There ’s a tidy sum to love aboutbaseball . It ’s a sport that provides a staring sensory experience – whether it ’s the smell of a new leather glove , the sound of the crack of a bat or the indelible range of a well - reach egg clearing the leftover - field wall to win the game . But in the racy history of the game , there ’s also mint of intriguing mischievousness . Picking just five episodes from the sordid list of controversial baseball headline over the years is a challenge cognate to hitting a fastball in Game 7 of the World Series .
First up , is the truthful story of some sullied Sox and the mephitis that imperil the biz itself .
5: The Black Sox
The 1919 Chicago White Sox were a gifted team that was the odds - on favorite to advance the World Series . But the betting odds did n’t take into account what was going on behind the scenes . Many of the players weregrossly underpaidand did n’t bank owner Charles Comiskey , who repeatedly give out to deliver on bonuses and promises of increased compensation [ generator : Chicago Historical Society ] .
When a gambler agreed to pay a aggregate of $ 100,000 to Sox player willing to pass the serial publication to the rival Cincinnati Reds , the deal – some players feel – was too just to flex down . In a back - and - forth series that tested the mixed feelings of Sox musician , the Reds ultimately won the championship . Eight members of the Sox were eventually acquitted by a wonderful panel of discombobulate the series when vital pieces of grounds disappeared .
In 1920 , in an movement to savebaseballfrom the public intercourse nightmare , a Union justice was named the sportsman ’s first commissioner . Kenesaw Mountain Landis did n’t handle about the lofty jury ’s verdict . He ban the eight accused " Black Sox " from Major League Baseball for life-time [ source : Chicago Historical Society ] .
4: On the Juice?
When Sports Illustrated named its Sportsman of the Year in 1998 , two hands who had captured the nation ’s attention get the honor – Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa . Both hulking superpower hitters had excel Roger Maris ' single - season home ladder platter that had place upright for 37 years ; McGwire with the St. Louis Cardinals and Sosa for the Chicago Cubs . Only three year by and by , the more and more bulky San Francisco Giants slugger , Barry Bonds , surpassed both men ’s acquisition when he dispatch 73 balls out of the park in an awe - inspiring time of year [ source : ESPN ] .
The in high spirits - octane offense that Major League clubs were give birth , beginning in the late 1990s , made for swell sports theater . But as allegation and divine revelation of performance - enhancing drug role begin to surface , the world begin to bring in it was just that – theater , fabrication , rip off . The record books had been rewritten , but also tainted . The league began a crackdown on drug usance and sportswriters and fans are doubtful that names like McGwire , Sosa and Bonds will ever be included in the game ’s Hall of Fame [ source : ESPN ] .
3: Pete Goes to Prison
Eleven cents – that was what Pete Rose was earning each day in the summer of 1990 as he began aprisonterm in Illinois . It was the culmination of a riches - to - rags story that still evoke argumentation [ informant : USA Today ] .
2: The Trade
trade are routine inbaseball , but a trade that occur pass up to the 1973 Major League time of year was unusual for a couple of reason : The trade only involve one team , and the focus was two players ' wives .
New York Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich were intrigued by the idea of swapping wives . The break away joke between friends release into world when Peterson ’s wife and kid incite in with Kekich and frailty versa . It was intend to be a prospicient - term deal – and for Peterson and Susanne Kekich , it was . They ’re still married . The tantrum for Mike Kekich and Marilyn Peterson was more predictable . Their less - than - storybook tale quick ended cursorily with a split [ source : Westmoreland ] .
1: Marge Schott
On paper it appear like Marge Schott ’s taradiddle would be good for the sportswoman . The flush widow who gave generously to charities throughout the Cincinnati expanse would become only the 2d woman inbaseballto control a Major League team – the Cincinnati Reds . But what came out of Schott ’s mouth during her riotous reign from 1984 - 99 was the problem . The brash , smokingleader repeatedly used racial spot and ultimately drew the ira of baseball for making complimentary comment about , of all masses , Hitler . She was n’t permit to work the team on a day - to - solar day basis and eventually sold a legal age interest in the Reds for $ 67 million . When she died in 2004 , Fay Vincent – the former commissioner of Major League Baseball – described her as " a tragic figure " [ source : Goldstein ] .
