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SCANDALS OF SPORT
THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1959.
The Plot That Nearly Finished Baseball
By REX LAWRENCE
The series was "fixed." But no one would believe it. "Fixing" a World Series?
Why, that would be like spitting on the Stars and Stripes.
But it did happen. It happened in 1919, the year after the First World War, the
time of easy money, when American sport was riding high.
"Ax" {{
intentionally to let was, face nengly | Cleveland Indiani win..
Ankl
the when finally exposed knocked baseball, America's Allore "pulime, ino obitzion The Chicago White Box, one of the greatest baseball teams
1:
Jackson and Willams signed Katements admitting that they had played to tone. Felsel and Gandil sold their stories of the plot to newspapers,
Weaver denied complicity. He in the 1020 season, ad refused, he said. to fake
The gamblers," the Mate- ruent added, “have made heavy bets on the Cleveland team."
playing
The White Sox. of alt time, had all but walked honestly into the camplonsdp. Their were engaged in a three-corner-part in the plot when Cicutte, opponents in this World Series ed battle for the championship. the ringleader, had approached tussie, war the Cincinnati but
now their
pastor, merc him. Neither McMullen nor Reds, who had ronched
the accurately, the past of eight of Risberg admitted anything. Championship for the first time the teant's players had caught i 50 year
up with them.
The
Before the Berica started. the White Sox were 1-40-5 Isvourites,
bear a certainty
to
as you could get. But on the eve of the first game the bet ting suddenly switched
the Reda make favourites.
even-money
The championship was to bu decided over nine games, play- ed in quick succession in Octo- ber. In fact, it ended in the eighth game,
with Cincinnat winning five to three.
The Shock Came
īp=
Angered by Comiskey's fumat. Cicotle and Gandil con- ceived their plan deliberately to throw away the Series.
But the "x" could, they cal- culated, reap rich rewards, should
big gambler back
them...
Biggest Gambler
All right, however, were in- i Cicutle and Gand went to dicted for deliberately losing the Boston and approached Joseph statement hit the Series.
And all were banneri " "Sport" Sullivan, New England's American Press In 蠢 Brid, en professional baseball for
biggest gambler. White Sox headline display, knocking all life.
would throw away the Series to other news off the front pages
Cincinnati i Sällivan would from coast to coast.
pay each player $10,000 dollars. They estimated that 10 players would have to be in on the "x" in assure success.
Baseball became overnight # tangle of witnesses, testimonies. rumours, bets and threats,
Eight Suspended
ולה
The Motive
It is not hard to find a mo- live for the actions of the im- plicated eight. For, although the Chicago White Sox team of 1919 I was peerless in baseball, it was hsan unhappy team.
is face
- be
Churics Comiskey, owner of the White Sox, arted on suspicions
immediately And the cause of their 2151- suspended eight players,
happiness was lack of my The owner at the White Sox. This octet included the Big Charles Comiskey, a founder of gest names in the game. Names the American League, was the like Edte Civolte, one of the type of schio magnate. bost pitchars in the Country: foved that players should Chick Sand, the first bas paid as little as possible In this non: Claude Willions, scout he was sileguided by the re-
in the femij serve clause in basebati. best ilcher Swede Ristry, shortstop Buck trucks which bound a player to Weaver, third isenting des one club so long that club re Jackson, the best hitter in the jquired his services, Ban Johnson, Pre-Leumi Happy
AL the time. unsavoury runiours of irregolarities nunong the wurshipped
beaten yet Chiengo White Sox were rifa.. but it was hot until a year later, aluring the closing stages of the 1920 National League Cham- pinch p, that the shock Gnally
come.
I was
sident of the American League,
who started
the
ball rolling
when he issued
韭
dynamite-
from his
loaded statement
Chicago offler, 11 September,
1U20
"I have evidence." Johnson's statement said,
notorious threatening to expose the 1910
"that certain gamblers
are
World Series as a fixed
unless the Chicago White
event Sax
players drop out of the current
flelder; and utility infelder,
Felsch,
1-
Fred
McMullen,
Were re
ercap-
In 1919. the year of thứ "Black Sox" scandal, the newspapers dubbed It, the players had singed a half- hearted strike. Through their William "Kid" Gleasou, they had demanded a better deal from Comiskey.
Five of the group gular players, President
manager, Johnson, anxious to clear the bad smell that pơ-
ir bhaeba"--even vaded meant the end of the Kame- placed all the evidence he had been a blunt "NG."
inset 7:1 front of a Chicago Grand Jury.
But the owner's answer had
"If they don't play for me." And, one by one, the playersComiskey told Gleason, "They began to confess. Cicolle, 'can't play for anyone."
Sullivan was impressed. He liked the deal. To a sure-thing Rambler this was a gift.
There was one snag: Sullivan didn't have $100,000. .But he thought he knew where hu mid get it. Only one mean, Arnold Rabstein, the Czar gambling men. could finance
val of this magnitude,
of
1
Selbyan enlisted the help of Abe Aftell, a former feather- weight boxing champion who elitad connections with Roth- stuin.
Scheme Fails
Tater. however, it was re- vealed that Rothstein (who was shot in a 1928 gangland dilspute) refused to take part
It is known. In it.
however, that when the time came he used his knowledge to clear
$60,000 from beta on the Series.
But the sharp Attel) was not put oil by Rothstein's re- fugtance. lie sent a telegram
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|
NO
ROMANCE IN ROME
The biggest story to com out of the 1956 Olymple Gamex
By DEREK JOHN
tlonal goodwill and fellow- ship.
slary lo emerge from the 1960 Olymple Canes-even though they will be held in KUNDY Italy.
nj Melbourne was the romance | But don't expert such a love- between two Olymple cham- pione American hammer thrower Flx) Connolly and Caroli diicum thrower Olen Fikotova.
women
They talked serom the fence
dividing men athletes in the Olymplo Vill- age. They fell in love and finally broken down the fron curtain to mstry.
A heart-warming story, And
fully in keeping
the Olympic purit
of Interna-
to
the players, signed with Rothstein's nane. necepting their proposlilon.
This was where the scheme went awry.
After losing the first two games to Clucinnati, the White Sox conspirators became dis- content. The gamblers lied falled to keep their word, pay-
than half if ing less promised amount.
the
I
And that is why White Sox won three of their eight games against the Reds,
Suspicions
But, towards the end of the Series, suspicions were growing among the leom's administru → fors. These suspicions spread to higher authorities and League President Ban Johnson im- mediately
hired a team
uf private delectives to investigate, Jolinson's explosive statement in 1920 caused the suspension of the eight implicated players, and both they and the gamblers concerned were summoned be- fore a Grand Jury.
Pubile feeling against them rose at this stage to such plich that ramblers and players were afraid to leave the courtroom without guards.
Criminal prosecutions were
against the brought
cight players in July, 1021.
But
mystery was added to the scandal of the 1919 World Scries. Before the them- prosecution announced selves ready to bring charges
now
1
SHEAFFER'S “SNORKEL"
Champions prefer
ROSTO In not going to
spell Romance for the Olympia àlhletes from 80-odd coun- trics. Indeed, it's going to be easier to win an Olymple gold medal Ihan'a wożnan's heart In Home, 1960.
For officials have decreed that all fun and games will be confined to the sporting arenas, Clandestine meeiinga
between male and female compellora will be pirictly forbidden.
There with be two Olymple
Villager ove for men une for women. They will, be divided br
2000. high vinduel road, And the tunnels under the road will be block.od.
Armed police will guard Ihr smen's vlilage by clay and night. A new women's police force is being trained to pre- vent any males from entering the women's village. My ip to
amorous athletes. Take a helicopter to Rome.-- London Express Service.
later
years
ever
to
against the guilty men, all the i petitions placed before the documents dealing with the Judge in case vanished from the District managed to persuade him Attorney's offer
papers reinstate them. which included
the Grand Jury's findings and the fessions of Cicotte. Jackson and Williams.
con.
Laboriously, they had to be- #in compiling the case all over again
minus vital docu- ments.
And, when the case finally reached the Cook County Court it
1021 August
the jury jacquitted the players of charges of criminal conspiracy because of lack of evidence.
Baseball, however, dealt more severely with them. As | a direct result of the scandal, the authorities appointed their į Commissioner, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, a Federni Jurist who agreed to take con- trol of the
after game only obtaining a guarantee from the owners that
they would interfere.
Sentence
nol
Jury Even before the Grand had returned its verdict, Judge Landis pronounced sentence.
verdict "Regardless of the of juries," his statement read. "no player who throws a ball game, no player who sits in a conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing games are discussed. and does not promptly tell his club about #, will ever again play professional baseball." This meant plainly that the
White men concerned in the
Sox scandal were out for life. And no amount of pleading and
Sports Diary
SATURDAY
Soccer
Div 1: Happy Valley v Tung Wah (Club) 3. D.m.; Eastern V KME (CII 2.0 Den: Kiches y Kwong Wah (BS) 330 pun
Reserve Div: Eastern V KMA (CH) 2 p.m.; Kitches v Kwong Wah (08) p.m.
Div 2: Telephone v Club (Club) 2 pm. AFS v RAP Bai Wan (Navy) 2 pan. Koon Wun v RAF Kai Tak (Navy) 330 p.m.; RIL v REME (UV) 2 : Caroline fil v Prisons (HV) 3.30 pan.
DW 3: C & W v Howloon Godown (HV) 2 pm: Redifusión v 517 (RV) 3.70 p.m.; Dodwell v Sik Ying (HV) 3.30 p.m.
Cricket
Triangular Tournament match 4L Chater Road 11 am.
BUNDAY
Soccer
Dly 1: CM v Army (Club), 130
pm. South China - Sing Tạo (CH) 3.30 p.m. Police v CAK (38) 330
p.m.
Reserve Div.: South China v Sing Tho (CH) 2 p.m.; Police v CAA (39) 2 pan
Dly 2: Watsons v Hon Ying (Club) 2 p.m.; Gymnastic v Taikoo (iv) 330 pm.
Dly 3 Tramways v B S (LV)
9.m.
Recovered
Baseball revered eventual- Jy. But it was a hard struggle. And even today the arguments pordist, with many vid fol- lovers of America's national malataining that sport
the Work Series of 1010 should ne used from the records.
But It remains there to this day — perhaps as a reminder of the ume baseball nearly ander on the scrapheap.
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