THE BLACK SOCKS

THE 1919 WORLD SERIES

• The 1919 white sox were said to be the "best team ever"
• Team consisted of Bill Burns, George Weaver and "shoeless" Joe Jackson
• Odds against Cincinnati were massive
• The White sox Threw the game dsue to bribes and pressure from the mob
• The entire series was rigged

FALLOUT

• Two players, Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte, admited guilt in court
• Rumors dogged the sox all of 1920, and at the end of the season, players were charged
• Grand jury handed down its decision, 8 players and 5 gamblers were implicated
• All 8 players were banned for life from any participation in anything involving MLB
• Government, all the way to the president had to get involved

LASTING EFFECTS

• Baseball has a lasting blemish that can never be removed
• Worst time it could happen, right at the beging of post-war depression
• Nearly killed Major League Baseball
• Nothing in the rules really changed, just hoping it can't happen again