Did the Cubs throw the 1918 WS?

by sheamcmurray on Apr 21, 2008 10:53 AM CDT

Okay so I stole this title from a sports blog that I read, which also has the story-

http://www.mlb-rumors.blogspot.com/

I don't have time to do any research on this to see if there is anything too it (I am sitting in between classes and grabbing something to eat) but I wonder if anyone has heard of this before. As I'm not a superstitious person, I'm not purposing that this is a "curse" or is the reason for our 99 years of failure, but rather as a conversation piece to carry us to our game this evening.

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There were definitely rumors at the time

And it’s not outside the realm of possibility that it occurred, on some level.

At the same time, the Red Sox were quite a good team—certainly better than the 1919 Reds.

I suspect we may never know for sure.

by gjdow on Apr 21, 2008 11:25 AM CDT reply actions

More information about this

was in USAtoday a few years ago….

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-06-09-sox-cubs-1918_x.htm#rigged

by Neifi Puppy on Apr 21, 2008 11:50 AM CDT reply actions

Put it this way....

Based on how corrput the game had become, I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that “outside forces”, you might call it, had an effect on any World Series prior to 1919. If gamblers got the Black Sox to do it, who’s to say they did not have prior experience getting another team to do it? That’s not a knock of the 1918 Cubs, but I think in that era the game was a pretty corrput operation. Even after 1920, there were still rumors, and I think Ty Cobb got himself briefly banned from the game (later re-instated for lack of evidence) by Kennesaw Mountain Landis at the end of his career for having something to do with gambling on the game.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Apr 21, 2008 12:07 PM CDT reply actions

I agree with all of these.

The game was getting more and more dirty and dishonest. Without any evidence, it’s hard to tell, but it is entirely possible that the 1918 WS was thrown.

Darnitall, we’d only be marking 90 years instead of 100! ;)

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 21, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Cobb and Tris Speaker were alleged to have worked together in fixing a game between the Indians and Tigers.

While there was a letter that provided vague reference to an agreement, no other evidence than hearsay from another player who “overheard” a verbal agreement was ever presented. Cobb and Speaker would finish their careers together with the Philadelphia A’s in 1928.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 21, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Never heard of this accusation before.

I guess my concern with it, though, would be the Red Sox would have been heavily favored over the Cubs entering the Series. Why would someone take the risks and trouble associated with throwing a World Series if they were the underdog?

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 21, 2008 12:26 PM CDT reply actions