MARCH 5, 1922
PLAYERS REPORT TO SPRING TRAINING
National League Most Valuable Player Babe Ruth spent the first day of spring training threatening to 'clock' the next reporter who asked him about the World Series. Ruth denied any involvement himself saying "I can't speak for anyone else but all I can say is my conscience is clear. I hit .464 in the f%#%@ng World Series and you are asking me about throwing games." When asked if he or anyone else received any money from gamblers to throw games Ruth refused to answer any more questions.
The grand jury on the matter seems to have stalled as boxer Abe Atell, the rumoured ringleader of the conspiracy, has not surfaced anywhere and none of the players accused or suspected have said anything on the matter. It remains the word of ex-minor leaguer John Ogee as the only evidence in the case.
APRIL 1, 1922
BULLET BUSH SIGNS WITH CARDINALS
It took almost until opening day as he had offers from just about every MLB team and several clubs in the International and Pacific Coast Leagues but when all was said and done Bullet Joe Bush put pen to paper with the St Louis Cardinals.
The much sought after free agent left the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the Federal League due to financial constraints for that club. He was a 4 time pitcher of the year in that league and led the loop with a record 36 wins last season. In 6 years in the Federal League plus 4 seasons with the Brooklyn Robins of the National League from 1912-15, Bush has a lifetime record of 228-118.
He will step in as the number one starter in St Louis and gives the Cardinals an ace pitcher to go with one of the best batting orders in the major leagues.
APRIL 5, 1921
SLOAN ADMITS TO TAKING MONEY TO LOSE SERIES
A week after being released by the Washington Senators, former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tod Sloan admitted before a grand jury that he received $10,000 to throw the 1921 World Series. He refused to implicate any teammates in his confession.
Sloan came under heat a week ago when investigators uncovered records that he had deposited a large sum of money in a bank in his wife's name just days after the Series ended. He was immediately released by the Washington Senators, who had traded for the 37 year old during the off-season. Of course his 0-3 record with a 6.50 era in spring training may have made that decision easier.
Sloan claimed during testimony he did not know exactly who else was involved and would only say that former minor leaguer John Ogee promised him the money before the series to lose his starts and an unknown man gave him an envelope with the money prior to Sloan's game three start of the World Series.
Pressed by the grand jury for other conspirators, Sloan would only say a number of players were involved but it was not up to him to point fingers. He added "I know what I did and I will have to live with it. Others will as well. But it is up to them, not me, to come clean as I have."
It was made easier for the 37 year old to come clean knowing that his baseball career was over. Senators owner William Clayborn Montgomery responded to the testimony by saying it became clear to the Washington ballclub earlier this week that Tod Sloan was not the type of person we want in baseball. None of the other players alledged to be involved in the conspiracy would make any comment on Sloan's confession.
Sloan pitched 7 seasons in the major leagues with Cleveland, Brooklyn, the White Sox and Cincinnati, compiling a record of 90-78. Prior to the major leagues he pitched for Jersey City of the International League for 2 seasons.
APRIL 12, 1921
COLOR BARRIER A THING OF THE PAST AS OPENING DAY ARRIVES FOR MLB
Integration began slowly last season when the New York Giants signed Oscar Charleston and Jack Hannibal from Brooklyn of the struggling Federal League. For 1921 the color barrier has been crushed as 8 of the 16 major league clubs had at least one player of color on their active roster as of opening day. Here is the complete list.
BOSTON BRAVES - The Braves signed 24 year old shortstop Dobie Moore and 24 year old reliever Johnny Owens, both from Indianapolis of the Negro National League.
CINCINNATI REDS - The Reds signed 22 year old rookie Dana Holt
NEW YORK GIANTS - While they did trade Hannibal away to the Chicago White Sox, the Giants did add reliever Gordon Zeigler, a 24 year old who spent the past two seasons with the NNL champion Chicago American Giants as well as first baseman Robert Hudspeth, who hit .415 last year with the St Louis Giants. Oscar Charleston, who hit .300 with 12 homers and 45 rbi's in 67 games for New York last season is also back.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES - The Phillies signed 27 year old outfielder Alejandro Oms, who spent the past 4 seasons with the Federal League's St Louis Terriers. Oms hit .331 with a homer and 86 rbi's last season.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES - The Bucs signed 24 year old reliever Eddie Noel, who spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Stars of the NNL.
ST LOUIS CARDINALS - The Cards inked 24 year old outfielder Heavy Johnson, who spent most of the two previous seasons with Fort Wayne of the Central League but did hit .289 in 40 games with Indianapolis of the Federal League.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX - In addition to trading for Jack Hannibal, who hit .345 with 11 homers and 49 rbi's in 67 games for the New York Giants last season, the White Sox also signed rookie Negro League catcher Rags Roberts to a contract.
ST LOUIS BROWNS - The Browns signed 24 year old shortstop Bill Riggins, who hit .339 last season for the Chicago American Giants and finished second in MVP voting for the Negro National League.
SCHALK WANTS OUT OF CINCINNATI
Cincinnati catcher Ray Schalk, who called out Tod Sloan and fellow pitcher Lefty Gervais during the Series, has made no secret he wants out of Cincinnati. The 29 year old says he told the club privately he wanted out but after nothing was done during spring training he decided to go public with his demands.
"There are a few people on this team that know what they did, but apparently can live with that and it appears so can (owner) Mr. Hermann," Schalk stated today. "Well, I can't play on a team with them and it is clear because of who they are it will be overlooked."
Schalk would not name any names, saying it won't accomplish anything, but it seems clear he feels that Babe Ruth was involved in the conspiracy. Since training camp started Schalk seems to have refused to talk to or even acknowledge several of his teammates including pitcher Lefty Gervais. The reigning Charlie Geggus Award winner, who had a terrible World Series that Schalk accused him of intentionally losing, has worked exclusively with back-up catcher Luke Sewell during the preseason.