Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series [B2217]

1987 PB later printing of the 1963 original, in Gift-Worthy condition. A classic of baseball history - also adapted as a 1988 movie directed by John Sayles: "The most thorough investigation of the 1919 Black Sox scandal on record" (Chicago Tribune). It was "the most gigantic sporting swindle in the history of America"-the 1919 fix of the World Series and attempted cover-up. Eliot Asinof has reconstructed the entire scene-by-scene story of the fantastic scandal in which eight Chicago White Sox players arranged with the nation's leading gamblers to throw the Series in Cincinnati. Mr. Asinof vividly describes the tense meetings, the hitches in the conniving, the actual plays in which the Series was thrown, the Grand Jury indictment, and the famous 1921 trial. Moving behind the scenes, he perceptively examines the motives and backgrounds of the players and the conditions that made the improbable fix all too possible.

Here, too, is a graphic picture of the American underworld that managed the fix, the deeply shocked newspapermen who uncovered the story, and the war-exhausted nation that turned with relief and pride to the Series, only to be rocked by the scandal. Far more than a superbly told baseball story, this is a compelling slice of American history in the aftermath of World War I and at the cusp of the Roaring Twenties. "Dramatic detail . . . an admirable journalistic feat." -The New York Times. "As thrilling as a cops and robbers tome." -The Boston Globe

From recent-ish Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I knew nothing about the 1919 World Series or the corruption surrounding it and I really enjoyed this book. Fascinating history that shaped baseball as we know it today."; "Gripping story, well written.";

"Asinof creates a compelling tale that follows the players, gamblers, baseball executives, and newspapermen caught up in the scandal that shook baseball's foundations without lessening the tension. He makes the players feel real, with their grievances, weaknesses, and choices that carry devastating consequences. He also exposes a baseball establishment eager to protect its reputation while keeping its own conduct out of the spotlight. The result is a gripping, deeply sad account of money, power, loyalty, and squandered talent. It's a remarkable piece of baseball history that reads like a tragedy unfolding in real time.";

"This is a great book and such an amazing part of baseball history. I especially enjoyed how these men seemed to understand the error of their ways and lived with the consequences; they manned up and confessed the truth. That's something you don't see in today's world. Today's world is lie, blame others, and no remorse for your decisions."