1920s Baseball

American Sport• 1839 Abner Doubleday – Cooperstown, NY• 1845 Rules• 1846 1st Offical Game• 1866 1st Women Teams• 1869 1st Professional Team

– Cincinnati Red Stockings

• 1876 National League established• 1882 American Baseball Association• 1900 American League established• 1903 First World Series

1920s Baseball “The Scandal”

Eight players from the Chicago White Sox were accussed of throwing the 1919 series against the Cincinnati Reds.

“Shoeless” Joe Jackson

Eddie Cicotte

Claude “Lefty” Williams

Buck Weaver

Arnold “Chick” Gandil

Fred McMullin

Charles “Swede” Risebeerg

Oscar “Happy” Felsch

1920s Baseball “The Scandal”1919 World Series

Before the series…several players from the White SoxGiven $100,000 to “fixed” or lose the game for the White Sox

The White Sox were in favor of winning the 1919 World Series. The day before the series opened - rumors expose the “fix”

A sports writer and the Examiner paying close attention

Newspapers published the story

Club Owner’sAfraid the public would turn their backs on baseballRefused to acknowledge any problem.

1920s Baseball“The Scandal”

• Grand Jury convened– allegations that the Chicago Cubs had thrown

games against the Philadelphia Phillies. – The investigation uncovered The 1919 World

Series “fix”.• The White Sox players, owners, managers,

writers, and gamblers called in to testify.• Two players caved and admitted to the “fix” • Eight men were banned from baseball.

1920s BaseballBabe Ruth

• One of the most successful in major-league baseball– Won 3 World Series.

• Hit the most home runs per season.• His batting attracted public attention• Became a “personality” which helped salvage

baseball popularity• World record of 60 home runs in 1927.• Led the Yankees to 7 Pennants.• National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.

1920s Baseball Lou Gehrig

» 1st baseman for the Yankees» Played 2,130 consecutive games

(setting the world record)» Nick named the “Iron Horse”» Won most valuable player 4 times» Stricken with a rare type of paralysis

disease.» Elected into National Baseball Hall of

Fame in 1939.

American Baseball

• 1923 National Negro League

• 1933 1st All-Star Game

• 1945 Jackie Robinson makes his Major League debut

• 1947 1st Televised World Series

• 1974 Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s Homerun Record

• 1989 Pete Rose – banned from baseball