1919 Chicago White Sox October 1, 1919. Game One of the World Series. Cincinnati Reds second baseman Morrie Rath steps up to the plate against Chicago White Sox ace Eddie Cicotte. On the second pitch, Cicotte beans Rath, and gamblers across the country smile: The fix is in. Thus began what would infamously become known as the "Black Sox Scandal," in which several White Sox conspired to lose the World Series. Eight players were put on trial, though not all of them were believed to be directly involved in the fix. Arnold "Chick" Gandil spearheaded the plan, assisted by Charles "Swede" Risberg, who recruited the players and worked directly with the gamblers. Oscar "Happy" Felsch and pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude "Lefty" Williams were undeniably in on it, and while Sox star "Shoeless" Joe Jackson confessed to accepting money, he had twelve hits and batted .375. George "Buck" Weaver was indicted as well, but also denied having any role in throwing the Series. Both he and Shoeless Joe attempted to clear their names until their deaths, but were unsuccessful. Although all eight players were actually acquitted by a jury, baseball owners were not so forgiving. Concerned about the future of the sport and its reputation, they appointed Federal Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis to be Baseball's first Commissioner. When Weaver and Jackson appealed to be reinstated, he denied them with this statement: "Regardless of the verdict of juries, no player who throws a ball game, no player who undertakes or promises to throw a ball game, no player who sits in confidence with a bunch of crooked ballplayers and gamblers, where the ways and means of throwing a game are discussed and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball." Those eight players, including Joe Jackson -- who still owns the 3rd best lifetime batting average -- would never play organized baseball again. Suggested Sites... 1919 Black Sox.com - very nice fansite about the scandal. Wikipedia: Black Sox Scandal - detailed overview of the events, with a list of the eight players banned and their involvement. IMDb: Eight Men Out - the movie that made the famous scandal infamous. Famous American Trials: The Black Sox Trial - provides extensive details about the aftermath of the 1919 World Series. YouTube: No Crying in Baseball - Baseball Movie Tribute - entertaining montage of baseball movie clips, including "Eight Men Out," "A League of Their Own," "The Natural," "Bull Durham," and "Field of Dreams."

Directory categories: Black Sox Scandal, Chicago White Sox, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, Baseball History

Archived under: 1910s, 1920s, Athletes, Baseball, Baseball Players, Gambling, History, Legal Cases, Movies, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Sports

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