1919 Black Sox Scandal

The Impact of the 1919 Black Sox Scandal
The 1919 Black Sox Scandal is one of the most skeptical topics in Major League Baseball history. The 1919 World Series was battled out between the Chicago White-Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. In fact, this particular match-up was picked to be the most competitive world series yet, but it most certainly was not. After the Cincinnati Reds clinched the World Series title, the story behind the scenes began to unfold. This shocking and quite shameful story would clearly change the way Americans and future baseball players view the game entirely. It was truly a game-changer. The Black Sox Scandal was when eight players of the 1919 Chicago White Sox were convicted for accepting a bribe to intentionally throw
Jackson, July 1887- December 1951, batted a lifetime average of .357 (“Shoeless Joe Jackson). Jackson’s baseball career kicked off when he was asked to play for the local millworkers baseball team. He played for this team for a couple of years until he caught the eye of professional baseball coach/manager Connie Mack. He quit the team several times during the early years of his pro ball career due to a low self-esteem and lack of confidence. In 1915, Jackson was sold to the Chicago White-Sox organization for $8,000 (“Shoeless Joe Jackson”). Here Jackson played two years in the minor leagues before getting called up to the MLB, and while in the minors Jackson earned the name “Shoeless Joe” after playing two games in his stockings because his new cleats were rubbing blisters on his ankles and feet. Jackson also named his favorite bat “Black Betsy,” which was thirty-six inches long and weighed a solid forty-eight ounces. After being an outstanding outfielder and a true threat at the plate, Shoeless Joe was a shoe in for the Hall of Fame. All things were going good until October rolled around in the fall of 1919. Here, Shoeless Joe’s career and reputation would be changed forever and his shot at the Hall of Fame was thrown out the window. After accepting the bribe of $20,000 to throw the World Series, Shoeless Joe was found guilty, and although he suffered no legal
Why, no one is for sure. It is almost as if there is a magnifying glass on the Black Sox, but cheating is cheating and it does not discriminate. When America thinks about baseball they think of the Black Sox Scandal, but in reality the Black Sox are not the only players that cheated. Other, less magnified, cheatings are Barry Bonds case, or players using corked bats while pitchers are cutting the baseball seams. Either way, the Black Sox brought about many harsh opinions and challenges for the game, but through it all the game has changed but for the better. Infact, present day baseball might even be at its peak in the eyes of some viewers and players. The 1919 Black Sox Scandal was truly a game