Black Sox Collecting

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

One of the great and tragic stories of our past let alone (our) national pastime.

About says it all.

[wonkaticket]

David amazing photos!

[jb217676]

The scandal caught my interest when I first watched Eight Men Out, always felt bad for Buck Weaver and Shoeless Joe. As far as other items to collect besides cards, I think there are some great postcards featuring the White Sox of that era.

[Ladder7]

The scandal attracts many collectors to prewar. People like rebels.

[mcadams]

The acts themsevles are an important part of the sports history, but I find the response to the situation to be most important. The public outcry and severe punishments handed out..it all served to cement the high regard to which we hold the game. We demand more honesty and integrity out of baseball players than we do many other professions and I think its because we care more about our sport. I like it that way. I think the '19 Black Sox scandal creates an attractive event to collect because, despite the actions of the players, the response represents the high regard that FANS held the game back then and still do. If the scandal would have taken place with other sports of the day, would we have cared?

[Leon]

Scandals make news and this one was with our American Pastime. Swift action was taken and some great players banned permanently. It's a story for the ages...

[Jacklitsch]

[53Browns]

I always found it interesting what was said in the Ken Burn's Baseball documentary. They said, the Black Sox Scandal almost ruined baseball, then Kennesaw Mountain Landis came and brought integrity to the game and then Babe Ruth came and saved baseball by making everyone draw their attention to the great aspects of the game. I had never thought of it like that before.

Personally, to me it is like a Greek tragedy, especially when it comes to Shoeless Joe, who is now a haunted and almost mythical figure.