But the most infamous scandal in modern sports occurred in 1919, when members of the Chicago White Sox apparently threw the World Series to win gambling money. The sport known as the American pastime would forever be tainted by the Black Sox Scandal, which ushered in a new era of how fans look at sports and gambling. The Continental Congress proposes banning frivolous activities, including horse racing and gambling, during the political crisis with England. 1808 Captain Robert Barclay Allardice accepts a 1,000-guinea wager to walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours. He wins the bet and the pedestrian event captures the imagination of the public.
Bookmakers first appear at U.S. race tracks, ending informal wagering between owners and spectators.
The first are English, but Americans quickly pick up on the trade. Despite being heavily favored to beat the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago White Sox lose the World Series, five games to three. Rumors persist in the offseason that the Series was fixed. 1921 Seven of the White Sox players are acquitted, with the exception of Fred McMullin, who had appeared only twice in the 1919 Series. But Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, baseball's first commissioner, bans all eight from organized baseball for life.