The Black Sox Scandal

1
The Black Sox Scandal

• The 1919 World Series

2
The History of Baseball

• Adopted the reserve clause in 1879.
• Guaranteed a club a players services for as long
  as it wished. It kept players from earning their
  market value.
• Without a union, the players had to accept the
  wages they were give.

3
The American League

• Created in 1899 by Charles Comiskey and Ban
  Johnson (right).
• Created a governing body called The National
  Commission.
• Created The World Series in 1903.

4
The National Commission

• Was a weak governing body
• Often times was questioned for its decisions
  regarding gambling and disputes between teams
  claiming players.

5
Gambling and Baseball

• Gambling had existed in baseball since the
  founding of the game in the early 1860s.
• Gambling and the throwing of games was generally
  ignored by the National Commission. A policy of
  looking the other way and sweeping things
  under the carpet.

6
The Players

• The 1919 World Series

7
Chick Gandil

• The ringleader of the Black Sox
• Contacted the gamblers and organized the fix.
• Gathered the 7 other players
• Made 35,000 for his role.
• Made only 4,000 for the season.

8
Swede Risberg

• Starting shortstop
• A tough, hard-nosed person. Known as an
  intimidating man.
• Only got 2 hits in 25 at-bats in the series.
  Also made for 4 errors.
• Got paid 15,000 for his role in the fix.
• Made 3,250 in salary in 1919.

9
Happy Felsch

• A good, young hitter and outfielder had his best
  season in 1919.
• Didnt want to participate in the fix, but knew
  he couldnt stop it, so figured hed get in on
  the action.
• Made 5,000 in the fix.
• Made 4,000 in salary in 1919.

10
Eddie Cicotte

• The Ace of the Sox
• Led the A.L. in Wins, Innings Pitched, and
  Winning Percentage in 1919.
• Paid 10,000 before game 1 of the series.
• Made 6,000 in salary in 1919.
• Didnt get his bonus.
• Lost 2 of 3 games in World Series.

11
Lefty Williams

• Also one of the best pitchers in the A.L. in
  1919, best season of career.
• Also didnt want in on the fix, but Gandil told
  him theyd go on without him, so he agreed.
• Made 5,000 for his role in the fix
• Made only 2,500 in salary in 1919 making him one
  of the lowest paid players on the Sox.
• Set a World Series record with 3 losses.

12
Shoeless Joe Jackson

• The best and most recognizable player on the Sox.
  A bona-fide legend and superstar.
• His participation in the fix is disputed.
• He was paid 5,000 for his role in the fix. Was
  allegedly promised 20,000 by Gandil.
• Hit a series-best .375 with 12 hits and made no
  errors.
• Made 6,000 in salary in 1919.
• Considered one of the best hitters, ever.

13
Buck Weaver

• One of baseballs best third basemen in 1919.
• Made 6,000 in salary in 1919.
• Was invited to join in fixing the series, but
  declined. He was present at 2 of the meetings
  and never told anyone about it.
• Hit .324 and committed no errors in the series.
• Was not paid for fixing the series and denied his
  involvement.

14
Fred McMullin

• Utility-man for the Sox
• Only made 2 at-bats in the series and got 1 hit.
• Was paid 5,000 for his role in the fix.
• Made 2,750 during the 1919 season.

15
The Gamblers

• The 1919 World Series

16
Joseph Sport Sullivan

• A Boston-based gambler who conspired with Gandil
  to fix the series.
• Reached out to New York crime boss, Arnold
  Rothstein, to finance the fix.

17
Sleepy Bill Burns

• Former Major League pitcher who worked for
  Sullivan. Was in charge of getting the money to
  the players.

18
Arnold Rothstein

• New York-based gambler and Jewish mafia boss.
• Reportedly bankrolled the fix.
• Also made a great deal of money betting on the
  series.

19
Abe Attell

• Former featherweight boxing world champion who
  was an enforcer for Rothstein.
• Allegedly was responsible for getting the money
  for the players from Rothstein to Sullivan and
  Burns.
• Double-crossed the players.