Most controversial scandals in MLB history: #5. The New York Giants try to bribe their way to a win
The New York Giants knew they were up against in 1908. In the final game of the year, the Giants were scheduled to take on the Chicago Cubs. The winner would be crowned as the National League Champion.
Believing they were overmatched, the Giants sought out a bit of help from the umpire. Unwilling to risk his integrity, he rejected their bribe. As a result, the Giants lost the game. The umpire, at least at the time, refused to tell anyone what transpired beforehand. He instead opted to wait until the following year to let everyone aware of the Giants and their cheating ways.
Unsurprisingly, the news hit MLB like a ton of bricks. The audacity of someone from an organization willing to cheat was bad enough but to seek out the help of an umpire was almost impossible to believe. After a lengthy investigation, the former Giants team physician was believed to be the one behind the entire ordeal. Whether he was covering for someone or not didn’t quite matter, MLB threw the book at him as he was banned for life.