A Tough Call
Elementary: Grades 3–4
Story
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Dad knocked on my door just as I was finishing reading about the trial. There was a trial, of course, since what those players had done was illegal.
"It says here," I told him, "that in September of 1920, all eight players were indicted. What does that mean, Dad?"
"It means they were formally charged with a crime," he explained. "From that point on, they were out of the game. Suspended from play for the rest of the season."
"Yeah," I said sadly, "and with the best guys gone, the team wasn't any good at all."
Dad nodded. "You're right, Dan. They had a pretty poor season."
"So how much would a $3,000 salary be equal to today?" I asked him, thinking about all the money involved. "Or $6,000?"
Dad was good at calculating stuff like that. "I'd say $3,000 would equal about $35,000 today, Dan. And $6,000? Probably a little more than $71,000."
"Wow!" It seemed like a lot, but it was still unfair. I'd also read about a rule back then saying players couldn't even switch teams. I thought about what it might take to switch to Bill's team.
"I can see how the Sox might want to take the money," I said finally.
Dad looked at me sharply. "Can you?"
I looked down at the open scrapbook, avoiding his gaze. "Well," I said, "it might be tempting."
"So if you had been on the jury, you would have found those guys innocent?"
"The jury did decide they were innocent!" I exclaimed, pointing out the trial article. That was exactly what happened. At the Black Sox trial, in 1921, fans filled the courtroom. And after hearing all the testimony, the jury delivered a verdict of not guilty for all eight guys. The jury members must have been big fans, too, I figured. Who wasn't?
When that verdict was announced, the whole place broke into enthusiastic cheering. People in the courtroom went wild, even picking up some of the players and carrying them around the room like heroes. It was like another game had been won.
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