After a month and a half of speculation and rumor, the Indians make what would become a steal of a deal, robbing Connie Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics of three contributors to the 1920 Cleveland championship team in a four-player swap on this date in 1919.
The Indians sent outfielder Bobby “Braggo” Roth to the A’s, acquiring third baseman Larry Gardner, outfielder Charlie Jamieson, and pitcher Elmer Myers.
Roth, who had spent parts of the last four seasons in Cleveland, would not make it to July with Philly as he was dealt to Boston. He made his rounds around the American League, playing with six different AL clubs in his eight-year career to earn him the nickname “The Globetrotter”.
Gardner will spend six seasons in Cleveland, leading the league in games played in 1920 while hitting .310 with 118 RBI. He will establish new career-highs of 120 RBI and a .319 average the next season.
Jamieson became a staple at the top of the Indians lineup and in their outfield for the next 14 seasons from 1919 to 1932. He hit as high as .359 in 1924 and twice toppled the 200-hit plateau, including a league-high of 222 in 1923.
Myers was 2-4 with a 4.77 ERA with Cleveland in his second year with the club in 1920, but was selected off of waivers by the Boston Red Sox in August.
