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Nick Henkel

Ms. Richardson

English 11CP

24 February 2011

The Chicago Black Sox Scandal

Many people would do anything for money. People might not always do what is right but

usually when they do not it is for a reason that is good enough for them. Money can definitely

change people for the better or the worst. The lack of money caused a big scandal in sports

history called the chicago black sox scandal.

In 1919, the amount of money that baseball players were paid was minimum. I still think

that the players should have gotten more money for their hard work. “Eight players from the

Chicago White Sox (later nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing the series against

the Cincinnati Reds.” Chicago Historical Society. The team must have had a good reason to

throw the game after winning so many games. “… if Comiskey had not grossly underpaid his

players and treated them so unfairly, they would never have agreed to throw the Series.” Chicago

Historical Society. Their coach didn’t seem like he cared about the players. It shows that he

cared more about himself and winning boosted his reputation.

Because of a reserve clause, players were restricted to one team unless approved by the

coach. “The clause which guaranteed a club a player’s service for as long as it wished, also

disallowed players to jump from team to team for better pay, a practice known as “contract
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jumping.” 1919 Black Sox. Players couldn’t find a better team who would pay them what they

were worth which led them to find alternative methods.

The team was in two different groups. One group led by Eddie Collins made more than

the group led by Chick Gandil. In 1919, people gambled on the games but it was not out in the

open. Growing tired of being used and after being approached by a gambler, Gandil decided to

take matters into his own hands. “Player resentment was high and gamblers' offers, which were

sometimes several times a ballplayer's salary, were too tempting to refuse.” Chicago Historical

Society. Since Gandil was nearing retirement, this was the perfect opportunity for him to make

the extra cash that he deserved. Unable to throw the game on his own, Gandil had to get the

approval from his teammates.

Comiskey kept making promises to his team and breaking them. One of the team’s

pitchers, Cicotte, was promised 10,000 dollars as a bonus if he won 30 games. After reaching his

29th win, Comiskey made him sit out the rest of the season. With all of Comiskey’s tricks, it is

no surprise that his team would turn on him.

After everything that Comiskey had put the White Sox through, there was no problem

getting the other players to go along with this plan. Sport Sullivan was the main guy that started

the gambling bet. “He told Sullivan that for $100,000, Gandil and several of his teammates

would make sure the White Sox would lose.” Chicago Historical Society. Nowadays this would

not be considered a lot of money for an athlete, but in these rough times, it was more than

enough.

For the World Series, the White Sox were up against the Cincinnati Reds. Since the team

did so well throughout the season, the sudden loss and lack of effort were up for debate. Fans and
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officials both were questioning the outcome. The grand jury started up an investigation which

involved questioning all of the players. Some admitted fully to the bet while others denied it.

“Cicotte confessed to accepting the gambler's money to throw the games that he had pitched.

Jackson acknowledged taking the money, but denied that he played any less than his best.

Weaver denied all involvement with the scheme.” Suite101

Before the trial had started, all evidence had been “lost.” Cicotte and Jackson took back

what they had said. As a result, the judge dismissed the case since there was no proof. Weaver

never confessed to being involved. All of the players were dismissed from the league and never

allowed to play again. The players were never caught so you could say that their plot paid off.

In the end, no one really knows the whole truth. “The Black Sox scandal of 1919 started

out as a few gamblers trying to get rich, and turned into one of the biggest, and easily the darkest,

event in baseball history.” Montgomery College. Even if it was not in the way they had planned,

the players all earned their 15 minutes of fame. It is a part of history that our society will never

forget.