"Say it ain't so, Joe..."

The trial following the Black Sox Scandal is indicative of the back room deals, evidence tampering, and political maneuvering which perennially plagued the legal and enforcement branches of government in the greater Chicago area.  It is important to comprehend the environment of the times to understand the events surrounding the inquiries and trials concerning the Eastland.

The Chicago White Sox
From the years 1917-1919 the Chicago White Sox were the dominant team in baseball, and might well have gone on to become one of the greatest in history. At that time, players were bound to their teams with the reserve clause, binding a player in perpetuity with a team at the owner's control. This lack of free agency produced a problem for many of the White Sox. Despite having the most talented team in baseball, owner Charles Comiskey paid his players sub-standard wages compared to any other winning team. In fact, the Sox originally received their nickname the "Black Sox" not because of the scandal, but because of the dirtiness of their uniforms. Due to Comiskey's policy to save money on laundering uniforms, he billed the players for laundry service. The players protested this by not washing their thick heavy wool uniforms for several weeks. Their low salaries and dissension never reached the headlines because Comiskey wined and dined the press. Ironically while the reporters dined, the players meal money was far less than the rest of the league.

The White Sox were such a talented team, but riddled with poor morale. The only one player, Eddie Collins, made star-quality money. Collins had his $14,500 salary written into his contract when he came to Chicago, being bought from the Athletics in 1915. This was nearly double the salary of the other Sox players. Additionally, Collins was disliked because he was a Columbia University graduate in a game where very few players had any education (the great Joe Jackson signed his name with an X), and a more conservative lifestyle than the bulk of his teammates. Among Collins' friends were Ray Schalk, a great fielding, low-hitting fiery catcher, as well as pitchers Red Faber and rookie pitcher Dickie Kerr.

Arnold 'Chick' Gandil despised him. During pre-game drills neither Charles 'Swede' Risberg nor Gandil would throw Collins the ball. Gandil had also not spoken to Collins in over two years. At third base played Buck Weaver, a good fielder and rapidly improving hitter. Oscar 'Happy' Felsch played center field. He was a good hitter and great fielder, and still holds the record for double plays by an outfielder in a season. In left field, was one of the greatest players ever to wear, or not wear spikes; 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson. Jackson hit .356 for his career (third best ever), was the only rookie to hit .400 and could throw with the best. The pitching staff was led by Eddie Cicotte, who had 28 wins with an ERA of 1.53 during the White Sox championship season of 1917, and during the 1919 season won 29 games. Next on the staff was Claude 'Lefty' Williams, who won 23 games in 1919. Other than Cicotte, all had many more years to go in their careers and all were at the peak of their game in 1919.

In 1919, the owners cut salaries across the league after World War I had reduced baseball attendance in 1918. Even while extending the 1919 season, the owners feared the same. But attendance went up while salaries remained the same. The White Sox players became aware of this and planned to strike in July. They had a sympathetic ear in their manager, 'Kid' Gleason, who had missed the previous year in a salary dispute with Comiskey. When the players heard that Comiskey would not even discuss salaries they talked of striking, but Gleason talked them out of it, promising to persuade Comiskey otherwise. Cicotte was so furious that Gleason had to scratch him from the game that particular afternoon.

Background of Gambling In Baseball
In baseball's young history, there were numerous instances of betting. Gamblers had long been sociable with players and from time to time, one of them would find a vulnerable player or perhaps just ask him a few questions about the state of the team: Who was ill for the game? Who was angry about no pay? They might find a player with something they could use to blackmail. Or even yet, threaten physical violence. The owners would know when something was wrong, but to investigate would publicize the fact that something might be crooked and the game would crumble. A noted practitioner of "the blown play" was Hal Chase, a good ballplayer very popular with the fans. As far back as 1911, Chase had been suspected and later caught, but as a result was bounced from team to team for fear that exposing the fix could destroy the baseball's integrity.

Gandil had observed Cicotte's outburst and realized for the first time that his punitive idea of fixing the Series might become a reality. Gandil met with gambler Joseph 'Sport' Sullivan three weeks before the start of the World Series, since the Sox were way ahead in the standings. Gandil had met previously with Sullivan in Boston when playing for Washington, and often gave Sullivan little tips as to game conditions. In this meeting, Gandil told Sullivan that the Series could be fixed and wanted $80,000 cash. Gandil came to Sullivan because he didn't know anyone else who could raise that type of cash. Sullivan said he'd think it over. He did... he agreed.

Building the 'Team'
Gandil approached Cicotte in mid-August about throwing the Series. Gandil needed at least three pitchers to make it work. He knew Cicotte, the ace of the staff, was bitter at Comiskey. Initially Cicotte wanted no part of it, but he had money problems, as did many of the players. He was earning only $6000 a year, despite the numbers he was putting up. Finally, Cicotte told Gandil he would do it for $10,000 cash before the Series. Cicotte was now approaching 30 wins. Comiskey had promised him $10,000 if he won the lofty goal of 30 games. When Cicotte actually approached it with 29 wins near the end of the season, Comiskey kept him out of action.

With Cicotte in his pocket, Gandil went after the others. Next was his friend Swede Risberg, with whom he had already talked about the fix. One of those times being within the earshot of utility infielder Fred McMullen, who also wanted in. Gandil needed another pitcher and came to Lefty Williams. Williams was incredulous that the World Series could be fixed and said he would have to think about it. When he found that Cicotte was in, Williams came aboard. Gandil then went after the heart of the White Sox line-up: Weaver, Jackson and Felsch. All eight met in Gandil's room in the Astoria Hotel in New York, where they were playing the Yankees, the following night on the 21st of September.

Gandil recounted the meeting with Sullivan. They would be paid before the first game. The pitching rotation and how they would throw the Series would be determined by Sullivan. At this point there was not much enthusiasm from the players, as they had a wait and see attitude.

At the same time, Cicotte ran into an old baseball buddy, "Sleepy Bill" Burns, who asked Cicotte if the whispers about a fix were true. When Cicotte admitted it, Burns had Cicotte and Gandil meet with him and an ex-fighter associate named Billy Maharg (aka Graham). Gandil said they would throw the Series for $100,000. Neither of the gamblers could raise any money in Philadelphia, so they came back to New York to the talk to the one man they knew could bankroll this fix... one of the biggest professional gamblers of the time, Arnold Rothstein.

On September 23rd, Maharg and Burns met with Rothstein's associate and bodyguard Abe Attell, one of the greatest boxers ever. Attell fought 365 times, losing only 6... and it was said that those times were due to a fix. They laid out the fix to Attell, who then told Rothstein. Rothstein didn't think it would work. Burns then sought out Hal Chase, who assured Burns the fix was 'legit'. Burns then bravely sought Rothstein face to face. Again, Rothstein said it wouldn't work. Everyone went back to normal routine except Attell. 'The Little Champ' had the guts of a legendary boxer, and figured he would bluff Rothstein's backing and push the deal himself. Attell met with Burns and told him Rothstein changed his mind, but didn't want his name involved.

The Fix Is Back
There was only three days before the Series for Burns to put the deal together again. Coincidentally two days earlier, Sport Sullivan came to New York and told Rothstein of his meeting with Gandil. Sullivan had much more credibility than Burns. When Rothstein discussed this with his associate Nat Evans, an objection raised was the number of people aware of the plans. Rothstein thought that was good, as he would get lost in all the people. Evans was then instructed to go to Chicago with Sullivan using the name of 'Brown' and meet with the players. The players were wary. Williams wanted out. Jackson now (allegedly) wanted $20,000. Evans went back to Rothstein, who said go ahead with $40,000, with another $40,000 to be locked in a safe until the fix became a reality. In the meantime, he told his friends to bet on the White Sox opponent, the Cincinnati Reds, while betting $270,000 himself.

When Sullivan received the $40,000, he bet $30,000, but already the odds had dropped, as Rothstein was quicker. Word was spreading about the fix. Sullivan gave Gandil $10,000, claiming that one of his players must have leaked it, causing the odds to go down. After a brief argument, Gandil took the money. It all went to Cicotte, the opening day pitcher, to settle his initial demands. He immediately sewed it into the lining of his jacket.

Money was flying all over Chicago the day before the Series, with gamblers laying down unusual bets. Word was spreading all over. Gandil & Risberg wanted to put down money, but Sullivan had shorted them, so they had none to bet. Risberg told a friend of his in the American League in a coded telegram. In the meantime, Attell was in Cincinnati raising $100,000 capital for the players, neither side knowing of the other (other than Rothstein). The way for Attell to do this was to tell every gambler he could get money from that the fix was on. And the word spread.

At this same hotel was sportswriter Hugh Fullerton, who watched these activities and wired his papers not to bet on the Series, that something was wrong. Even Comiskey and Gleason were aware of the rumors, but of course refused to believe them.

When Burns & Maharg came to Cincinnati, Attell told them that the money was all out on bets. Furious, Burns wondered about the players, to which Attell responded that he would meet with them. That evening Attell talked to the ballplayers. He told them he had the money, but that he was instructed to stagger the payments after each lost game. This year the World Series was a best-of-nine series for the first time. All except Cicotte were ticked off. It was decided that they would lose the first three games (Kerr would be starting the third. They didn't like him anyway so they would lose that game, and win for Cicotte in the 4th). Jackson was not at this, or any other meeting. It was also determined that Burns would bring the money to the hotel after each game.

The 1919 World Series
Beautiful weather embraced Game 1. Cicotte, who had pinpoint control, gave a signal to all that the fix was on when he hit a batter with his second pitch. Cicotte was battered in the fourth inning and was out of the game. Schalk was furious that Cicotte kept ignoring his signals. The sportswriter Fullerton was busy marking various plays in his scorecard he deemed as suspicious. Gleason was sick to his stomach over the growing possibility that his team was throwing one. He laced into Cicotte and Risberg in the hotel lobby, and then stopped quite embarrassed at doing this in a lobby full of people. Fullerton led him away.

When Burns went to the hotel to get the money from Attell, Attell simply refused. He claimed it was out on bets, but everyone knew better. When Gandil heard, he was livid, and questioned why Williams should throw game 2 if they weren't paid? Burns agreed and arranged for them to meet with Attell the next morning. Attell told the players the same thing, and that they would have it the following morning at the latest. It was now up to Williams to lose, but to do it carefully, so as not to make it too obvious.

In game 2, Williams only gave up four hits, but gave up three walks in the fourth inning, allowing Cincinnati to score three runs as the White Sox lost again, 4-2. After the game, Gleason tried to strangle Gandil under the stands, and Schalk was pulled off of Williams, who kept shaking off Schalk's signs... something he had never done during the season.

Comiskey went to see the National League President, John Heydler, who was one of the three members of the National Commission, the ruling body of baseball at the time. He went to Heydler because the other two members were August Herrmann, owner of the Reds, and Ban Johnson, president of the American League, who despised Comiskey just as much as Comiskey despised them. When Heydler awoke Johnson, Johnson cried that Comiskey's suspicions were "...the yelp of a beaten cur".

When Burns went to Attell's room to collect the $40,000, there was money all around, but Attell and the others refused to give any to the players. After a brief meeting, they agreed to give $10,000 and told them to win the third game to play with the odds. Burns was stunned, but was told $10,000 or nothing. Burns went ahead to Gandil. Although the players were outraged, they were not overly surprised. Burns assured them the money would come.

For game 3, Attell had Burns go ask the players again what would happen in the third game. Gandil said it would go like the first two. Attell had a feeling Gandil was not being honest and started betting on Chicago.With Dickie Kerr pitching, it took less than 90 minutes to shut out the Reds 3-0. Gandil drove in 2 runs. Burns lost all the money he had won in the first two games. Attell was happy, but claimed he lost and that it was Burns' fault. Burns tried to appease the players again, but they knew better. They told Burns they were through with him. Burns had spent so much time on this and came up empty. He told Attell it was all off.

Before game 4, Sullivan came back into the picture to meet with Gandil again. Gandil said the whole thing was off. Sullivan promised to wire $20,000, and reminded him of the $40,000 in the safe. Gandil said $20,000 before the fourth game, and the same before the fifth. Sullivan was able to raise $20,000.

The game was scoreless through four innings, then Cicotte threw one away. The next batter hit a single, and Jackson's throw had the runner beat at the plate, but Cicotte cut the ball off. The next batter knocked the runner in, and it was 2-0. Cicotte shut them down the rest of the way, but that was the final score.

Gandil passed out the money from the morning. McMullen and Weaver received none, although Weaver at this point seemed to not be in the fix.

Williams pitched well in game 5, excluding one bad inning where he gave up 4 runs, with Felsch missing one ball and dropping another. No cash came that evening. In game 6, Dickie Kerr was pitching again. although 3 Chicago errors led to 4 Cincinnati runs, the White Sox came back, led by Weaver and Gandil, winning 5-4 in 10 innings.

The next game brought a masterful performance from Eddie Cicotte (who had planned to win one), and won 4-1. The Series was now 4-3. The gamblers were getting nervous. Sullivan sent out a large fellow to see Lefty Williams who told him it would be in his and his wife's best interests to lose the next game.

Finally, the eighth (and final) game. Hugh Fullerton ran into a gambler who advised him to bet on Cincinnati, and that it would be the biggest first inning he ever saw. He was right. Williams gave up four runs in the first inning, throwing nothing but fast balls, ticking Schalk off. The final score was 10-5. The Series was over.

The Aftermath
Comiskey told Gleason and Fullerton in his office "There are seven boys who will never play for me again!" (Apparently leaving out Weaver). Fullerton wrote as such in his column. Comiskey subsequently offered $20,000 to anyone unearthing information of a fix, later lowering the amount to $10,000. People did come forth, but Comiskey had no intention of paying.

When Sullivan arrived at Gandil's room, he gave him the $40,000 from the safe. Risberg took $10,000 and gave $5,000 to McMullen, for Fred's only cut. Of $70,000 received from Sullivan, and $10,000 from Attell, Gandil cleared $35,000, not bad for a man who earned $4,000 for the season. When Joe Jackson had gone to see Comiskey with the $5,000 to see what he should do with it, Comiskey refused to see him. So Joe left for Georgia that night with Williams, where they would be spending the winter together.

Baseball publications chalked up the loss to bad play, and that anyone talking of a fixed Series did not know what he was talking about...

"...but is a menace to the game quite as much as the gamblers would be, if they had a ghost of a chance to get in their nefarious work."

In the meantime, the 1920 season was under way and despite the rumors, and additional rumors of several other teams selling games during the 1920 season, the White Sox were hot in contention for the pennant, with record profits at the box office!

In September 1920, a Cook County grand jury looked into allegations of the Cubs throwing a three-game series to the Philadelphia Phillies. This probe widened, and now the 1919 World Series was being looked at. Ban Johnson now saw his chance to sully Comiskey, although he had finally wised up to the fix. A pitcher on the Giants told what he knew about the fix from a telegram he saw in someone's room, and it was decided that the grand jury should call Cicotte in.

Cicotte was the first to spill it, followed by Jackson. Gandil and Rothstein admitted nothing. On September 28th, the eight ballplayers, Attell, and several other gamblers were indicted for conspiring to defraud the public and injure the business of Charles Comiskey and the American League (Illinois had no law about fixing games). All were acquitted, particularly after Cicotte's and Jackson's transcripts disappeared.

The day after the eight were acquitted, Landis barred them from baseball for life:

"...any player that throws a game, no player that entertains propositions or promises to throw a game, no player who sits in on a conference with a bunch of gamblers in which ways and means of throwing a game are discussed and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball."

That last statement was directed at Buck Weaver, who was at the meetings but received no money, and had an exemplary Series. On six subsequent occasions, Weaver asked for reinstatement and was turned down each time.

It took the baseball heroics of Babe Ruth to bring the fan focus back to the game.

Epilogue
The man Ty Cobb called "the greatest pure hitter I ever saw," Joe Jackson has never made it to the Hall of Fame, with even his records still barred. Others, especially Cicotte and Weaver, might very well have made the Hall if not for the ban. The only part of the fix they didn't botch was losing. As documented, they were treated poorly and responded with an action others had done, though not in a World Series. And that is why they never thought they'd be banned.

It is ironic that for all the money they received, all, except Gandil, would have received as much or more from the 1919 World Series shares. Not to mention future Series shares.

One of the best teams ever in major league baseball was decimated, and destined to fail year after year. The 1917 win in the World Series was the last championship the Chicago White Sox achieved.

FURTHER READING

N O N - F I C T I O N

Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series by Eliot Asinof, 1963, Henry Holt and Company, Current Production Run: Movie Tie Edition, Paperback, 302 pages, Published by Henry Holt (Paper), Publication date: August 1, 1988, ISBN: 0805003460.
The Great Baseball Mystery -- The 1919 World Series by Victor Luhrs, New York, 1966.
Baseball: An Illustrated History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns, Published by Knopf, September 1, 1994, ISBN: 0679404597.
Shoeless Joe Jackson by Jack Kavanaugh, c1995 Chelsea House Publishers. Reading Level: Ages 9-12, Library Binding, 64 pages, Publication date: October 1, 1994, ISBN: 079102170X .
Growing Up With "Shoeless Joe" by Joe Thompson, c1997, published in cooperation with Burgess International, Greenville, SC by Joe Thompson, Incorporated, ISBN 0-9662531-0-8.
Say It Ain't So, Joe! -- The True Story Of Shoeless Joe Jackson by Donald Gropman, First Edition c1979, Revised, Updated with New Information 1992, Carol Publishing Group, A Citadel Press Book, ISBN 0-8065-1336-5.
Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball by Harvey Frommer 1992, Taylor Publishing Company, Current Production Run: Paperback, Publication date: March 1, 1993, ISBN: 0878338209.

F I C T I O N

Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, Current Production Run: Paperback, Published by Ballantine Books (Trd Pap), Publication date: August 1, 1996, ISBN: 0345410076.
Of Interest: Visit the Field of Dreams Movie Site
Hoopla by Harry Stein, Paperback, 464 pages. Published by Dell Books, Publication date: June 1, 1997, ISBN: 0440221307.