Most controversial scandals in MLB history: #9. Willie Mays & Mickey Mantle receive bans
With the league becoming more and more known for game fixing and gambling, they attempted to fix their image. The commissioner cracked down on shady characters around the game and issued heavy fines and suspensions for anything that looked even remotely like game fixing.
Having wrapped up their Hall of Fame careers, both Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays didn’t play during a time where an excessive amount of dollars were available. So, like normal citizens, both were forced to get jobs after retiring from the game. Luckily for them, gambling casinos in Atlantic City welcomed them with open arms. Their new jobs were simple enough, they merely greeted guests as they came into the casino.
MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn was none too pleased and immediately banned them from the game. The reasoning behind Kuhn’s need to ban them both was that it looked awkward. Considering how hard Kuhn worked to clean the game up, having two of the best players to ever play, now work in gambling casinos just didn’t sit right with him.
Eventually, their ban was lifted by new commissioner Peter Ueberroth, but not before spending several years away from the sport.