Recognized by both collectors and baseball historians as the infamous "Black Sox" for conspiring to intentionally throw the 1919 World Series, circumstances surrounding their motivations have intrigued fans for generations. With vintage material related directly to the eight Black Sox continuing to remain elusive, Love of the Game is proud to present one of the single most significant and recognizable original Type 1 photographs from this consequential period in the history of our national game. Captured on August 2, 1921 at Chicago's Cook County Courthouse, a similar image, snapped a split second before or after this one, appeared in the Chicago Tribune the following day and depicts Black Sox defendants celebrating with the jury that controversially acquitted them of criminal wrongs. Unfortunately for the players, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the newly appointed Commissioner of Baseball, permanently banned all eight men from Organized Baseball for life the very next day, relegating them to outlaw leagues for the remainder of their careers. Upon banishment of the eight men, Landis issued the following statement:

"Regardless of the verdict of juries, no player that throws a ball game; no player that undertakes or promises to throw a ball game; no player that sits in a conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing ball games are planned and discussed and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball. Of course, I don't know that any of these men will apply for reinstatement, but if they do, the above are at least a few of the rules that will be enforced. Just keep in mind that, regardless of the verdict of juries, baseball is competent to protect itself against crooks, both inside and outside the game."

 According to the Chicago Tribune, the jurors (in white shirts) and four "Black Sox" defendants including Joe Jackson can clearly been seen in this photo along with their counsel, as listed. We've included a numbered image in our online auction listing for reference purposes:

1) Chick Gandil 2)Weaver/Risberg/Felsch co-counsel Michael Ahern 3) Zelcer attorney Max Luster 4) Gandil attorney James O'Brien 5) Swede Risberg 6) Lefty Williams 7) Joe Jackson 8) Zork co-counsel Henry Berger 9) gambler defendant Carl Zork 10) Zelcer co-counsel J.J. Cooke 11) Weaver/Risber/Felsch lead counsel Thomas Nash 12) Jackson/Williams attorney Benedict Short

 Editorial masking has been removed from the surface of this photo where crop lines once ran both horizontally and vertically. Some loss of the emulsion is evident within these areas but remains inconspicuous enough as not to interfere with the impactful and historically significant central image. Measures approx. 8" x 11" with blank verso aside from "9321" written in grease pencil and a notation in modern ballpoint below. Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA.