The snippet in Wednesday morning’s Sports page about the death of Buck Weaver’s niece shines a light on baseball’s darkest moment — the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. It is true, the court trial declared the players “Not Guilty” of taking bribes to throw the World Series. But this was the supreme “farce” of court trials. The player’s signed confessions mysteriously “disappeared” before the trial and the all-male jury were White Sox fans.
Also true, Buck Weaver was not part of the “fix.” But he knew about it and told no one. Professional Baseball Player’s “Rule 21” directs players to tell their manager if they know or hear anything about a dishonest game or player. Weaver knew, but said nothing.
