I really enjoyed this book!

It was an extremely easy read, and the writing was of superb quality. Everything just flowed so smoothly, making it a pleasure to turn the pages.

This book is a must-read for every baseball fan. It offers a unique perspective on the sport and provides valuable insights that will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of baseball.

Whether you are a die-hard fan or just someone who enjoys a good sports story, this book has something for everyone. So, pick up a copy and get ready to be entertained and informed!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves baseball or is interested in learning more about the sport.

In 1919, the Chicago White Sox was indisputably the premier baseball team in the American League. Their talent on the field was abundant, yet the meager salaries of the players failed to mirror their remarkable abilities. At the conclusion of the season, several players, driven by the firm conviction that they were being unjustly exploited by team owner Charles Comiskey, decided to take matters into their own hands. First baseman Chick Gandil emerged as the mastermind, recruiting seven other players to join him in a devious plan. The plan was to deliberately throw the World Series in exchange for a hefty sum of $80,000 from gamblers.

However, one of the eight, third baseman Buck Weaver, had a change of heart in the end and refused to take any money from the gamblers. In fact, he had an outstanding performance in the Series, batting .324 with 4 doubles and a triple. But the rest of the group adhered to the plan, and as a result, they lost the best-of-nine series 5 games to 3 to Cincinnati. Some players reaped greater benefits than others. Gandil pocketed a whopping $35,000 and promptly retired from baseball, while star pitcher Ed Cicotte took $10,000. Star outfielder Joe Jackson received $5000, although his statistics did not suggest that he deliberately played to lose.

The scandal remained hidden until the end of the 1920 baseball season. Just in time for the White Sox to narrowly lose a close race with Cleveland for the American League pennant, the eight players were suspended. In 1921, they stood trial for conspiracy. Although they were acquitted, baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis took matters into his own hands and banned them from professional baseball for life.

This book vividly tells the story of this scandal in an engaging manner. It is truly fascinating to look back at this story in the context of more recent events. For instance, in June 2024, Tucupita Marcano was banned from baseball for life for betting on the sport, highlighting the recent surge in betting activities in baseball.

This is not just a great baseball book; it is far more than that. In fact, it is a remarkable history of a particular era in America where naivete and corruption coexisted. Eliot Asinof was deeply fascinated by the Black Sox scandal. In this infamous incident, 7 or 8 players from the Chicago White Sox agreed to deliberately lose the 1919 World Series. The gamblers placed huge bets on Cincinnati and reaped big rewards. However, the conspiring players received very little in return. Everyone was aware that something was amiss, but the Chicago owner, Charles Comisky, hoped that the whole affair would be hushed up. Betting on baseball was a lucrative business, and gamblers openly courted the players. Eventually, a Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, was appointed, and he took steps to clean up the corruption. Asinof managed to get a few of the participants to talk and provided mini-biographies of the eight players, especially Buck Weaver, who did not participate in spoiling the series. The extensive research involved and Asinof's engaging style make this book a minor classic. However, be warned that Asinof uses the exclamation point rather liberally!

This book offers a fascinating glimpse into a dark period in baseball history, and it is a must-read for any baseball fan or anyone interested in American history.

I'm excitedly counting down the days as I'm just 51 days away from opening day.

I was aware of this scandal, yet I didn't have the full and complete story. There are still many details that remain unknown to me.

Recently, I came across a book and I found the way it was written truly made it a pleasure to read. It was so vivid that I could actually feel the era it was描绘ing.

I simply can't wait any longer as it's almost Baseball season. The anticipation is building up inside me. Play Ball! I'm looking forward to all the excitement and action that comes with this wonderful sport.

I read this book for three specific reasons.

First and foremost, I have an intense love for baseball and its rich history. Baseball is not just a sport to me; it's a fascinating world filled with stories of great players, memorable moments, and the evolution of the game over the years.

Secondly, this book has been featured on numerous Best Baseball Books lists and Best Sports Books lists. Such accolades piqued my curiosity and made me eager to explore its contents.

Finally, I've been watching the TV series "Boardwalk Empire" in which Arnold Rothstein is a character. Since this book delved into the life and times of Rothstein and his connection to baseball, it seemed like a natural fit for my interests.

However, to my disappointment, I didn't like the book. Perhaps the writing style was considered more edgy and innovative in the 1960s when it was written, but I found it to be too much of a dry recitation of facts. There was a lack of a cohesive narrative that would have drawn the various elements of the story together. Given that this is a truly compelling story, it was a missed opportunity not to present it in a more engaging and unified way.

Nevertheless, I did manage to learn some interesting aspects of baseball history. But this knowledge mostly came from the things I Googled as I was reading, rather than from the book itself.

A inside, thorough look at the most serious scandal in baseball is presented here. In 1919, the Chicago White Sox accepted bribes from professional gamblers to throw the World Series. This not only reveals the unethical behavior of the players but also shows the odious nature of the reserve clause.

The reserve clause bound a player to one team for life. They had no freedom to play elsewhere unless the owner permitted it. It treated players like indentured servants, with greedy owners paying them far less than their actual worth. In an atmosphere of disrespect and extremely low wages, it's understandable how the offer of thousands of dollars could sway their decisions.

The fallout from the scandal was significant. Although the players were acquitted of criminal charges due to the mysterious disappearance of the evidence, commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis was not lenient. He banned the players from baseball for life.

This article provides an absorbing and fascinating look at the early years of baseball, highlighting the influence of gamblers who used their cash to bribe players. It is highly recommended for those interested in the history and dark side of this beloved sport.

One of my all-time favorite movie and book combinations is "Shoeless Joe", which served as the inspiration for the classic baseball film "Field of Dreams". When Ray Kinsella hears the mysterious voice say, “if you build it, he will come,” he becomes firmly convinced that constructing a baseball diamond on his farm will allow Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other members of the 1919 White Sox to play organized ball once again. I have watched the film countless times, but until now, I had never read "Eight Men Out" by Eliot Asinof, which details the actual events of 1919 that led to Jackson and his teammates' banishment from Major League Baseball.

As we approach the hundredth anniversary of this event that shaped modern baseball, I felt that this was the perfect time to read Asinof's now-classic story of baseball history. In 1919, Major League Baseball was still in its relatively early days. The National League was organized in 1876, followed by the American League in 1901. No city had enjoyed as much success as Chicago, with both the Cubs and the White Sox regularly at or near the top of the league standings.

With pride in the national game soaring after the defeat of the Axis powers in World War I the previous year, Americans' love for baseball was at an all-time high in 1919. White Sox owner Charles Comiskey boasted the best team in the American League and seemed poised to win another pennant. However, his iron-fisted rule, keeping player salaries lower than those of any other team, led to a team of disgruntled stars.

The two key cliques on the team, one led by Eddie Collins and the other by Arthur "Chick" Gandil, barely spoke to each other off the field. Gandil and veteran pitcher Eddie Cicotte, who believed they had been underpaid for years, were approached by gamblers with an offer to throw the World Series for $100,000. Despite knowing it was illegal, they saw other players who gambled still had jobs in the big leagues. So, as soon as they could find other willing teammates, they were on board with the fix.

Asinof's detailed account of the World Series and its aftermath reads like a legal thriller. During the series, something seemed off to sportswriters and the White Sox manager. The Sox were the superior team, yet the Reds won the first two games effortlessly. The manager took his concerns to Comiskey, but due to his feud with League President Ban Johnson, nothing was done to stop the fix.

After eight games, the Reds emerged victorious, and the players received only $20,000 of the promised $100,000. The scandal left baseball reeling, and league owners appointed Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis as the first full-time commissioner. It was Landis who banned the eight "Black Sox" for life, leading to the famous line, “say it ain’t so, Joe.”

Readers are introduced to notorious gamblers like Arnold Rothstein and leading sportswriters of the day. While players received paltry salaries and got involved with gamblers, sportswriters were in the pockets of the league owners. As the Black Sox trial played out, alliances formed between gamblers and owners, all trying to exonerate themselves.

The White Sox fell to the second division, and the Yankees, led by Babe Ruth, became baseball's dominant team in the 1920s, cleaning up the game's image. Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other Black Sox lived out their days as business owners and in semi-organized ball. Some asked to be reinstated, but each request was denied.

The Black Sox scandal removed gambling from organized baseball and led to the rise of Babe Ruth as an American hero. Eliot Asinof's 1963 baseball courtroom drama has preserved this story of greed and ego rivalries for generations of baseball fans. Reading it in 2019, I can only hope that America's game will last for at least another hundred years.

4 stars

Wow.

I had only a limited knowledge about the Black Sox. My acquaintance was mainly from watching "Field of Dreams" and hearing the repeated phrase "Say it ain't so, Joe." However, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the key individuals associated with the 1919 World Series.

Certainly, it's not a heartwarming book by any stretch of the imagination. After all, it's all about corruption. But despite that, it is truly fascinating.

I find myself wondering why Asinof doesn't list his sources. It would be interesting to know where he obtained all the information and details that he presents in this book.

Perhaps he has his reasons for not disclosing the sources, but it would have added an extra layer of credibility and transparency to his work.

Nevertheless, the book still manages to hold the reader's attention and provides a captivating account of a significant event in baseball history.

This was an extremely interesting book. As a reader, I have a tendency to gravitate towards the sports genre. While perusing the library in search of my independent reading book, I chanced upon this one and was instantly captivated upon reading the back cover. Prior to delving into the book, I had a certain familiarity with the circumstances of the 1919 World Series. However, this book does an excellent job of elucidating what transpired both before and after the players were apprehended and brought to trial.

The book is rife with numerous surprises, encompassing the motives behind why some of baseball's greatest players would engage in such an act. In the narrative, one gets to learn about the gamblers and the methods they employed to persuade the athletes to fix the series.

The book is written in an engaging style. It commences with a 20 - 30 page introduction that sets the stage by explaining the situation. Subsequently, it proceeds to unfold the story chapter by chapter, detailing how a case was being constructed against the 1919 Chicago Black Sox. Towards the conclusion, it enters an epilogue where the players are being prosecuted and their individual stories are expounded upon.

After reading, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the sports world and has an affinity for non-fiction. Nevertheless, it should be noted that some sections can become rather dull and might cause those with a short attention span to lose interest. Overall, this book was a worthwhile read and I would rate it 4/5 stars.

I have always been deeply intrigued by the captivating and legendary story of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the astonishing events surrounding the 1919 World Series, which was infamously thrown by 8 players.

The author's meticulous work in piecing together the intricate details is truly remarkable and worthy of our utmost attention.

Not only does the book vividly reveal the stinginess of owner Charles Comiskey, who paid his players significantly less than those of other teams and blatantly broke promises made to them, but it also masterfully paints a detailed picture of the complex and multi-layered web of gambling corruption.

Although what the players did was undeniably wrong, there was something about them that made me couldn't help but like them. Asinof does an outstanding job of presenting both the personal side and the player side of these individuals, allowing us to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their characters.

Admittedly, it can be a bit challenging to keep track of who is who among all those involved in the gambling aspect, but as the story progresses, everything comes together beautifully at the end.

The book is excellently laid out in sections, which makes it easy to follow and understand. Moreover, it even concludes with an aftermath that delves into the later years of the main characters and describes how they lived out their lives, providing a sense of closure and a deeper perspective on the long-term consequences of their actions.

Overall, this book is a fascinating and engaging read that offers a unique and in-depth look into a dark chapter of baseball history.

The Chicago White Sox, a major league baseball team, had a dark chapter in their history. In 1919, eight of their members colluded with gamblers to lose the World Series, which they were favored to win. As a result, they were banned from organized baseball for life. This scandal was not just about the actions of those players but also about a corrupt system. Eliot Asinof's book, "Eight Men Out," explores this complex story.

Asinof, a former minor-league player, debunks many myths surrounding the scandal. For example, the nickname "Black Sox" was not created after the scandal was made public but before the 1919 World Series even began. The team's owner, Charles Comiskey, was more interested in saving money than in winning, which led to the players wearing dirty uniforms and earning the nickname.
The 1919 White Sox were a talented team, but their actions in the World Series were unforgivable. The eight players who threw the series included "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, who was a great player but whose participation in the scheme was relatively half-hearted. Buck Weaver, another player, insisted on his innocence and pointed to his excellent play in the series as evidence.
The "Black Sox" scandal had a significant impact on baseball and American culture. It led to the appointment of a new Commissioner of Baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who banned the eight players for life. The scandal also inspired many works of literature and film, including W.P. Kinsella's novel "Shoeless Joe" and its film adaptation, "Field of Dreams."
In conclusion, the "Black Sox" scandal is a tragic and fascinating story that continues to capture our imagination. Eliot Asinof's book, "Eight Men Out," is an excellent account of this dark chapter in baseball history. It reminds us that sports can be both beautiful and corrupt, and that we must always strive for fairness and integrity in all aspects of life.

The article provides an excellent account of the famed "Black Sox". It delves into the details of this notorious incident that had a profound impact on the world of sports. It's truly a pity that a few bad apples within the team spoiled the game for some truly excellent athletes forever. The actions of those individuals not only tarnished the reputation of the team but also left a lasting stain on the sport itself.

We can only imagine the disappointment and heartbreak felt by the honest players who were associated with the "Black Sox" during that fateful time. Their hard work and dedication were overshadowed by the actions of a few.

Nevertheless, this account serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and sportsmanship in all aspects of life. It also highlights the need for strict regulations and enforcement to prevent such incidents from occurring again in the future.