The indictment of the 8

Today marks the 105th anniversary of the indictment of eight members of the Chicago White Sox for their roles in allegedly throwing the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.

Eventually, all eight – pitchers Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams; infielders Chick Gandil, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullin and Buck Weaver; and outfielders Happy Felsch and, of course, Shoeless Joe Jackson – are acquitted after an investigation and trial that seems to have as many questionable moments as the Series itself in 1919.

Nonetheless, Kenesaw Landis, baseball's newly appointed commissioner, czar and dictator-for-life forever bans the eight from the game.

While pundits always note the White Sox are heavily favored by the oddsmakers to win the Series in 1919, they tend to gloss over the fact the Reds roll through the National League with a 96-44 record – eight victories more than what the White Sox total that season in the American League.

Cincinnati also has two of the National League’s best hitters that season in future Hall of Famer Edd Roush and the exceptional Heinie Groh, as well as a pitching staff with a skinny 2.23 ERA and a major league-best 23 shutouts.

Bottom line: The Reds may not have needed any help to beat the White Sox in what then is a best-of-nine format in the Series.

“I think we’d have beaten them either way,” Groh later says.

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