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Lot # 928: 1919 Souvenir Record Book of World's Championship Series

Starting Bid: $300.00

Bids: 14 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2023 Spring Classic",
which ran from 4/2/2023 7:00 PM to
4/22/2023 10:00 PM



Offered is a rare publication - a 1919 World's Championship Series souvenir record book. That World Series featured the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. In 1920, the notorious "Black Sox," eight members of the Chicago White Sox, were deemed by the Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, to have thrown the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, or for some of the group, to have at least met with gamblers and discussed the possibility of deliberately losing the World Series. Thus, that season's White Sox, even the many innocent members of the team, are often regarded as cheats. Not only was the public cheated in the 1919 World Series, but so were the Cincinnati Reds - because the excellent team could have won the World Series anyway, even against the favored White Sox, but no one will ever know, because they were handed the Series victory, taking from them the pride of a legitimate win. The fascinating souvenir record book was most probably sold in both Chicago and Cincinnati during the fall classic. The book, with a card stock red cover, sold for 25 cents and was compiled by A.A. Prusank, of Chicago. The 36-page book features photos and stats for both teams. It begins with a section on the White Sox. All of the infamous Black Sox players have an included biography, and very detailed personal statistics. A one-page photo of the White Sox owner, Charles Comiskey, is provided as well as a one-page photo of Sox manager Kid Gleason. Chick Gandil, one of the prime movers behind the fix, has an included biography and statistics, as do other implicated players: Shoeless Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver, Eddie Cicotte, Swede Risberg, Oscar "Happy" Felsch, Fred McMullin, and Lefty Williams. Honest players, such as Hall of Famer Eddie Collins, Ray Schalk, and Dickie Kerr, also have bios and stats. For the Cincinnati Reds, Hall of Fame outfielder Edd Roush and great third baseman Heinie Groh, to name just a few of the Reds, receive thorough coverage, and the Reds' players also have biographies and statistics. There is a light vertical crease in the middle, and the center four pages have come loose from the staples. The book is in Very Good condition. This publication, over a century old, provides a captivating look back in time to a crucial time in baseball history.

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