The 1919 World Series Scandal Part III

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. This is part iii to of iii.

Players were mad about not being paid once again, so they decided not throw any more games. The Sox won the 3rd game 3-0 causing gamblers to lose a lot of money and gambler Joseph Sullivan came up with $20,000 before the 4th game to bait players back. It worked and the Sox lost the 4th game 2-0 and the 5th game 5-0.

When gamblers did not pay as agreed, the players  decided they would win the title and be paid $5000 from the league for the series win. The Sox won the 6th game 5-4 and the 7th game 4-1. Knowing when they won the 8th game it would push the series into a tie for a 9th game playoff for the World Series.

Gambler Arnold Rothstein bet the Cincinnati Reds would win the World Series. Feeling his bet was endangered Rothstein sent his henchmen to tell Williams to throw the game or his wife would suffer the consequences. The Sox ended up losing game eight allowing Cincinnati to become the World Series champions.

In September 1920 a grand jury convened over gambling issues in baseball. During  the inquiry  information came out over the 1919 World Series. The first to testify was Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ed Cicotte. After hearing the facts of the case the Grand Jury handed down  indictments on eight White Sox players and gamblers Hal Chase, Abe Attell, Joe Sullivan, Bill Burns, and a few of Arnold Rothstein's henchmen. 

The White Sox players  were suspended from the rest of the 1920 season. The trial started in June of 1921 with all the records from the investigation except those from Jackson, Cicotte, and Williams. At the conclusions of the trial everyone was acquitted due to the lack evidence. Newly appointed Baseball Commissioner and Federal Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis ban the eight White Sox player from playing professional baseball for life. Shoeless Joe Jackson was the most notable of the players even though he confessed to have taken money for the scandal, he maintained his innocence citing he did not participate in the plot to throw the World Series and stated he played to the best of his ability.

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