Chicago Black Sox Scandal In Baseball History

Chicago Black Sox Scandal

The 1919 World Series is home to the most notorious scandal in baseball history. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds. Details of the scandal and the extent to which each man was involved have always been unclear. It was, however, front-page news across the country and, despite being acquitted of criminal charges, the players were banned from professional baseball for life. If anything can be said in their favor the players on Charles Comiskey's 1919 Chicago White Sox team had plenty to complain about. Together they formed the best team in baseball, yet they were paid a paltry sum compared to what many players on other teams received. Comiskey's
The game stood 1 to 1 with one out in the fourth, when the Red's Pat Duncan lined a hanging curve to right for a single. Things went downhill from there for the Sox. The game ended with the Reds winning 9 to 1. Meeting later that night with Charles Comiskey, Sox manager Kid Gleason was asked whether he thought his team was throwing the Series. Gleason said that he thought something was wrong, but was not certain. As in game one, the fourth inning turned out to be crucial in game two as well. Lefty Williams, known for his control, walked three Cincinnati batters, all of whom scored. Cincinnati won 4 - 2. Before game three in Chicago, Burns asked Gandil what the players were planning. Gandil lied; he told Burns they were going to throw the game, when in fact they hadn't yet decided what to do. Gandil and the rest of players in on the fix were angry at so far receiving only a fraction of their promised payoff. He saw no reason to do Burns any favors. Burns and Maharg, on Gandil's word, bet a bundle on the Reds to win game three. The Sox won the game, 3 to 0, with Gandil driving in two of his team's runs. His message was
Rothstein, who allegedly made $270,000 on the 1919 Series, was not indicted by the grand jury. Eventually, a rival gambler murdered him. The indicted players, however, faced a trial. The trial of the accused White Sox players began in June of 1921. The grand jury records, however, including the confessions of Jackson, Cicotte, and Williams, were reported missing, they turned up four years later in the hands of Comiskey's lawyer, George Hudnall, who never explained their reappearance. After a month of hearing testimony, it took the jury just two hours and forty-seven minutes to acquit all defendants; lack of evidence and the missing confessions resulted in a not-guilty verdict. In the end, the trial did not answer many questions. The facts continued to be manipulated, distorted, and subject to outright