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Eliot Asinof, in his book, “Eight Men Out,” explores the complexities of the 1919 World Series. The rough and tough world of professional baseball in the early twentieth century was replete with violence, debauchery and gambling. Baseball players of that day were known to be an uneducated lot, stinking of whiskey and not to be trusted. There were some exceptional players that were educated and mannerly, but by in large, the public perception of these men of sport was one of villainy and corruption. Although many ballparks (such as Comisky’s own park) claimed to outlaw gambling during the games, betting was as plentiful and easy to find as hotdogs and crackerjack. The Great War had just ended and financial pressures were still being felt. Gambling seemed to be an easy way to make some extra cash. The men who played baseball for the Chicago White Sox were no different. Although worshipped as heroes, players were often paid less then wages for more menial task requiring little or no talent. The average player for the 1919 White Sox made $6000 per year. Charles Comisky, the team’s owner took full advantage of the reserve clause in his players’ contracts to maximize his own personal income and keep the players that brought in that income in squalor. The question becomes did the nature of these players determine the manipulated outcome of the 1919 World Series, or were there other factors at work? Asinof’s book dives into the many contributing factors to the national scandal that still mystifies and intrigues baseball fans today.
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