Call to the pen
Fansided

Houston Astros: Ranking them among other cheaters in MLB history

By Lucas Friedman

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Manager AJ Hinch #14 talks with Jeff Luhnow, General Manager of the Houston Astros, prior to game two of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park on October 05, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Manager AJ Hinch #14 talks with Jeff Luhnow, General Manager of the Houston Astros, prior to game two of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park on October 05, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
The Black Sox scandal
The Black Sox scandal /

 Ranking Houston Astros vs Other Cheater in MLB history

Black Sox Scandal

While each scandal from Pete Rose to BALCO had a significant impact on the course of MLB history, nothing was infamously worse than the Black Sox scandal of 1919.

Before Game 1 of the 1919 World Series, multiple White Sox players met in Chick Gandil‘s hotel room to discuss their plan to fix the World Series. Players like pitchers Left Williams and Eddie Cicotte had major roles in the on-field fixing of the World Series, while others like Fred McMullin heard about the scandal and threatened to report them if he did not receive payment.

Thus, rumors started circulated before Game 1, and many people started throwing bets down on their opponent, the Cincinnati Reds. Once the game started, it became clear that they were making an effort to throw the game. Cicotte hit the Reds’ leadoff hitter with the second pitch of the game, signaling his willingness to go through with the fix.

Eventually, the White Sox were accused of fixing the World Series, and Cicotte admitted to his involvement before a grand jury in 1920. After that, the dominoes began to fall. After the trail in 1921, the MLB appointed its first Commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who subsequently banned all eight players involved in the scandal for life. Among the “Eight Men Out” was “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, who’s involvement was controversial due to his excellent play during the World Series.

This scandal is much worse than any performance-enhancing drug scandal because it directly affected the results of the World Series. It was, in fact, a concerted effort by a team to alter the results of the biggest sporting even in America at that time. Furthermore, it is worse than Pete Rose’s because multiple actors were proven to directly bet against their own team, thus affecting their play for personal financial gain. It is likely we will never see another scandal like this ever again, and it has cemented its place in baseball lore forever.

Home/Houston Astros