Risberg helped destroy a team that might have rivaled the great Yankees of the 1920s.
Barred for life for throwing the 1919 Series, he also fixed games in his rookie year
and in 1920. Rough and rangy, he once knocked out a minor league umpire with one
punch after a called third strike. Though he didn't have the incredible range he's
sometimes credited with, he had a powerful arm. Risberg's arrival allowed Buck Weaver
to move back to third base, his natural position. Risberg despised his double play
partner, Eddie Collins, for his talent, character, education, air of superiority,
and above all, salary. He preferred the tough Chick Gandil, who enlisted the young
shortstop as his first lieutenant in the fix. During the ensuing trial, Joe Jackson
requested protection
after Risberg threatened to kill him if he dared talk. "The
Swede is a hard guy," said Jackson.
Later in the 1920s, in an attempt to discredit
players he called "white lilies," Risberg claimed that Detroit had thrown four games
in 1917 to help the Sox clinch the flag. Along with other charges, this led to a
major investigation of more than 30 players, among them some of the most famous names
in the AL. During the hearing, Tiger pitcher Bernie Boland yelled at Risberg, "You're
still a pig!"
When only Gandil and Happy Felsch backed up Swede's story, Commissioner
Landis dismissed the charges. The case, however, resulted in strong anti-betting
edicts, a statute of limitations, and the abolition of the common practice of teams
rewarding other teams with "gifts" for defeating pennant rivals. During his exile,
Risberg played semi-pro ball, worked on a dairy farm, and ran a tavern which proudly
displayed his name. He was the last survivor of the eight Black Sox.
(DB)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»October 1, 1919:
Just before the start of the WS, the highly favored
White Sox became the betting underdogs. A year later
the White Sox will become the Black Sox, and 8 of
them--pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams, outfielders
Joe Jackson and Happy Felsch, 1B Chick Gandil, SS
Swede Risberg, 3B Buck Weaver, and utility infielder
Fred McMullin--will be barred from baseball for taking
part in throwing the Series. It will take that long
for the story to unfold, as most observers at the
time see nothing amiss when the Series opens in Cincinnati.
»April 3, 1923: Two "Black Sox" sue the White Sox. Swede Risberg
and Happy Felsch seek $400,000 damages and $6,750
back salary for conspiracy and injury to reputation,
but their suit will be unsuccessful.
»January 5, 1927: Judge Landis begins a 3-day public hearing on the charges that four games played between Chicago and Detroit on September 2nd and 3rd, 1917, had been thrown to the White Sox. The White Sox, Swede Risberg contends, returned the favor for two games in 1919. Near the end of the 1917 season, some Chicago players contributed about $45 each to reward Detroit pitchers for winning the last series against Boston, helping Chicago clinch the pennant. No witnesses confirm any part of the story, although Tigers P Bill James denies ever receiving any money, and the others named deny all charges. A week after the hearing opens, Judge Landis clears all the accused, ruling lack of evidence of anything except the practice of players paying another team for winning.
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