Lesson Plan 1: High School
The 1919 Black Sox Scandal
by Roberta McCutcheon
Introduction
Baseball became an increasingly integral part of the American landscape
in the last half of the nineteenth century and the early decades of
the twentieth century. Growth of the sport occurred in conjunction with
the rapid industrialization of the United States, the rise of big business,
the expansion of the working class, frequent disputes over labor practices
and the Progressive reform era that sought ways to address the challenges
of a modern America.
Professional baseball, in many ways, mirrored the economic and social
changes that marked these years. The expansion of the sport, the control
that the leagues gained over destructive competition and the appearance
of labor issues paralleled the problematic expansion of a national economy.
By the turn of the century, regardless the considerable complications,
baseball had become the sport that symbolized the best of America just
as the Progressives reformers of that era exemplified for many the potential
of America. The major league players, among the most talented in their
craft, emulated the sense of fairness, justice, and hope that permeated
the early decades of the twentieth century. Many of these great baseball
players achieved hero status and few inspired the American spirit more
than these stars. It is no surprise that the accusations against certain
members of the Chicago White Sox team in 1920s shook the country at
its core.
Objectives:
1. Students will examine primary documents and secondary sources to
analyze baseball during the last half of the nineteenth century and
the first two decades of the twentieth century.
2. Students will be able to identify the major social and economic trends
of the last half of the nineteenth century and the first two decades
of the twentieth century.
3. Students will be able to examine the effects of industrialization
and urbanization on popular culture.
4. Students will be engaged in historical research and the critical
analysis of the significant social and economic events of this era.
Student Activity One: Create the Historical Setting
Have the class research the history of baseball. The class will need
to understand the following:
1. A brief history of baseball from its origin in the nineteenth century
through the 1920s
2. Amateur status
3. Professional status
4. Reserve clause
5. Territorial rights
6. White Sox team
The following sources will be useful in the research:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1921&t=BOS
This site includes a reading list.
http://www.19cbaseball.com/
This provides good information on the nineteenth century.
http://www.rpi.edu/~fiscap/history_files/history1.htm
This site provides a basic history of baseball.
http://www.baseball1.com/c-history.html
This site includes history of baseball in the twentieth century.
Student Activity Two: Mock Trial
The historical background and the transcript of the trial will provide
basic information for a reenactment of the 1921 trial.
1. Divide the following tasks in preparation of the simulation:
a. Review the instructions for a mock trial on this or other sites:
http://www.nationalmocktrial.orc/fullrules.cfm#D
b. Review the facts of the 1921 Black Sox Trial
c. Assign the roles for the mock trial of the 1921 White Sox Team
2. The following sites provide background information, the indictment,
and the transcript of the trial and analysis of the trial.
http://www.chicagohs.org/history/blacksox.html
http://law.jrank.org/pages/2834/-Black-Sox-Trial-1921.html
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/blacksox/blacksoxaccount.html
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/blacksox/blacksox.html
Trial
3. Hold a mock trial of the 1921 “Black Sox.”
Extension Activity: Panel Discussion
1. Assign topics for the panel discussion to selected students.
a. Implications of the “reserve clause” on professional baseball
b. Implications of “territorial rights” on professional baseball
c. Effects of the rise of monopolies in the last half of the nineteenth
century on baseball
d. Effects of the Progressive Era on professional baseball
2. Have the remainder of the class ask questions following the presentations
of the panel.
Essay
To what extent does popular culture help us to understand the Progressive
era?
BACK TO TEACHER'S DESK 
