Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-04
ASSISTS FOR THE FANS
lBY FRED LANE.)

The blacklist chapter in the his
tory Of American sports was writ
ten with the disclosures made by
the grand jury at Chicago when
eight professional baseball players,
members of the Chicago American
league team, were indicted for
throwing" games in last years
worlds series for the consideration
of 100000 from professional
gamblers.
The great rational game of base
bail, considered the shrine of clean
sports and around which millions
of true sport loving Americans lit
orally worshiped, was saCrileged by
the almost unbelievable acts Of a
few dishonest ball players whose
greed for money prompted them to
commit the despicable act of
framing" the games of baseballs
annual classic.
The secrets of that grand jury
room. which were made public for
the purpose of bringing to light
for the good of baseball, the ne
farious scanda! which was perpe-
trated n year ago, literally stag
gered the millions of followers of
the game. 1t was unbelieva BILE, but
it was true. 1t was inconceivable,
yet it was a fact. sworn testimony
had corroborated evidence. Then,
confessions established guilt.
CiCotte Confesses,
\ Eddie Cicotte. one of the star
pitchers Of the game, confessed
| that he engineered the crooked
deal and purposely lost two games.
Joe Jackson star outfielder and
one of the games greatest batters,
confessed that he did not try to
hit safely when he had a chance
to help his team win, Lefty
williams, another star pitcher next
| furnished the jury with details Of
the disgraceful affair and he was
| followed on the stand by Happy
Felsch, star outfielder and heavy
hitter. The testimony of these -four
men confirmed suspicious which
had been under investigation for
months.
It is no wonder the public was
shocked. The exposure may hurt
the game to some extent but the
injury will be nothing compared to
wat it would have been had the
guilty not been run down. a con
j t'nuation Of fixing games would
fave killed baseball Only com
Illrte purging can save 1t.
Comiskey's Action Commendable.
The action of Charles Comiskey
owner of the team, who has been
working for many months collect
| ing evidence which eventually re-
suited in the startling disclosures
lin suspending the seven stars-one
| of the eight, "Chick" Gandill, las
years first baseman, is not with the
team this year-was most com
mcndable He thus wrecked his
pcnnant contending combination a.
a time when 1t still had a chance
10 win the American league race
| and get into another worlds series
: He did it for the good of baseball
land served notice on the suspended
players that if the charges were
proven he would see to 1t that they
were hanished from baseball FOL
all time.
Comiskey is right The game
cannot harbor crooks and retair
public confidence. If the men in
| dicted are convicted they should
be given a severe penalty and for
ever banished from the game.
! The followers of baseball, ant
that includes a large majority o
the population, always have be
lieved that baseball was on thu
square. They were sure it wa
played honestly When any doubt
ing Thomas raised the question
that games could be fixed thu
theory was secuted It was argue,
that with so many men in gam'
it could not be FRAMED up be
cause to do so would require tina
many of the teams members d.
sin on IT. anc that the crooke'
deal would soon leaF out. Tha
theory was indicated by the in
dictment of the Chicago players
In order to make the frame up
certain enough to induce ,profes
sional gamblers to put up the brlp
lii was considered necessary to &c
eight PLAYERS in on the deal. Tha
was too many to keep the nefariou
secret and suspicious things begal
to creep out. Eventually the IN
blew off. Jaks
Suspicious Last Year.
1t has developed that Manage
iGleasor, ~ stkaal si1iaaaeefesn, an;
the owner. Mr.. ComiSkey, confer