The 1919 Major League Baseball World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds is best remembered for the “Black Sox Scandal” that saw eight White Sox players conspire with gamblers to throw the World Series in favor of the Reds. Changed to a best-of-nine series by the MLB to increase revenue and popularity, the Reds won the World Series in eight games. Game 1 saw the Cincinnati Reds defeat the White Sox 14-6, with White Sox pitcher and conspirator Eddie Cicotte hitting leadoff Reds’ hitter Morrie Rath to signal to lead conspirator Arnold Rothstein that the fix was on. An extensive investigation was launched that acquitted all eight players from criminal charges, newly installed Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned all eight of them for life from baseball to help bolster the flagging reputation of the MLB in the aftermath of the scandal. Joe “Shoeless Joe” Jackson, one of the eight players named in the scandal, had a then World Series record of 12 hits and batted .375, hitting the Series’ lone home run during Game 8.

Presented here is a ticket stub from Game 1 of the 1919 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. The ticket is labeled “Cincinnati National League Base Ball Club World’s Series 1919 Redland Field” in black lettering on the left side of the ticket. “BLEACHER SEAT GAME 1 ADMIT ONE” is located on the left side of the ticket. “RAIN CHECK” is located with the information at the bottom of the left side of the ticket. The right side of the ticket features the number “2718” in red on the bottom just below the entrance for the games and when the gates open. The reverse side of the ticket is labeled “HOLD COUPON AND RAIN CHECK UNTIL LEGAL GAME HAS BEEN PLAYED” and features the disclaimer information for the ticket on the right side. The ticket comes encapsulated and authenticated by PSA Authentic (15883270).

Auction Notepad