The Black Sox Scandal Season

Lore & Background

In 1919, Charles Comiskey, the owner of the Chicago White Sox, was widely resented by his players for his miserliness, though the White Sox did not have the largest team payroll that year. The clubhouse was divided into two factions: one resented the straitlaced 'Clean Sox' group. On September 18, 1919, player Chick Gandil met with Boston bookmaker Joe 'Sport' Sullivan to discuss throwing the World Series for $80,000. Eight players were eventually implicated, including Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams. The Reds won the best-of-nine series 5 games to 3.

Reader's Guide

The scandal led to the dissolution of the National Baseball Commission and the appointment of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis as the first commissioner of baseball, given absolute control to restore integrity. Despite acquittals in a 1921 trial, Landis permanently banned all eight implicated players from professional baseball. The ban remained in force for more than a century until Commissioner Rob Manfred reinstated the Black Sox and several other now-deceased players in 2025.

Did You Know?

• The 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series, and the Cincinnati Reds won 5 games to 3.
• The World Series MVP award was not introduced until 1955, so no MVP was named for the 1919 Series.
• Buck Weaver attended the fix meetings but did not receive money; he was banned for knowing about the fix and not reporting it.
• Shoeless Joe Jackson's involvement remains disputed; he did not attend the meetings.