April 20, 1914: The Ludlow Massacre

April 20, 1914: The Colorado Coalfield Strike is interrupted when soldiers from the Colorado National Guard, and private guards employed by Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I), open fire on a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families in Ludlow, Colorado. There are 21 deaths.

The United Mine Workers of America had called the strike against poor labor conditions. As many as 200 people were killed during the strike, which lasted from September 23, 1913 to January 10, 1915, following mediation by President Woodrow Wilson. It was the bloodiest labor dispute in American history.

Congress responded by promoting child labor laws and an 8-hour workday. John D. Rockefeller Jr., part-owner of CF&I and son of the nation's richest man, its leading oil baron, was widely, if unfairly, blamed. He managed to restore his reputation through various charitable acts, the rebuilding of Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, and the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.

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April 20, 1914 was a Monday. There were Major League Baseball games were played on that day. In the American League, 

* The Philadelphia Athletics swept a doubleheader from the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The A's won the opener, 8-2. After 9 innings of strong pitching by Ray Collins, reliever Hugh Bedient melted down in the top of the 10th, and the A's scored 6 runs, to make a winner out of Eddie Plank. The A's won the nightcap, 6-0, at Herb Pennock, later to star for the Red Sox and the Yankees, pitched a 4-hit shutout.

* The New York Yankees were supposed to host the Washington Senators at the Polo Grounds, where they were tenants of the Giants. But the game was rained out, and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on June 3. The Senators won the 1st game, 2-0; and the 2nd game, 5-3.

* The Detroit Tigers were supposed to host the Cleveland Naps (who became the Indians the next year, and the Guardians in 2022) at Navin Field (which became Briggs Stadium in 1938 and Tiger Stadium in 1961), but the game was called because it was too cold, and rescheduled for an off-day for both teams, June 23. The Naps won, 5-4.

* The Chicago White Sox were supposed to host the St. Louis Browns at Comiskey Park in Chicago, but this one was also called due to cold, and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on June 28. The Pale Hose won both games, the 1st one 2-1, and the 2nd one 3-2.

In the National League:

* The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs, 2-0 at Robison Field in St. Louis. Bill Doak pitched a 3-hit shutout, striking out 10.

* The Cincinnati Reds were supposed to host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Redland Field (renamed Crosley Field in 1934), but this was another one called due to the Midwestern cold snap. It was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on May 31. The Reds won the 1st game, 2-1. The 2nd game was tied 5-5 after 9 innings, when it was called due to darkness.

* The Philadelphia Phillies were supposed to host the Boston Braves at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. But the game was rained out, and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on September 2. The Braves won both games, taking the opener, 7-5, and the nightcap, 12-3.

* The Brooklyn Dodgers -- in their 1st season with Wilbert Robinson as manager, and thus also known as the Brooklyn Robins -- were supposed to host their arch-rivals, the New York Giants, at Ebbets Field. But the game was rained out, and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on September 3. The Giants won both games, taking the opener, 6-3 behind the pitching of Christy Mathewson, and the nightcap, 7-2.

And in the Federal League:

* The St. Louis Terriers beat the Chicago Whales, 3-1 at Handlan's Park in St. Louis.

* The Indianapolis Hoosiers beat the Kansas City Packers, 7-2 at Gordon and Koppel Field in Kansas City.

* The Pittsburgh Rebels were supposed to host the Buffalo Blues at Exposition Park in Pittsburgh, but the game was rained out, and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on June 2. The Rebels won the 1st game, 10-2, and the Blues won the 2nd game, 7-3.

* And the Baltimore Terrapins were supposed to host the Brooklyn Tip-Tops at Terrapin Park in Baltimore, but the game was rained out, and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on June 27. The Terrapins swept, winning the 1st game, 8-4, and the 2nd game, 2-1.