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Eliot Asinof, in his book, "Eight Men Out," explores the complexities of the 11 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 11 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 11 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. Were the players solely to blame? Was it the influence of the gamblers that spurred the teammates to throw the series? Was it Charles Comisky's fault? All of these issues are addressed in Asinof's work.
Asinof has stated that he "came [to this story] with the attitude that these eight guys tried to ruin the game of baseball. It shocked my senses to realize that this situation was much more complicated." Or was it more simple? Perhaps it wasn't the demonic intent of ruining baseball was on the players' minds when they entertained giving away a World Series title that they could have easily won. Possibly the simple pressure of not making enough money was at the root of the scandal.
Working for Charlie Comisky was known famously as legalized slave labor. Comisky was raking in more that $500,000 in a year when his highest paid player might make only $16,000. Truly his entrepreneurial spirit and keen business insight allowed him to capitalize on the game of baseball. Comisky offered fans attending his park a complete experience that included many of the luxuries still found in today's modern ballparks. But at the heart of each baseball fan was the desire to see the game and their favorite players. Without those players, Comisky would have nothing to offer. His state of the art park with all its lavish furnishings and amenities would be sadly empty without the heroics of his White Sox players. Perhaps Comisky's hard-nosed economics and refusal to remunerate his players for their abilities makes the "Old Roman" the most serious villain of "Eight Men Out."
Of course organized gambling is given its share of the blame in
Asinof's book. Heavy hitters like Arnold Rothstein were at the heart of the baseball scandal. Rothstein was known as a "sportsman" by the media and the public. One of the biggest gamblers of the day, Rothstein was loaded with cash and eventually became the financier of both Abe Attell's and Sport Sullivan's dealings with the White Sox players. Rothstein cared nothing for the game of baseball. It was simply another venue where he could make money and control the outcome of illegal activity. Rothstein was a businessman. His underground dealings and profit-motivated ruthlessness may have paved the way for the organized crime that swept major cities in years to come. After the World Series scam (where Rothstein is said to have profited more than $50,000) he moved on to drug dealing and other lucrative forms of crime.
"Sport" Sullivan was familiar with the White Sox and particularly Chick Gandil. Gandil had, in the past, alerted Sullivan to game day situations that could prove pivotal to an outcome. Sullivan was a smaller scale gambler than Rothstein. Although he was always ready for a money making scheme, Sullivan was actually approached by Gandil. Sullivan did not entice the players to enter into the confederacy of plotters. Gandil was the man who accomplished this. So perhaps Sullivan, though on the illegal side of things, is less to blame for the Black Sox than one of their own, Chick Gandil.
Gandil had a rough reputation and was nearing the end of his career. He was not as educated and business savvy as other players on the White Sox team. Although he had tenure and a moderate amount of fame, his annual salary was almost $10,000 less than some of his teammates. Perhaps this idea was his alone. After all, it was Gandil that approached Sullivan concerning the deal, and Gandil that recruited the other seven players on the team to take part in throwing the games. Arnold Gandil is one of the most responsible elements for the scandal surrounding the 11 World Series.
Although many forces and factors were at work, Asinof's book, "Eight Men Out," delivers clear responsibility in no certain direction. What happened to the players and fans of the 11 season is a national tragedy. The reputation of baseball and all major league sports was damaged by selfish actions that revolved around money. Principle and character are hard to find in this story. Buck Weaver and Joe Jackson are portrayed as unwilling participants, but still did nothing to stop the fixing of the series. Sadly, it would appear that money was at heart of the scandal. As is often the case, financial pressure motivated men to act in ways that were less than honorable. The culprit is money and the emphasis and importance placed on it by society. The victim is baseball.
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