Cubs may have thrown '18 World Series

[Beninator]

1918 that is...

As suggested in a 1920 court deposition by Ed Cicotte, former Black Sox player from the 1919 Sox team that threw the World Series.

"Well anyway there was some talk about them offering $10,000 or something to throw the Cubs in the Boston Series," he said. "Somebody made a crack about getting money, if we got into the Series, to throw the Series."



Interesting read... Cicotte's statements are more assumptive than anything, but it is backed with some suspicious events in the 1918 Series.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/04/20/cubs.throw.world.series.ap/index.html?eref=sihp

[Deadguy35]

There would have to be some precedent to the Black Sox Scandal otherwise why were people looking for signs of players throwing the Series? I don't believe for one second that the White Sox were the first to do this.

Another World Series to look at besides the 1918 World Series would be the 1914 World Series. The Philadelphia Athletics went 99-53 that season and ended up getting swept by the Boston Braves, despite having 5 future HOFers. With the Federal League starting up and threatening to steal away some of MLB's best players, Connie Mack still refused to give the players raises:

http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/al/philadelphia/phillya_s.html

1914: The premier team of the early teens was clearly the Philadelphia Athletics, and with a 99-53 record, they captured their fourth Pennant in five years to face the Boston Braves in the World Series. Going into the Series the Athletics were heavily favored. However all was not well with Athletics as the upstart Federal League threatened to steal away most of their top players. At the same time Connie Mack stood firm and refused to give his players raises. The A's were clearly distracted as the Braves captured Game 1 by a score of 7-1. The Braves would also capture Game 2 to head to Boston with a 2-0 series lead. The Athletics would never recover, as the Braves would win the next two games to complete the sweep leading many to believe, (including Connie Mack himself) the team had quit on their manager, or worse delibertley threw the World Series.

Connie Mack was so upset that he dismantled the team and in 1915 the Athletics went 43-109.

[Beninator]

There would have to be some precedent to the Black Sox Scandal otherwise why were people looking for signs of players throwing the Series? I don't believe for one second that the White Sox were the first to do this.

Another World Series to look at besides the 1918 World Series would be the 1914 World Series. The Philadelphia Athletics went 99-53 that season and ended up getting swept by the Boston Braves, despite having 5 future HOFers. With the Federal League starting up and threatening to steal away some of MLB's best players, Connie Mack still refused to give the players raises:

http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/al/philadelphia/phillya_s.html

Connie Mack was so upset that he dismantled the team and in 1915 the Athletics went 43-109.

Very much agree. Things were wide open back then with players such as Hal Chase, Ty Cobb, and Tris Speaker, to name a few who were suspected of fixing games.

[AZ BU Fan]

If this W.S. allegation is true, would it be a stretch to think the Cubs have been throwing all the regular seasons and playoffs as well since 1918?

It is, after all, Chicago......

[Beninator]

If this W.S. allegation is true, would it be a stretch to think the Cubs have been throwing all the regular seasons and playoffs as well since 1918?

It is, after all, Chicago......

AZ, I had this as my avatar a while ago, but I think that you are on to something here.....