A "New York Times" front page covering the Black Sox scandal. (Photo courtesy of britannica.com)
Throwing the World Series.
The mere mention of the idea was not possible to the growing population of Major League baseball fans.
In 1919, the Chicago White Sox, now known as the, “Black Sox,” were acquitted of doing just that despite overwhelming evidence and admissions made by the players involved.
What makes this scandal so historical still today, is how it caught the nation by storm through the printed newspaper.
Imagine how the trial may have unfolded in today’s media:
- A reporter sends out a tweet saying, “For live updates of trial, join our live chat. #BlackSoxtrial,” with a link to a live chat that most newspapers like to use in an online setting.
- As the verdict is read, Facebook would erupt like the Casey Anthony trial. People would rush to their phones, laptops, and desktop computers to update their status with their opinion on the outcome.
- The now 24-hour sports news coverage would have constant coverage just like on the NFL and NBA lockout.
Instead, people followed the scandal through the newspaper. The wait was much more suspenseful. If they were lucky, some readers had and could afford an evening addition of the newspaper. If not, then they had to wait until the next day for the regular copy of the newspaper.
Imagine the chaos that would ensue in this era of social media not knowing and not having that immediacy. It has become a norm for us as a society to know right away as news occurs. It shows how far the media and technology has come from the Black Sox scandal.
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