1919 World Series Championship

Lore & Background

The 1919 Cincinnati Reds were upstarts, having finished no higher than third since 1900 before winning the National League pennant handily under new manager Pat Moran. The Reds finished 8.5 games ahead of the runner-up Giants at 96–44. Their greatest star was center fielder Edd Roush, who led the league in hitting at .321. The team's strong pitching rotation included Hod Eller (20–9), Dutch Ruether (19–6), and Slim Sallee (21–7).

The White Sox, despite having the best record in the American League, were an unhappy team due to owner Charles Comiskey's penny-pinching ways. Eight players from the White Sox were banned from organized baseball in August 1921, after being acquitted from criminal charges, for either fixing the series or having knowledge about the fix without alerting the league. As of now, those eight players remain permanently ineligible, and no action has been taken to lift their bans.

Reader's Guide

The 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series. The Cincinnati Reds, managed by Pat Moran, featured star center fielder Edd Roush and a deep pitching staff. The Chicago White Sox, managed by Kid Gleason, had stars like Shoeless Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte, but were plagued by internal tensions and the Black Sox Scandal. Key players banned included Shoeless Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte.

Did You Know?

• The 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series, along with 1903, 1920, and 1921.
• The Reds' manager Pat Moran had previously led the 1915 Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series.
• White Sox pitcher Dickey Kerr was not involved in the scandal but was later suspended for holding out for more pay, then reinstated.
• The National Commission decided on the best-of-nine format partly to increase popularity and generate more revenue.