ABSTRACT
The 1919 “Black Sox Scandal”–in which eight Chicago White Sox players were charged with fixing the World Series–did not represent an isolated occurrence. In the past, conniving owners and gamblers bribing players had formed a portion of the major league baseball landscape. In 1918, Reds infielder Hal Chase had been accused of tampering with games and the Athletics defiantly signed a pitcher who belonged to the Braves. However, it was the public relations dilemma facing organized baseball (these allegations blended with charges that more game fixing was going on in 1920) which forced newly appointed High Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to take drastic measures regarding the Black Sox case.
