This is the book that is always recommended if you desire to know anything regarding the Black Sox scandal. It was penned in the 1960s, and thus the actual writing at times gives the impression of being a bit outdated. However, I cannot envision that the available facts have altered all that significantly. I regarded it as an extremely compelling read and I highly recommend it.

Things I gleaned from this book that came as a surprise to me are as follows:

1. The Black Sox scandal has its roots in a larger history of baseball and gambling issues. To be sure, it is no surprise to anyone that baseball has witnessed several scandals over the years, but this was definitely not the first instance when anyone attempted to fix a game.

2. This was truly a very poorly-kept secret. In fact, a surprisingly large number of people, including ordinary baseball fans, seemingly were privy to the fix before it occurred.

3. The Black Sox were actually acquitted. Yes, really. But they were still banned from baseball regardless.

4. Damon Runyon - yes, that very Damon Runyon - was actually a sports reporter prior to delving into writing fiction, and the book quotes some of his World Series coverage. There are compilations of his sports writing; I suppose I will have to explore some of that. I surmise that's why he knew so much about the seedy gambling underworld.

Anyway, I must state that I concur with the other reviews. If you wish to read a book about the Black Sox, commence here.

The Black Sox scandal of 1919 is an integral part of American popular culture, with almost everyone being familiar with the basic details of this story. There is no need to repeat them here.

What I found most appealing about this book is the way it breathes life into the eight "guilty" players, presenting them as real individuals: young, talented, underpaid, reckless, naive, and angry. These are tragic figures who were exploited and mistreated by their employer and served as easy targets for the gambling sharks. When the news of the fixed World Series broke (which was inevitable considering the number of people involved), these athletes understood that their baseball careers were over, and they had to find new ways to make a living. It's a captivating story. (The scene where banished pitcher Eddie Cicotte retrieves his gear from his locker while his former teammates watch in silence is deeply ingrained in my memory.)

Asinof also does an excellent job of explaining the post-WWI American culture, which is crucial for a full understanding of the story: tired of war, eager for entertainment, hungry for heroes, and obsessed with gambling.

The first three-quarters of the book passed quickly. However, as expected, things started to slow down a bit when the lawyers took the spotlight. I found myself skimming through some of the legal disputes. (Lawyers seem to have a knack for spoiling everything they touch, don't they?)

The ending reveals how Shoeless Joe attempted to make a comeback in semi-pro ball by using an alias. But he was eventually discovered and expelled from the league. More tragedy.

Overall, this is a very well-written book and a pleasant read.

Thanks to the friends at SABR, I have obtained the modern understanding of the Black Sox scandal. Therefore, I postponed reading this seminal yet error-ridden book about baseball's first dark hour. However, I was aware that I should read it at some point, and what better year than the centennial to pick it up?

As a narrative, what Asinof has assembled here is rather good. Perhaps it is aided by the fact that the source material is inherently compelling. I believe the narrative truly gained momentum with the 1920 season and the exposure of the fix. This might be a consequence of my analysis of Asinof's speculations regarding the 1919 World Series itself.

Nevertheless, that modern skepticism and understanding prevent this from being truly great. It presents itself as a definitive history. The SABR Black Sox Scandal Committee has some other views on this: https://sabr.org/eight-myths-out.

Reading this book is indeed a great means to fathom just how truly appalling the behavior of some Americans was in the name of Capitalism prior to the Depression. At times, the prose might verge on being a bit overly flowery, and I do wish Asinof had been more detailed when it comes to citing his information. However, that doesn't really matter all that much because it combines history with baseball, and I am completely on board with that. For me, the best part is the middle section where Asinof reconstructs the highlights of the actual games of the 1919 Series. But perhaps that's mainly because it's February and I'm longing for baseball. It's fascinating to see how the events of that era unfold within the context of the baseball games. It gives a unique perspective on both history and the sport. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in either topic or both.

I would like to highly commend Asinof for the remarkable effort he put in during the 1960s to gather the details for this book. Undoubtedly, it would have required an enormous amount of leg work to assemble all of this information. However, it is rather a pity that only one or two of the actual Black Sox were willing to provide him with information for the book. Nevertheless, in that regard, I would also commend them for坚守 their立场 regarding the entire incident.

That being said, I conducted some research into the accuracy of this book, and Asinof did a relatively solid job in most aspects. There are a few things that seem to be completely false, the most significant of which was the claim about how little the Sox were being paid. According to actual historical record books, they were actually earning over 10k more than the Reds.

As a Reds fan, it is interesting to note how Reds history appears to skip from the birth of baseball to the 40s and then to the Big Red Machine. There are always mentions of Edd Roush and a few other players from that era, but the 1919 Championship is essentially overlooked when discussing the past.

I am well-versed in baseball history and statistics, so any book that delves into the dead-ball and rogue league days is of great interest to me. It is fascinating to observe how things were so different over 100 years ago, especially with a large number of ballplayers being regarded as dimwitted individuals who lived solely by their skills, while the gamblers controlled everything they desired. That being said, I definitely enjoyed this book and learning about the histories of several of these infamous players, the most notable of which was Shoeless Joe. I miss the days of such great nicknames, haha.

There are a few instances where I simply could not believe certain parts of the story, and for a historical non-fiction book, I should not have to question whether things actually occurred. That is the main reason I gave this book 4 stars: it is excellent, but some of the inaccuracies are quite significant. Not enough to ruin the entire story, but enough to make you scratch your head in certain places.

Good reading to you.

Bill James is a legend among baseball fans. His greatest reputation is as the Analytics Guy, but my first encounter with his work was his text on the Hall of Fame, in which he critiques the process of induction.

James dedicated a chapter to baseball’s most famous banned figures: Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson. I was particularly excited about the section on Jackson, who was a central character in the beautiful film Field of Dreams, where the filmmakers emphasized his supposed innocence.

James devoted approximately six or seven pages to Rose’s Hall of Fame case. I skimmed through them as I never had much interest in Pete Rose and was eager to see what he would say about Joe Jackson. Finally, at the very end, he had one sentence that I still remember: “My feeling on people who support Jackson’s Hall of Fame campaign is that they’re similar to people who show up to trials wanting to marry the cute murderer.”

This statement deflated my enthusiasm, and it took me years to understand why Jackson was so scandalized. Yes, there were others more involved in the White Sox throwing the 1919 World Series, especially Chick Gandil, Eddie Cicotte, and Lefty Williams. But Jackson didn't seem that bad. Or was he?

Jackson’s case is less central to Asinof’s seminal work than the overall story: how did this happen and why? In that regard, Asinof tries his best to stick closely to the facts. He doesn't have a clear narrative of who is good and who is bad. However, that doesn't stop him from making editorial comments within the narrative.

What took me years to appreciate about this “scandal” was that its core is not about gambling or sports but about labor. What we do with our work, how we are paid for it, and how we are treated as employees. In that sense, there is some sympathy to be felt for the players. Charles Commiskey was a stingy owner. He could – and did – fire players without any financial compensation for them. He skimped on things that they desperately needed as athletes to compete. These players needed the money, and the temptation was understandable.

The scandal itself was also complex. There is no simple story about how these guys threw games or when. Some outright said no (Buck Weaver), others wavered to the point where it was impossible to tell (Jackson, Felsch), and others were fully involved.

I don't know what the easy answer is, except that the game should have been reformed to give players more control. The reserve clause that bound players to their teams wouldn't be abolished for almost sixty years after the World Series. It's hard to view these players as heroes; after all, they associated with gangsters to the detriment of their dignity and under threat to their families. But it's important to see them as more than what Bill James would dismiss as “cute murderers.” It's a complex and sad story, and Asinof should be commended for presenting it objectively.

I truly relished this book.

It presents a captivating story that is masterfully told.

I believe Asinof did an excellent job in accurately depicting all those who were implicated in the scandal.

Moreover, by laying out a distinct timeline, it becomes significantly easier to follow the sequence of events.

Nevertheless, there are numerous names of white dudes, which made it slightly challenging to keep track of while reading.

Also, the older style of writing and speaking required a bit more effort for me to engage with.

Overall, despite these minor drawbacks, the book offers a fascinating exploration of the scandal and is well worth reading.

It provides valuable insights into the events and the individuals involved, making it a worthwhile addition to any reader's collection.

I would highly recommend this book to those interested in true crime or historical events.

What comes to your mind when the phrase “Black Sox” is mentioned? Many people are familiar with the term and have at least some knowledge of the players or the sporting event it notoriously refers to. Arguably, it is one of the greatest scandals in the history of sports. When pushed further, the casual baseball observer will mention the supposed innocence of the great “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. Meanwhile, more informed sports enthusiasts will enlighten you about how the eight players were so desperate to carry out this immoral plan all because of their penny-pinching owner, Charles Comiskey. (Hey, even just knowing about the "Black Sox" from the iconic film "Field of Dreams" is good enough background knowledge in my opinion!). Both of these often-told tales and assumptions are addressed in writer Eliot Asinof’s book “Eight Men Out”. Surprisingly, everything you thought you knew about the Black Sox will be completely turned around!

Asinof painstakingly recreated the most comprehensive account yet of the 1919 World Series. He went far beyond the initial newspaper reports and common narratives, attempting to fill in much of the personal movements of each party involved. This was once thought impossible due to the code of silence maintained by both the gamblers and players. Finally, the world has the opportunity to reset their first impressions of the notorious and shameful act that was the throwing of the 1919 Series and reevaluate each variable and person involved. Asinof is successful in providing incredible details in all relevant aspects of the Black Sox Scandal. At the same time, he emotionally transports the reader back to a time in America right after the hardships of World War I and just before the cultural and financial excesses of the Roaring Twenties. After reading about why each player did what they did and how the seedy world of the big-time gamblers (and owners and executives, for that matter) operated in this particular event, the reader can't help but feel at least a little pity, if not empathy, for the eight men banned from professional baseball for life. From the legendary Shoeless Joe to the truly innocent Buck Weaver, the reader begins to realize that the affable Happy Felsch was sadly right when he said: “The joke seems to be on us.”

This biography truly reveals all and is a must-read for all baseball enthusiasts, especially those who are generally unaware of how the greatest fix in the history of sports occurred. Be prepared to change your long-held opinions on this matter until the very last page!

I think that the author's purpose in writing this book was to provide information to sports readers or anyone interested in learning about the 1919 Chicago Black Sox and the scandal where eight of the players attempted to fix the World Series for $100,000.

It is a biography of the team, and thus the author wrote it to inform everyone who has heard about the incident about what actually took place.

The theme of the story is that the pressures of baseball in 1919 were so intense that they led very talented men to betray the game.

We should not succumb to pressure as it can get us into a great deal of trouble, as these players were unable to play anymore after being caught.

I believe the author was also attempting to convey that anyone can be influenced by peer pressure.

These players were expected to win the World Series easily, but they cared more about the money as they felt they were not being paid enough.

This book was written in a combination of description and narration.

The story focuses on the 1919 baseball team and details what happened when they tried to throw the World Series.

It is told in chronological order, describing everything that occurred to the team during 1919.

I really enjoyed this book. One reason is that I am a huge sports fan.

I also liked it because the author clearly stated what the team tried to do and explained everything very well, allowing me to understand their actions.

However, there was one part that I didn't understand very well as there were many players and he didn't explain them in sufficient detail. But that was the only aspect I disliked about the book.

I am an avid baseball fan.

When I delved into this book, I was disgusted by the Black Sox scandal. However, upon finishing it, I almost felt a tinge of pity for the players.

On the field, they were like mighty lions, showcasing their skills and prowess. But in the complex and often murky jungle of big business, gamblers, and politicians, they were at a severe disadvantage and never really had a fighting chance.

This book also served as a poignant reminder that history has a tendency to be forgotten, and unfortunately, it seems almost destined to repeat itself. We must be vigilant and learn from the past to prevent similar tragedies and injustices from occurring again.

It makes one wonder if we as a society are truly capable of breaking free from the cycles of history and creating a more just and equitable future.

Perhaps through greater awareness and education, we can hope to avoid the mistakes of the past and ensure that the lessons learned from events like the Black Sox scandal are not in vain.

An interesting history lesson on the topic of greed and the divide between the rich and the poor is truly captivating. It makes one reflect on the complex nature of human behavior and the consequences that follow. When it comes to the case of the few ball players such as Joe Jackson, Cicotte, Weaver, and Williams, who were said to be truly sorry for their actions, there is a strong argument to be made for allowing them into the Hall of Fame and removing the ban. Their remorse should perhaps be taken into account, as it shows a certain level of self-awareness and a desire to make amends. While their actions in the past were wrong, it is important to consider the possibility of redemption and growth. By allowing them into the Hall of Fame, we are sending a message that even those who have made mistakes can be forgiven and recognized for their contributions in other aspects of the game.

This book is sort of the essential reference regarding the 1919 World Series. It becomes quite evident that apart from the trial and its aftermath, this event remains largely a mystery, with very few firsthand accounts available.

I do give the author due credit for managing to tell a comprehensive story of what took place, despite having limited information. However, at times, it is quite obvious that details were lacking in his research.

It appears that a significant portion of the book, especially the interactions between players and gamblers, is a dramatization of what ~probably~ occurred. Nevertheless, it earns a high 3 stars for being the go-to coverage of one of the most fascinating events in sports history. It provides valuable insights and attempts to piece together the puzzle of this infamous event, even though it may not have all the exact details.

Overall, it is a worthwhile read for those interested in the 1919 World Series and the mysteries surrounding it.