The Cincinnati Reds of 1919... "the World Series Champions." There is a chance one may have never heard that statement before. The reason makes perfect sense. The history books (and today's internet) reminds everybody that the Chicago White Sox should have been World Series Champions of 1919. They just chose not to win. The team (obviously not every player on the roster, but a solid enough configuration of most of the best players on the team) decided that it was more lucrative and better suited for them if they just lost the World Series. For those in on the fix, it was better that they lost the World Series. No matter how many times and what way it is told to you, the White Sox lost the World Series. Few will ever tell you the Cincinnati Reds won.
It is a shame. In any competitive sport, no matter what happens during the action, it takes a team effort to seize the victory. And that just applies to an individual game. World Series are generally a best of seven series (1903, 1919, 1920, 1921 were a best of eight), so even if players on the other team are trying to throw a World Series, the team on the other side still has to finish each game. Remember, not all players on the 1919 White Sox were in on the fix. Second baseman Eddie Collins, Catcher Ray Schalk, and Pitcher Dickey Kerr were all trying their best to help the White Sox win. In fact, a fix may not have been possible had Red Faber been healthy enough to pitch. In addition, two alleged players to have not been playing "on a level," Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver, performed very well in the series.
The most respectful way to describe what the Reds had going for them is to state the Reds had a couple extra teammates for that World Series. Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Chick Gandil, Swede Risberg, and Happy Felsch may as well have worn Cincinnati uniforms for those games. Their allegiance was clearly for the NL club, the one that odds makers had said was a long shot to win the World Series. From a talent perspective, the White Sox had the advantage. But with the above mentioned White Sox players essentially playing for the Reds, the Reds were given a boast. One that might be equated to an acquisition of five really good players- just for the World Series.
My issue is this: The Reds still had to win those games. Most of the games came down to a play or two, but the Reds still had to finish the game. The Reds had to make their own plays in the field. The Reds had to get the White Sox batters out to complete the game, especially those not in on the fix. Yes, the White Sox were throwing the World Series, but the Reds had to take and accept the gift. In hindsight, it can be seen that they did. It should have not been a given.
Reds manager Pat Moran really did a stellar job managing the Reds to a NL Pennant on short notice. Moran, the manager of the 1915 Philadelphia Phillies NL Pennant winning team, took over for Christy Mathewson- who had enlisted in the US Army during World War I. Outfielders Edd Roush and Greasy Neale, and third baseman Heinie Groh led the Reds offense. Pitchers Slim Salee, Hod Eller, and Dutch Reuther won a total of 59 games for the Reds, a team that won the NL Pennant by nine games over the New York Giants. The Reds won 96 games and had a run differential of +176.
I have contested the validity of the miracle Boston Braves of 1914. In the history of sports, there may not have been a bigger upset in a championship setting, certainly in the history of the World Series. Would you consider the miracle Braves, "The Miracle Braves," if more evidence pointed to a fix? Of course you would not. But more credit would be given to them now. Certainly more credit than has been given to the Reds of 1919. 2019 will be the 100 year anniversary of the Reds winning the World Series. It will also be 100 years since the infamous Black Sox scandal, also known as the White Sox throwing the World Series. I hope Cincinnati takes time to honor that team again. Regardless of the back story, the Reds were still the World Series Champions. The 1919 World Series Championship was the first of the five the team has. Yet, the history books want to spend more time discussing how the White Sox lost as opposed to how the Reds won.
It is a shame. In any competitive sport, no matter what happens during the action, it takes a team effort to seize the victory. And that just applies to an individual game. World Series are generally a best of seven series (1903, 1919, 1920, 1921 were a best of eight), so even if players on the other team are trying to throw a World Series, the team on the other side still has to finish each game. Remember, not all players on the 1919 White Sox were in on the fix. Second baseman Eddie Collins, Catcher Ray Schalk, and Pitcher Dickey Kerr were all trying their best to help the White Sox win. In fact, a fix may not have been possible had Red Faber been healthy enough to pitch. In addition, two alleged players to have not been playing "on a level," Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver, performed very well in the series.
The most respectful way to describe what the Reds had going for them is to state the Reds had a couple extra teammates for that World Series. Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Chick Gandil, Swede Risberg, and Happy Felsch may as well have worn Cincinnati uniforms for those games. Their allegiance was clearly for the NL club, the one that odds makers had said was a long shot to win the World Series. From a talent perspective, the White Sox had the advantage. But with the above mentioned White Sox players essentially playing for the Reds, the Reds were given a boast. One that might be equated to an acquisition of five really good players- just for the World Series.
My issue is this: The Reds still had to win those games. Most of the games came down to a play or two, but the Reds still had to finish the game. The Reds had to make their own plays in the field. The Reds had to get the White Sox batters out to complete the game, especially those not in on the fix. Yes, the White Sox were throwing the World Series, but the Reds had to take and accept the gift. In hindsight, it can be seen that they did. It should have not been a given.
Reds manager Pat Moran really did a stellar job managing the Reds to a NL Pennant on short notice. Moran, the manager of the 1915 Philadelphia Phillies NL Pennant winning team, took over for Christy Mathewson- who had enlisted in the US Army during World War I. Outfielders Edd Roush and Greasy Neale, and third baseman Heinie Groh led the Reds offense. Pitchers Slim Salee, Hod Eller, and Dutch Reuther won a total of 59 games for the Reds, a team that won the NL Pennant by nine games over the New York Giants. The Reds won 96 games and had a run differential of +176.
I have contested the validity of the miracle Boston Braves of 1914. In the history of sports, there may not have been a bigger upset in a championship setting, certainly in the history of the World Series. Would you consider the miracle Braves, "The Miracle Braves," if more evidence pointed to a fix? Of course you would not. But more credit would be given to them now. Certainly more credit than has been given to the Reds of 1919. 2019 will be the 100 year anniversary of the Reds winning the World Series. It will also be 100 years since the infamous Black Sox scandal, also known as the White Sox throwing the World Series. I hope Cincinnati takes time to honor that team again. Regardless of the back story, the Reds were still the World Series Champions. The 1919 World Series Championship was the first of the five the team has. Yet, the history books want to spend more time discussing how the White Sox lost as opposed to how the Reds won.
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