The game of baseball has been labeled an "American pastime." Since its inception in the United States approximately 150 years ago, millions of people of all ages have played the sport. In anything in life, especially in sports, cheating will always occur in some way. Throughout the history of baseball, many scandals and crimes have occurred. While many of these situations eventually passed, one in particular did not; stands out significantly: the Black Sox scandal. The year 1919 was a challenging time throughout the world. World War I had just ended and many soldiers were baseball players ("The Black Sox" 3). Furthermore, the United States was beginning to enter a depression and tensions among the population were increasing. One of the few ways people could pass the time and relieve stress was by attending sporting events, such as baseball games (“The Black Sox” 3). Another way people attempted to have fun was by drinking and gambling. Although these activities usually never ended positively, people continued to take part in them. As alcohol consumption increased, it became outlawed and made illegal. Even though this happened, alcohol consumption did not stop. Gambling was also on the rise, with people wasting their life savings and even becoming millionaires. As attendance at baseball games increased, the amount of people gambling, and the amount of money wagered, many dishonest people began to take advantage of the situation (“The Black Sox” 4). took place in this era with the most anticipated event of the entire year, the World Series ("The Black Sox" 3). This year's 1919 World Series was a matchup of... middle of paper... of how much money was involved. The individuals reported by Jackson and Cicotte were then called to stand trial in June 1921. The players, who were put on trial, were suspended for the remainder of the 1920 season. At the conclusion of the trial all those involved were acquitted. They were found not guilty, mainly due to a lack of evidence. The Black Sox scandal of 1919 remains the most infamous scandal in baseball history. The solution exemplified the desperate position the United States found itself in at the time. It's quite sad to hear how selfish men can become when money is put before them. Not only have they drastically altered their lives, but they have also affected many other lives around them. The Black Sox scandal will go down in history as one of the most disgusting series of events to ever happen in Major League Baseball.