In the first part of our recounting of the notorious Black Sox scandal, we provided background information on the individuals involved and the circumstances that would lead to the unfolding of the scandal. In this chapter, we delve into the 1919 World Series matches and the fallout that ensued following the exposure of the players’ involvement in the fix.
Without delay, we present to you Part 5.2 of our series on the history of gambling in Illinois, exploring the infamous betrayal of the Chicago Black Sox that changed the game forever.
Let the games begin
Favorites, the White Sox, start the series with a 9-1 loss. By the time they give up the series, rumors of a fix swirl
The first game of the 1919 World Series took place in Cincinnati on a sunny and warm October 1st.
The first game at Redland Field was completely sold out, with scalpers making a whopping $50 (equivalent to $860 today) from last-minute ticket sales. Across the nation, fans gathered to follow the event. In New York City, onlookers congregated in Times Square to watch the results being telegraphed and displayed on a mechanical scoreboard.
According to the tale, Cicotte would either intentionally walk or hit the first Red player at bat to signal that the game was fixed. The first pitch he threw was a perfect strike, raising suspicion. But his second pitch hit Reds batter, Maurice Rath, in the back.
His pitch indicated that the game was afoot.
Batter-up
The game was deadlocked at 1-1 in the fourth inning when Cicotte surrendered five runs, including a triple. Cincinnati ultimately triumphed with a 9-1 victory, surprising almost everyone who was unaware of the fix.
Game two did not go much better, as the Reds defeated the Sox 4-2. Asinof’s version of events describes how Burns subsequently left $10,000 in Gandil’s room, only half of the anticipated amount.
As they prepared for game three, the players were disappointed to find that they had only received a portion of the promised rake. Despite their frustration, the Sox managed to win the game 3-0 against the Reds. Gandil later informed Sullivan that they needed $20,000 before game four or the fix would be called off.
The Reds won the first two games 2-0 and 5-0. However, when none of the bettors paid the expected $20,000 after the second game, the White Sox were fed up. They won game six 5-4 and game seven 4-1. If they win the next game, the series will be tied 4-4.
Although the intimidation described in Asinof’s story was ultimately exposed as a ploy to catch plagiarizers, players and their families did receive legitimate threats during the series, especially leading up to game eight.
Despite the threats possibly affecting the Sox’ performance, the Reds were victorious in the game (and the series) with a score of 10-5.
However, the controversy was only just starting to intensify as the series came to a close.
PART 1: MICHAEL MCDONALD, CHICAGO’S FIRST CRIME LORD
The jig is up
The Sox World Series treachery comes to light when another suspected fix heads to an Illinois Grand Jury
After Chicago’s unexpected defeat, speculation about a possible fix started to circulate.
Comiskey hired an investigator to look into the financial records of seven out of the eight men, with Weaver being the only one who was not scrutinized.
Despite attempting to publicly discourage the rumors and releasing a statement, he still left room for doubt.
I have full confidence that my team played fairly in the recent World Series, as they always have. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, I am eager to hear it and will offer a $20,000 reward for any information that proves otherwise.
Gossip persisted throughout the winter months, culminating in a shocking headline from Chicago sportswriter Hugh Fullerton in the New York World on December 15.
Are gambling interests controlling Major League Baseball, with players involved in the scheme?
In the article, Fullerton urged the baseball organization to address its increasing issue with gambling. He proposed a thorough investigation led by federal judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis to examine the extent of gambling’s influence on the sport.
Rumors of foul play persisted throughout the 1920 season, until it was suddenly confirmed.
In August 1920, rumors of a fix in a Cubs-Phillies game led to the convening of Cook County’s Grand Jury. Assistant State Attorney Hartley Replogle issued numerous subpoenas to prominent figures in the baseball world.
A domino effect
While testifying, New York Giants pitcher Rube Benton revealed that he was aware of a telegram exchanged between Burns and a teammate from the Giants. The message, reportedly seen just a few weeks before the 1919 World Series, indicated that the White Sox would intentionally lose the pennant.
Benton later discovered that Gandil, Williams, Felsch, and Cicotte were all involved in the deception.
Several days later, an interview with Billy Maharg published in the Philadelphia North American provided Americans with the initial information regarding the scandal.
At this point, Cicotte was filled with remorse. Whether prompted by Marharg’s interview or the manager of his rooming house implicating him, Cicotte made the decision to confess.
Cicotte told the grand jury, “I can’t explain why I did it.”
I must have lost my mind. Risberg, Gandil, and McMullin were pressuring me for a week leading up to the Series to participate in a crooked scheme. I was desperate for money, with a wife and kids to support. They have no idea about any of this, and I’m worried about what they will think if they find out.
In the past year, it feels like I’ve aged a lifetime. There is no amount of money that could make me do that thing again. I’ve hit rock bottom, losing my job, my reputation, everything. My friends all placed bets on the Sox, and even though I knew the outcome, I couldn’t bring myself to warn them.
Shortly after, Jackson appeared in the judge’s chambers to admit his guilt and seek redemption. On that very day, Comiskey made the decision to suspend the eight men indefinitely, effectively extinguishing any chance of a 1920 White Sox championship.
The team played their final regular season games without the missing players and still managed to meet the expected season-ending results.
The indictments
On October 22, 1920, the Cook County Grand Jury issued indictments against eight players and five gamblers for multiple counts of conspiracy to defraud individuals. Strangely, Rothstein was once again not named in the indictment.
Nevertheless, a setback for the prosecution occurred when the confessions and waivers of immunity signed by Cicotte, Jackson, and Williams went missing from the State’s Attorney’s office shortly after the indictments were issued.
At this juncture, defense attorney William Fallon started assembling a group of top defense attorneys in Illinois. Although it was evident that the financially strapped Sox players were not paying for their defense personally, the source of funding remained undisclosed.
Although an acquittal would be advantageous for Comiskey, who desired to have his suspended players reinstated, there is no proof that he paid for the legal assistance.
Ban Johnson, the American League president, deserves credit for his eagerness to reform the sport. In public, he openly expressed his frustration with Comiskey.
We have dedicated three full months to this case, yet we have received absolutely no cooperation from the Chicago club.
The thirteen defendants were arraigned on Valentine’s Day in 1921.
One month later, George Gorman, representing the State, revealed that the players’ confessions and waivers had been stolen.
On March 26, a new Grand Jury looking into additional charges issued a superseding indictment and included five new gamblers. Despite this, Rothstein once again avoided any charges.
Definitely, Rothstein may not have been directly involved in the fixing scandal, but he was definitely aware of it and profited significantly by betting on the series, with estimates reaching as high as $400,000/$6,883,491.
PART 2: MONT TENNES, RACE WIRE CZAR
Trial by jury
After a long wait, the accused finally head to court
The trial of Eddie Cicotte (et al.) by the State of Illinois began in Judge Hugo Friend’s Chicago courtroom on June 27, 1921.
Each player faced a variety of charges.
- Plotting to deceive the public for personal gain
- Plotting to deceive Sox pitcher Ray Schalk
- plotting to carry out a scam
- Plotting to harm the operations of the American League.
- Plotting to harm Charles Comiskey’s business.
But when the confessions were nowhere to be found, Gorman was in for a tough battle. Luckily, Johnson and Maharg discovered Burns fishing on the Rio Grande in Texas, and with Sleepy as a witness, Gorman was able to secure Burns’ testimony after promising him immunity, albeit reluctantly.
Gorman presented the trial’s opening statement on July 18, describing the situation as a game of “chaotic chess.”
The gamblers and ball players began betraying each other, leaving both sides unsure of the other’s intentions.
However, when Gorman referenced a passage from Cicotte’s confession, defense attorney Michael Ahearn objected, stating, “You won’t make any progress with those confessions!” Gorman confidently replied, “We will succeed beyond expectations!”
However, Ahearn was proven to be the superior fortune-teller. Friend considered any mention of the confessions to be off-limits.
The prosecution’s witnesses included Comiskey, John O. Seys, the Chicago Cubs’ secretary, and Burns, who testified for three days.
Burns takes the stand
During his detailed testimony, Burns went over every detail of the fix. Despite some inaccuracies in his recollection of dates, many members of the press praised Burns for providing a thorough account.
According to a report in The Kansas City Times on July 21, 1921:
After twelve hours on the stand, the witness looked drained. Despite his weary appearance, he remained strong, giving clear and confident responses to the barrage of insults and insinuations thrown at him by the questioners.
The main concern during the trial centered around the handling of the missing confessions. Judge Friend decided that the confessions could only be used if the prosecution could demonstrate that they were given voluntarily and without any promise of reward. Following testimony on the matter, Friend ultimately ruled that the State could use the confessions as evidence, but only against the players involved.
Lawyers presented the confessions of Cicotte, Jackson, and Williams in court on July 27. Newspaper coverage noted that the actual transcript of the confessions closely mirrored the previously published reports.
Defense attorneys utilized a combination of alibis and character witnesses during the trial, including teammates and officials associated with the Sox.
The defense questioned Sox players who were not involved in the scandal about whether their teammates gave their best performance in the series. Despite objections from the prosecution, Friend permitted the witnesses to answer.
The testimony of Comiskey’s chief financial officer, Harry Grabiner, was especially intriguing. Grabiner presented evidence that the team had significantly increased gate receipts in 1920 compared to 1919, refuting the prosecution’s argument that the players’ actions had harmed the group financially.
The defense rests
The trial concluded on July 29, with Prosecutor Edward Prindeville opening the summary of the State’s case.
Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, and Claude Williams betrayed the American public for a meager $20,000. This game, gentlemen, has been tainted by criminal actions. The public, club owners, and even young boys playing on the sandlots have been deceived.
“They have attempted to manipulate our beloved national sport and turn it into a deceitful scheme.”
The prosecution requested a guilty verdict along with a five-year prison sentence and a $2000 fine.
Gorman was up next:
Thousands of men braved the cold night, standing in line for hours to witness the opening of the first World Series game. They patiently waited all morning, unwilling to leave their spots even for a quick bite to eat. Their anticipation was for the talented Cicotte to pitch a thrilling game, but instead of a genuine sports event, they were deceived by a fraudulent scheme.
In response, Ben Short from the defense argued:
The defendants may have agreed to take the gamblers’ money, but it has not been proven that the players intended to defraud the public or harm the reputation of the game.
Another defense attorney, Morgan Frumberg, proposed that Arnold Rothstein, the actual culprit, was not even at the scene.
Why was he not charged?… Why were these low-paid athletes, these small-time gamblers who may have placed small bets on the World Series, singled out to take the blame?
Free to go
Prior to sending the jury to deliberate, Judge Friend emphasized that in order to reach a guilty verdict, the players must have conspired to defraud the public and others, not just thrown ballgames.
At the time, it appeared that the jury was already leaning towards acquitting the defendant. However, Friend’s instructions may have solidified their decision. (The New York Times editorialized that the instruction was compared to saying the “state must prove the defendant intended to murder his victim, not just cut his head off.”)
Regardless, the jury quickly delivered its initial not-guilty decision to an enthusiastic courtroom audience within three hours. Shortly after, hats and confetti filled the air as a series of acquittals were announced. Some jurors even lifted the defendants onto their shoulders in celebration.
Jackson commented on his way out of court that the jury’s verdict could not have been fairer. However, he expressed that he has no desire to return to organized baseball as he is finished with it.
PART 3: FIRST WARD LEVEE LORDS, COUGHLIN AND MCKENNA
Eight men out
Despite the acquittal, the eight Sox teammates are banned from MLB for life
Jackson had given up on baseball, and baseball had given up on him.
Prior to the repair, the league was governed by a three-person National Commission.
- Ban Johnson is the president of the American League.
- John Heydler is the president of the National League.
- Owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Garry Herrmann
In 1920, amidst swirling rumors, Herrmann resigned at the behest of other club owners, effectively causing the commission to remain deadlocked. The league members considered appointing a single commissioner or reconstructing the National Commission with individuals from outside the game.
After some deliberation, they selected Landis (solo) for the job and now needed to persuade him to accept it.
At first hesitant, Landis eventually agreed to accept the position for a seven-year term with a salary of $50,000 ($860,432) on the condition that he could continue serving as a judge. (He later agreed to a salary cut of $7,500 for the years when he held both positions simultaneously.)
Despite being blindsided by the scandal, the owners agreed with little debate to the contract drafted by Landis outlining his powers as commissioner. They were unable to dismiss him or reduce his pay, and he could not be publicly criticized by the league.
The agreement granted Landis immense power over all MLB employees, including the ability to ban individuals for life. It didn’t take long for Landis to demonstrate his willingness to wield his newfound authority.
The gavel drops
The day following the Black Sox verdict, baseball’s inaugural commissioner revealed his plans.
No player who is involved in throwing a ballgame, discussing plans to throw a game with crooked players and gamblers, or failing to report such activities to their club, will ever be allowed to play professional baseball, regardless of jury verdicts.
Landis eventually demonstrated his trustworthiness, as none of the eight individuals ever returned to play in the major leagues.
The Black Sox scandal had a lasting impact on the eight men involved and left a permanent mark on the game of baseball. Despite this, there have been ongoing debates about the fairness of imposing a lifetime ban, particularly when it comes to players like Jackson and Weaver.
Shoeless Joe, with the fourth-highest lifetime batting average in baseball history (only behind Ty Cobb, Oscar Charleston, and Rogers Hornsby), is still excluded from the Hall of Fame, despite his impressive accomplishment. Charleston, who played in the Negro Baseball League and is often overlooked in statistics, also ranks ahead of Shoeless Joe.
Fans and former players, including Ted Williams, have advocated for Jackson to be honored at Cooperstown.
He made a valid argument.
Joe made a mistake by accepting the money and later regretted it. He attempted to return the money and confess to Comiskey about the wrongdoing, but his efforts were in vain as Comiskey and Jackson both covered up the scandal. Now, as Charles Albert Comiskey sits nearby in Cooperstown, Shoeless Joe remains left out in the cold.
