The Washington times., 1920-10-01
Doom, Ex-Manager of
Philies, Tells of Plot
Foiledby Team in 'O8

ATLANTIC CITY. Oct. The
amounts mentioned as bribes offered
certain OF the White sox players are
only small change compared with
what the Philadelphia players could
have received had they agreed TO
throw" enough games TO the Giants
In the last series between the clubs
Ia 1908 TO give New York the Ma
tisnal League pennant. according 20
Charley Dooln, one-time catcher and
National League club. Doom 10 In
the real estate business here and
was a member or a minstrel troup
on the Steel Pier during the last
summer.
"lt will be recalled" he said "that
the race was very close that year and
that the Chicago Cubs and the Giants
nnslly finished the season tied for
nrst place, They played or the tie at
the Polo Grounds and the Cubs won.
IL was the work OF the Phillies in
beating the Giants in several OF the
seven games tho teams played just
before the completion OF the schedule
that caused the tie.
"As a result OF the investigation
In Chicago the public now knows the
players who were crooked, but IL does
not know OF the many who have been
approached at different times, but
who didn't fall--fellows like Mike
Doolan. Otto. Knabe, Sherwood Magee.
Kitty Bransfeid and other members
or the Philadelphia club OF 1908 who
went pon tho-held to play against the
Giants, although they were crippled
and had legitimate reasons TO be ex-
cused from play. but who refused to
remain on the bench simply because
they had been approached by rep
resentatiye of New York gamblers
who made US liberal offers TO throw
the games to theT Giants or remain
out OF the lineup"
PLAYERS KEPT NATTER SECRET.
II have never said anything about
this before now because the other
players and myself believed ID would
be In the best Interests OF baseball not
to say anything. as none OF us sc-
cepted any of the bribes. We were of
the opinion that too many people were
willing TO believe baseball dishonest
and that airing such a matter would
simply give them an excuse to howl.
One OF the men who approached us re-
ceived a sound trouncing by Kitty
Bransfeld ...t..-
1T has never been generally known
that while the series was in progress
/ was kidnapped in New York and
locked in a room on Third avenue. and
that i finally made my escape and
continued In the series. Nor is IL
known that after one of the games at
the Polo Grounds I was hit over the
head with a blackjack and did not re-
gain consciousness until some of my
teammates had taken me to the hotel
where we were stopping. We. tolerated
all of these things simply because we
did not want to start a scandal by
reporting the matter to the baseball
authorities" g..
Questioned as to who aABroached
the Philadelphia players as the rep
resentative of New York gambling
syndicate, Doom declared that he pre-
feTred not to mention his name as he
understood that the man had since be :
come quite prosperous in business and
W asa the father of a family. ~.
but" added Doom, "the bribes
mentioned in connection with the
world series last year did not begin to
compare with the amounts that we
were offered. Although / have no di-
formed that just prior to the begin
ming of our series with the Giants
three of our pitchers were approached
In cafe in Philadelphia by this rep
resentative of the gamblers and that
$3.50. 900 in cash was laid on the table
in front of them. They were inform
ed that they could have Il if thew
would agree to throw the games in