Turning the Black Sox White: The Misunderstood Legacy of Charles A. Comiskey
Charles Albert “The Old Roman” Comiskey was a larger-than-life figure; a man who had precision in his speech and who could work a room with handshakes and smiles. While he has been vilified in film as a rotund cheapskate and the driving force, albeit unknowingly, behind the actions of the 1919 White Sox, who threw the World Series (nicknamed the “Black Sox” scandal), that statement is far from the truth.

In his five decades involved in baseball, Comiskey loved the sport through and through. It was his passion, his life blood, and once he was able to combine his love for the game with his managerial skills, it was the complete package for him. There was no other alternative. He brought the White Sox to Chicago in 1900 and was a major influential force in running the American League from its inception. From changing the way the first base position was played, to spreading the concept of “small ball” as a manager, to incorporating the community in his team’s persona while he was an owner, Comiskey’s style and knowledge improved the overall standard for how baseball should be played.

Through rigorous research from the National Archives, newspapers, and various other publications, Tim Hornbaker not only tells the full story of Comiskey’s incredible life and the sport at the time, but also debunks the “Black Sox” controversy, showing that Comiskey was not the reason that the Sox threw the 1919 World Series.
1116107772
Turning the Black Sox White: The Misunderstood Legacy of Charles A. Comiskey
Charles Albert “The Old Roman” Comiskey was a larger-than-life figure; a man who had precision in his speech and who could work a room with handshakes and smiles. While he has been vilified in film as a rotund cheapskate and the driving force, albeit unknowingly, behind the actions of the 1919 White Sox, who threw the World Series (nicknamed the “Black Sox” scandal), that statement is far from the truth.

In his five decades involved in baseball, Comiskey loved the sport through and through. It was his passion, his life blood, and once he was able to combine his love for the game with his managerial skills, it was the complete package for him. There was no other alternative. He brought the White Sox to Chicago in 1900 and was a major influential force in running the American League from its inception. From changing the way the first base position was played, to spreading the concept of “small ball” as a manager, to incorporating the community in his team’s persona while he was an owner, Comiskey’s style and knowledge improved the overall standard for how baseball should be played.

Through rigorous research from the National Archives, newspapers, and various other publications, Tim Hornbaker not only tells the full story of Comiskey’s incredible life and the sport at the time, but also debunks the “Black Sox” controversy, showing that Comiskey was not the reason that the Sox threw the 1919 World Series.
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Turning the Black Sox White: The Misunderstood Legacy of Charles A. Comiskey

Turning the Black Sox White: The Misunderstood Legacy of Charles A. Comiskey

Turning the Black Sox White: The Misunderstood Legacy of Charles A. Comiskey

Turning the Black Sox White: The Misunderstood Legacy of Charles A. Comiskey

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Overview

Charles Albert “The Old Roman” Comiskey was a larger-than-life figure; a man who had precision in his speech and who could work a room with handshakes and smiles. While he has been vilified in film as a rotund cheapskate and the driving force, albeit unknowingly, behind the actions of the 1919 White Sox, who threw the World Series (nicknamed the “Black Sox” scandal), that statement is far from the truth.

In his five decades involved in baseball, Comiskey loved the sport through and through. It was his passion, his life blood, and once he was able to combine his love for the game with his managerial skills, it was the complete package for him. There was no other alternative. He brought the White Sox to Chicago in 1900 and was a major influential force in running the American League from its inception. From changing the way the first base position was played, to spreading the concept of “small ball” as a manager, to incorporating the community in his team’s persona while he was an owner, Comiskey’s style and knowledge improved the overall standard for how baseball should be played.

Through rigorous research from the National Archives, newspapers, and various other publications, Tim Hornbaker not only tells the full story of Comiskey’s incredible life and the sport at the time, but also debunks the “Black Sox” controversy, showing that Comiskey was not the reason that the Sox threw the 1919 World Series.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781683582762
Publisher: Sports Publishing
Publication date: 02/26/2019
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 408
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Tim Hornbaker is a lifelong sports historian and enthusiast. His books Turning the Black Sox White: The Misunderstood Legacy of Charles A. Comiskey and War on the Basepaths: The Definitive Biography of Ty Cobb were received with critical acclaim. He lives in Tamarac, Florida.

Table of Contents

Foreword v

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Baseball or Bust 1

Chapter 2 The Northwestern League Champions 28

Chapter 3 A Sensation in St. Louis 33

Chapter 4 From Manager to Magnate 53

Chapter 5 The Complexities of Ownership 73

Chapter 6 Birth of the American League 87

Chapter 7 Through Tragedy to Triumph 101

Chapter 8 Brawls, Shootings, and Baseball War 119

Chapter 9 There's a Fish in Left Field 135

Chapter 10 Seven Years of Bad Luck 153

Chapter 11 Baseball Palace of the World 171

Chapter 12 Circling the Globe 189

Chapter 13 No Longer the "Hitless Wonders" 206

Chapter 14 The Happiest Man in Chicago 221

Chapter 15 Baseball's Money Players 238

Chapter 16 An Unforgiveable Betrayal 261

Chapter 17 Not Hearsay, but Legal Evidence 282

Chapter 18 Unraveling the Conspiracy 300

Chapter 19 A Sorrowful Aftermath 319

Chapter 20 Setting the Record Straight 341

Acknowledgments 356

Sources 358

Index 361

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