Eight Men Out: The Black Sox Scandal

“Regardless of verdict of juries, no player who throws a ball game, no player who undertakes or promises to throw a game, no player who sits in conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing a ball game are discussed and does not properly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball again." This statement was made official by Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis in regards to the Black Sox World Series Scandal in from 1920-1920. The film Eight Men Out informs audiences about the Black Sox Scandal from all aspects, including: the people involved, the creation of the commissioner, and all the way until the verdict and later the death of Buck Weaver. The story behind this scandal deals with changes that would effect all aspects of baseball history,

This film plays a major part in exemplifying key aspects of baseball history. The Black Sox Scandal was a devastating event in history that caused spectators and fans to question the integrity of the game; they became skeptical on coming to games because they would not know if it was a real game or fixed. The eight players involved, hence the title of the film, were Eddie Cicotte, Chick Gandil, Oscar Felsch, Joe Jackson, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg, Buck Weaver and Claude Williams. These players were bribed to throw the 1919 World Series game of the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Red for $10,000 each by gamblers Joseph “Sport” Sullivan, William “Sleepy Bill” Burns, and Billy Maharg. Although this was their original plan, the players remained unpaid and decided to play and win the rest of the games. It was an easy