The 1919 World Series was a highly significant event in the history of Major League Baseball. It featured a championship matchup between the American League (AL) champion Chicago White Sox and the National League (NL) champion Cincinnati Reds. Regrettably, this particular World Series became infamous due to the subsequent revelation of the “Black Sox Scandal,” a severe breach of sportsmanship and integrity.

The Chicago White Sox, boasting prominent players such as “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and pitcher Eddie Cicotte, entered the series as overwhelming favorites. However, it was later discovered that eight members of the team had conspired with gamblers to intentionally lose the games in exchange for financial compensation. This revelation came as a shock to the baseball community and tarnished the integrity of the World Series.

As a result of the players’ illicit actions, the Cincinnati Reds emerged victorious in the series, clinching a five-game-to-three victory over the heavily favored White Sox. The ensuing scandal unfolded in a highly publicized trial that exposed the extent of corruption within baseball and had far-reaching consequences for the sport.

While the implicated players, including Jackson and Cicotte, were eventually acquitted in court, the newly appointed Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, banned them from professional baseball for life. This stern decision aimed to restore public trust and uphold the integrity of the game.

The repercussions of the 1919 World Series and the subsequent scandal were profound. The incident prompted sweeping changes to baseball’s governance, including the establishment of a centralized commissioner system designed to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This episode stands as a poignant reminder of the vital importance of honesty, fair play, and maintaining the integrity of sports competitions.

The Accused

Eddie Cicotte, Pitcher

Following his banishment from baseball, Eddie Cicotte returned to Livonia, Michigan. He managed a service station, served as a game warden, and later found employment at the Ford Motor Company. He lived to be 84 years old. Upon retiring, he pursued farming and operated a strawberry farm on a 5.5-acre plot outside of Farmington until his passing on May 6, 1969.

Claude “Lefty” Williams – Pitcher

After his expulsion from professional baseball, he embarked on barnstorming tours and competed in outlaw leagues for several years. He also had a short stint with a team in New Mexico. Unfortunately, Williams reportedly developed a heavy drinking habit. It was said that his between-in

Arnold “Chick” Gandil, First Baseman

Following the conclusion of his baseball career, he returned to his childhood home in Berkeley, California, where he resided with his wife Laurel and their daughter Idella. He pursued a career as a plumber, which became his primary occupation.

Charles “Swede” Risberg, Shortstop

For a decade following his expulsion from professional baseball, he remained active in semi-professional baseball circles. Additionally, he dedicated his time to working on a dairy farm. After his tenure in outlaw baseball concluded, he transitioned to running a tavern and a lumber business in the northwestern United States.

George “Buck” Weaver, Third Baseman

As the sole player to stay in Chicago following his ban, he pursued odd jobs while yearning for a return to baseball. As the main provider for his extensive family, he secured employment with the city of Chicago as a day painter. Additionally, he explored opportunities in the drugstore business, although he ultimately declined a junior partnership offer extended by his brother-in-law, who recognized his business acumen.

Joe “Shoeless” Jackson, Outfielder

Throughout the final two decades of his baseball career, he both played for and managed numerous semi-professional teams, primarily based in Georgia and South Carolina. By 1922, he had relocated to Savannah, Georgia, where he and his wife established a dry cleaning business. Later, in 1933, they returned to Greenville, South Carolina. Initially launching a barbecue restaurant, he later transitioned to running a liquor store, which he managed until his passing.

Oscar “Happy” Felsch, Center Fielder

For the ensuing 15 years, he traveled across the county, participating in numerous amateur and semi-professional teams. Following the conclusion of his playing career, he ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing both a grocery store and several drinking establishments.

Fred McMullin, Utility Fielder

He maintained silence regarding the fix for his entire life. Throughout his lifetime, he held a variety of occupations, including carpentry, office roles, traffic management, and serving as a deputy marshal. In his final years, he battled arteriosclerosis. .

2019 World Series (October 1 – 8)

Cincinnati Reds (5), Chicago White Sox (3)

Game 1 – Redland Field

The opening pitch was at 3 pm at Redland Field in Cincinnati, drawing a crowd of 30,511 spectators and generating profitable ticket sales for scalpers outside the venue. Chicago failed to score in the first inning, while pitcher Cicotte’s intentional hit on Morrie Rath signaled to Arnold Rothstein that the fix was in. despite the conspirators’ efforts to maintain a close game, Cicotte struggled in the fourth inning, allowing multiple hits and ultimately leading to the Reds securing a 9-1 victory. Speculation arose when Cicotte made a questionable throw, hindering a potential double play, adding to suspicions of foul play. The following day, issues arose when only Cicotte had received his payment in advance, leading to tensions among the group involved in the gambling scandal.

CWS – 1, Cincinnati Reds – 9
Game 2 – Redland Field

Despite not having received their payment yet, the players remained willing to proceed with the scheme. In Game 2, the starting pitcher “Lefty” Williams opted for a more subtle approach compared to Cicotte. Although he initially performed well, Williams struggled in the fourth inning, conceding three walks and runs. Despite regaining control afterwards and allowing only one more run, the White Sox lost 4-2 due to a lack of timely hitting, especially from Gandil. Attell continued to withhold payment, but Burns eventually secured $10,000 which was distributed among the conspirators by Gandil. The teams traveled to Comiskey Park in Chicago for Game 3 the following day, without any rest days during the Series.

CWS – 2, Cincinnati Reds – 4
Game 3 – Comiskey Park

The rookie pitcher Dickey Kerr, who started Game 3 for the Sox, was not privy to the fix. Initially, the conspirators had intended for the team to lose the game as they were unhappy with Kerr, but internal disagreements had caused chaos within the group by this point. Despite this, Burns remained optimistic and mustered his remaining resources to place a bet on Cincinnati. This choice proved to be a costly one as Chicago took an early lead, with Gandil contributing by driving in two runs. Kerr delivered an outstanding performance, allowing only three hits as he pitched a complete game shutout in a 3-0 victory for the Sox.

Cincinnati Reds – 0, CWS – 3
Game 4 – Comiskey Park

Cicotte took the mound again with a determination to make amends for his performance in Game 1. For the first four innings, he and Reds pitcher Jimmy Ring held each other to a scoreless tie. However, in the fifth inning with one out, Cicotte made a crucial error by mishandling a ground ball hit by Pat Duncan, resulting in a two-base error. Subsequently, Larry Kopf’s single to left field allowed Duncan to score as Cicotte struggled further by mishandling the throw, surprising the home crowd. Following this, Cicotte gave up a double to Greasy Neale, allowing Kopf to score and giving the Reds a 2-0 lead. Ring then pitched a stellar game, throwing a three-hit shutout to match Kerr’s performance in Game 3, as the Reds took a 3-1 Series lead.

After the game, “Sport” Sullivan delivered $20,000 for the players, which Gandil divided equally among Risberg, Felsch, and Williams, who was scheduled to start Game 5 the following day.

Cincinnati Reds – 2, CWS – 0
Game 5 – Comiskey Park

Game 5 was delayed by a day due to rain. Both starting pitchers, Williams and Cincinnati’s Hod Eller, initially performed strongly, with no runners advancing beyond first base until the top of the sixth inning. In a pivotal moment, Eller hit a blooper that dropped between Felsch and Jackson, with Felsch’s throw missing the mark and allowing Eller to reach third. Morrie Rath, the leadoff hitter, followed with a single that scored Eller. Subsequently, Heinie Groh walked, and Edd Roush’s double, largely due to shaky defense by Felsch, brought in two more runs, with Roush crossing the plate shortly after. Eller’s impressive performance, including striking out nine batters and setting a then-World Series record with six consecutive strikeouts, secured the Red’s 4-0 lead, putting them within reach of their first world championship.

Cincinnati Reds – 5, CWS – 0
Game 6 – Redland Field

The Series returned to Cincinnati for Game 6. Dickey Kerr, the starting pitcher for the White Sox, was not as dominant as he was in Game 3. Despite the Reds taking advantage of three White Sox errors to secure a 4-0 lead, Chicago managed to rally and even the score at 4-4 in the sixth inning, a tie that held into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, Gandil hit a run to bring in Weaver, giving the White Sox a 5-4 lead, and Kerr finished the game to secure his and Chicago’s second victory.

CWS – 5, Cincinnati Reds – 4 (10 Innings)
Game 7 – Redland Field

Despite the ongoing rumors surrounding Cicotte’s inconsistent performances in Games 1 and 4, White Sox manager Kid Gleason remained confident in his ace for Game 7. This time, the knuckleballer delivered a solid performance. Chicago took an early lead, and surprisingly, it was Cincinnati who made crucial errors. The Reds only posed a brief threat in the sixth inning before ultimately falling 4-1, bringing the Series back to a close competition. Notably, this was the first time in World Series history that the winner of Game 7 did not go on to win the series.

This turn of events raised concerns for Sullivan and Rothstein, who had previously been confident. Initially, the White Sox were considered strong favorites before the Series, and the expectation of winning two consecutive games seemed plausible if they were genuinely aiming for victory. Rothstein, known for his strategic bets, had placed a substantial wager of $270,000 on Cincinnati to win the Series. The night before Game 8, Williams, the designated starter, allegedly received a visit from a Sullivan associate named Harry F, who made clear threats that if Williams did not sabotage the game in the first inning, he and his wife would be in serious danger

CWS – 4, Cincinnati Reds – 1
Game 8 – Comiskey Park

Whatever instructions Williams had received appeared to have a significant impact on him. In the first inning, he threw a series of lackluster fastballs, resulting in four consecutive hits and three runs before Gleason substituted him with “Big” Bill James. Despite James allowing one of Williams’ runners to score, his performance was also inadequate. The White Sox showed signs of a late rally in the eighth inning, but the Reds ultimately secured a 10-5 victory, winning the Series five games to three. Jackson’s solo home run in the third inning was the only homer of the Series, occurring after the Reds had already taken a 5-0 lead. Following the conclusion of the Series, widespread rumors circulated across the country suggesting that the games had been manipulated. Journalist Hugh Fullerton, writing for the Chicago Herald and Examiner, expressed his disgust at the White Sox’s apparent “throwing” of the series, calling for an end to any future World Series events.

Cincinnati Reds – 10, CWS – 5

Footage from the 1919 World Series

The Ballparks

Redland Field, Cincinnati. (later renamed Crosley Field)

Redland Field served as the home of the Cincinnati Reds from 1912 to 1970. The stadium underwent multiple name changes over the years, eventually becoming known as Crosley Field. It was known for its distinctive outfield terrace and hosted many memorable moments in Reds history, including the 1919 World Series and the final game of the 1961 season, where pitcher Jim Maloney threw a no-hitter. Crosley Field was eventually replaced by Riverfront Stadium in 1970.

Take me to this place
A marker where home plate once stood is all that remains of this once great ballpark.

Comiskey Park, Chicago.

Comiskey Park was a historic baseball stadium in Chicago, home to the White Sox from 1910 to 1990. Known for its iconic exploding scoreboard, one infamous event was the “Disco Demolition Night” in 1979, where chaos ensued. Despite this, the park hosted many memorable moments, including the 1917 World Series win and Frank Thomas’ number retirement in 2010. The White Sox moved to a new stadium in 1990, leaving behind a legacy cherished by fans.