Baseball had boomed early in the 1900's. The World Series had finally gotten big among spectators and was drawing a big crowd. Baseball had finally reached the point that they were hoping in the late teens. It seemed like nothing could stunt its growth, that is until one of the greatest events in baseball was controlled by money. The 1919 World Series was the Chicago White Sox against the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Players on the White Sox threw the series for an estimated sum of $100,000. There was much planning leading up to the series, included who would be involved and how the money and other aspects of it would be handled. There was also the series, nine games to be played. Finally there was the aftermath of the whole episode; this includes their punishment from being involved in the scandal. All of these things led to one of the most disappointing moments in baseball history. The Black Sox baseball scandal turned the baseball world upside down.
In 1919 the World Series was to be held in October. The Chicago White Sox were set to play. The White Sox were one of the best teams in the league that year. They had many good players. But with all of the talent that they had they were not getting paid what they deserved. Many of them got paid what rookies or less talented players made. This pushed players into doing something to make them money. Dan Gutman points out that "The White Sox were susceptible to the first smart gamblers to come along (173)."" Three weeks before the series started first baseman Charles Gandil contacts a gambler named Joseph Sullivan. Gandil tells Sullivan that the World Series could be thrown if the right amount of money was involved. Gandil gets in touch with his teammates after his conversation with Sullivan. He talks to shortstop Swede Risberg, outfielders Joe Jackson, and Oscar Felsch, pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams, third baseman Buck Weaver, shortstop Swede Risberg, and utility player Fred McMullin.
