Black Sox Collecting

[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.

[bobbvc]

Some time between 1911-1919. Mineral Wells, Tex. Anyone recognize the player?

[Bicem]

pretty neat, I camp in Mineral Wells.

[novakjr]

Aside from everything else, these men have also been brought even further to the forefront because of the movie. Background and everything else considered, a movie can add even more to the charm of a collectible or card. Take James Braddock as an example, yes, his story was nice, and yes, he was once the heavyweight champ, but the "Cinderella Man" took him from falling into obscurity(with the exception of the boxing die-hards), to once again a household name... Braddock's stuff took a pretty nice spike in price after the movie came out. I imagine "Eight Men Out" had a similar effect on the Black Sox collectibles. Obviously, not quite to the extent of Braddock, but similar nonetheless.

[drdduet]

Originally Posted by bobbvc

Some time between 1911-1919. Mineral Wells, Tex. Anyone recognize the player?

Dick Egan with some white sox guy on his back?