Arnold Rothstein - 1919 World Series

1919 World Series

In 1919, Rothstein's agents allegedly paid members of the Chicago White Sox to "throw," or deliberately lose, the World Series. He had bet against them and made a significant sum in what was called the "Black Sox Scandal."

Summoned to Chicago to testify before a grand jury investigation of the incident, Rothstein said that he was an innocent businessman, intent on clearing his name and his reputation. Prosecutors could find no evidence linking Rothstein to the affair, and he was never indicted. Rothstein testified:

"The whole thing started when (Abe) Attell and some other cheap gamblers decided to frame the Series and make a killing. The world knows I was asked in on the deal and my friends know how I turned it down flat. I don't doubt that Attell used my name to put it over. That's been done by smarter men than Abe. But I was not in on it, would not have gone into it under any circumstances and did not bet a cent on the Series after I found out what was underway."

Another version has Rothstein turning down the proposal relayed by Attell; this was the second "fix" he'd refused to bankroll. Joseph "Sport" Sullivan, a gambler, had previously approached Rothstein with the same idea. After receiving Attell's offer, Rothstein thought he could reconsider the first offer from Sullivan. Rothstein shrewdly figured that the field was becoming so crowded with would-be fixers that he could risk getting involved and still cover his tracks. David Pietrusza's biography of Rothstein suggested that the gangster worked both ends of the fix with Sullivan and Attell. Michael Alexander concluded that Attell fixed the Series "probably without Arnold Rothstein's approval," which "did not prevent Rothstein from betting on the Series with inside knowledge."