Ivey Wingo, not Shoeless Joe Jackson, led all hitters in batting average in 1919. While he only appeared in three games, Wingo collected four hits and three walks. The requirements for leading in batting average (And on-base percentage) is 15 plate appearances or seven hits plus walks. Wingo meets the requirements.
Wingo, however, only appeared in 76 regular season games for the World Champion Cincinnati Reds. He hit .273. The Reds other catcher was Bill Rariden. However, Rariden was able to hit just .219 over the course of 74 games.
So in game one, at Crosley Field (But actually called Redland Field in 1919), Cincinnati won it easily, 9-1. Joe Jackson did not get a hit. He did, however reach base and score the only Chicago run. Wingo, however, broke a 1-1 deadlock with a single to right in the bottom of the fourth. Soon, he scored the Reds' fourth run of the afternoon. He added a walk later to finish 1-3.
The teams split the next two contest, so game four was huge. The format for 1919 was best-of-nine, but you wanted it 3-1, not 2-2. The Fall Classic was to be played 2-3-2-2. If they lost game four, Cincinnati would be in a "Must-win" situation in game five in Chicago. Wingo did not play in games two and three.
So Jimmy Ring managed to shutout Chicago (Who had a shutout of their own in game three via Dickie Kerr. Kerr was not in on the fix). Amazingly enough, the guys giving their all for Chicago were three confirmed or suspected fixers. Only Ray Schalk, who was a catcher like Wingo, did much other than Jackson, Happy Felsch and Chick Gandil. Wingo also had a pretty good game himself!
Jackson led off the second with a double. Joe was red-hot at this time. Three hits in game two, two more hits in game three, and now a leadoff double to start the bottom of the second. The contest was still scoreless at the time. Chicago went on to load the bases via a pair of walks. Ring got out of there with no one touching home.
Wingo singled in the top of the third, but was also stranded. It was 2-0, Cincy in the top of the fifth with Greasy Neal on second and only one out. But Wingo came to the dish and could only ground out. Ring ended the inning by also grounding out.
Wingo singled in the top of the eighth, but then Ring grounded into an inning-ending double play. Wingo did not bat again, but finished the afternoon 2-3. The Reds won, 2-0.
They also won game five with another shutout, 5-0. However, the White Sox did not roll over and won in extras in the fifth game, 5-4. Game six, as was game five, was at home for the Reds. Wingo was back behind the plate for this one!
Joe Jackson had put Chicago up by the time Wingo batted. Wingo's plate appearance in the bottom of the second was never finished as Larry Koft was caught stealing second. Leading off the bottom of the third, Ivey walked. The Reds couldn't get him home. It was 2-0 at this point, and Cincinnati needed some offence.
Greasy Neal singled with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Wingo drew another walk. It was now 4-0, Chicago. But again, the Reds failed to score. They finally did in the bottom of the sixth, Ivey not a part of that.
However, he walked (For the third time in the contest) with one down the next inning. Morrie Rath singled with two down to keep the rally alive. The tying run was now at the dish as the score was 4-1. Jake Daubert could only force Rath at second.
No one else reached base in the game. Until the bottom of the ninth, that is. Our boy came up to the plate with two down, and not a man on. Still officially 0-0 with three walks, Wingo wanted to get something going, no doubt. It was, however, still a three-run lead for Chicago. Wingo came through with a single. Well, 1-1 with three walks. Good, eh?
Cincy then pinch hit for their pitcher. Sherry Magee batted for Dolph Luque. The Reds choose not to pinch run for their catcher. Ivey had been fast enough to play some games in the outfield during his career. So he was still in there as Magee singled.
Magee, however, was not staying in. Jimmy Smith ran for him. The Reds were back to the top of the lineup. Rath ended the game by flying out to Happy Felsch in centre.
The Cincinnati Reds wrapped it up anyways in Chicago. The won game eight, 10-5. Wingo did not get into the game. But his hitting was up to .571 after his game six performance. And his on-base percentage? An astonishing .700! Barry Bonds was at that level in the 2002 World Series. Jackson was hitting .370 after seven games, but his on-base percentage was way back. Just .393.
Joe had a pretty good game eight, as he hit a home run, scored twice and knocked in three. That pushed his batting average up to .375. His on-base percentage rose to only .394. Ivey Wingo had him topped in both categories.
I realize their is a certain legend to the 1919 World Series. Jackson was, of course, thrown out despite putting up some marvelous numbers. There is little to no evidence to suggest he actually made any intentional miscues at the dish or in the field. However, he did not lead all hitters in batting average.
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