorecard was removed from the Game 5 World Series program and is currently detached along the center portion (what would have been the spine of the program) and could most likely be reattached through professional restoration. Aside from that, each half (8.75x5.5") remains in Excellent condition.

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