The roster included Eddie Cicotte who won 209 games, as well as 28 and 29 in 1917 and 1919 respectively. He was one of the masters of the “junk pitch”!
The other big name was Joe “Shoeless” Jackson, perhaps the greatest hitter of the decade after Ty Cobb. Jackson was a .356 career hitter, including .382 in 1920 and .408 in 1911! His On Base Average was .413! We can safely predict that he’d challenged Ty Cobb for career batting average and hits. Jackson would have definitely been selected to The Hall of Fame.
The trial was a circus and the players were eventually acquitted. Nevertheless, MLB Commissioner banned 8 of the players from ever playing again.
It was not a good moment for baseball, specially the owners and justice. The players never got the money from the criminal elements but I agree with the Commissioner’s ultimate decision.
Again, it was very sad, specially the case of Jackson, Cicotte and Buck Weaver, another great player on that team.
In the late 1980’s, the story came back when Eliot Asinop published “Eight men out”. It was also a great movie released in the 1990’s.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.