The 1919 World Series Scandal Part I

The 1919 World Series resulted in the most famous scandal in baseball history. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox (later nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds. Baseball has been one of America’s favorite pastime sports since the early 1900s. Between the months of April and October men, women, and children would get together to watch and cheer on their teams.

In the 1919 the World Series games was played between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. During this series of games there was controversy, rumor of scandal and accusations that the White Sox threw the World Series for profit thus changing baseball forever. The World Series brought to the forefront several issues in baseball, it was not just about men playing a game for enjoyment anymore, it was a way to make money and support their families. This a part one of iii.

In 1919 Charles Comiskey was the owner of the White Sox. Comiskey’s greed played a large part in the scandal he would make monetary promises to his team and then not follow through on his promises.  He was notoriously paid his players low wages and held them to contracts with reserve clauses which prevented  players  to  change teams without  his approval. The  White Sox were a divided  team, the was large spread in salaries some players received fifteen thousand per year while the others only were paid a mere six thousand per year. This caused discord and resentment amongst the team. Gamblers were visible at the ballparks and players had reputations long before the Black Sox Scandal of throwing games to supplement their incomes. Players often agreed to throw  a game because the payoff for one game equaled a player’s year’s salary.

White Sox first baseman Arnold “Chick” Gandil  was the ringleader. Chick Gandil enlisted the help of two gamblers, ex-major league pitcher William Burns and Billy Maharg. Gandil approached teammates Pitchers Ed Cicotte and Lefty Williams to assist in throwing the series knowing these two players had a bone to pick with Comiskey.

Andrews, E. (2014, October 9). The Black Sox Baseball Scandal, 95 Years Ago. Retrieved March 15, 2017, from http://www.history.com/news/the-black-sox-baseball-scandal-95-years-ago

Black Sox Scandal. (2016, July 24 ). Retrieved March 16, 2017, from http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Black_Sox_Scandal

Mitchell, F. (2017, January). Flashback: Story of 1919 Black Sox scandal still resonates. Retrieved March 15, 2017, from http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-flashback-buck-weaver-black-sox-spt-0705-20150703-story.html