It is Baseball's fault (Oh ye of unshodden fame)

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

Take a Southern Gentleman who never ventured far from home and thrust him into a city like Philadelphia, and he is likely to bolt, turn his back on MLB, and return to more comfortable territory. However, if you ease him into the game via Cleveland for a while, before presenting him with Chicago; he may be more able to adapt to his situation. Given time, complimented by his wit and charm, he will (sorta) blend in with the "in" crowd.

Give him an accurate view of his employers history, including: all of the drinking and gambling in the NA did not work for baseball, so the NL was formed.

Well yes, the Louisville Greys were in the National League, but they all got thrown out for fixing games. And yes, the Baltimore Orioles style of dishonest play was only challenged by the dishonesty of the Cleveland Spiders in the 1890s.

And actually management wasn't much better. It is true that after the turn of the century McGraw enlisted the assistance of two NL owners to buy controlling interest in the Orioles (did I mention that syndicate baseball was considered ok?) so that McGraw could release virtually his entire starting lineup to the Reds and Giants; and then take over the reins of the Giants. Similarly, when Connie Mack was faced with the courts disallowing his theft of Lajoie, he simply "transferred" Lajoie out of the courts jurisdiction.

Yes Joe, this is reasonable behavior. As is the following:
- the NY AL club is purchased by a Tamminy Hall politico, a gambler and a reputedly crooked cop.
- St. Louis' Jake Beckley is hired as an umpire in his own league while he can't play due to an injury.
- Lajoie beats Cobb for the batting title with 7 bunt singles to third.
- Cards + Giants are charged with conspiring to throw the pennant. Result: accuser is banned from baseball.
- Cobb and Speaker would never conspire to throw baseball games, some say.
- Hal Chase makes a mockery of the "competitive" status of this sport. Wrestling is more competitive when he plays. And the same is true for many others.

By 1919 gamblers openly boast that they control ballgames as easily as horse races, and have choice players on their weekly payrolls.

Then Gandil approaches Joe and tells him that everyone else from the "in" crowd is in on the fix.

Well Gentlemen and Ladies, baseball set this stage. And the eight were the fall guys. An example had to be made, and the time was up. Eight sacrificial lambs (maybe not all eight were lambs) because the NL had become the National Association, or near enough.

It is baseball's fault.
I think.