This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
Books and movies have dealt with the infamous 1919 World Series, in which eight Chicago White Sox players allegedly took bribes from big-time gamblers to throw the Series to the Cincinnati Reds. The "Black Sox" scandal has taken on the mythology of a Greek tragedy, as the players were acquitted in court but still banned for life, making eternal villains out of Hall of Fame level players like Shoeless Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, Buck Weaver, Happy Felsch, and Lefty Williams. This press pin may be small but it carries a ton of history and is fabled itself since some of the greatest sportswriters of all sat in the press box for those Series games, including Ring Lardner and High Fullerton. The 2-1/2" piece features a gold medallion that reads "World Series 1919, Cincinnati" around the letters "BBWA" (Baseball Writers Association). Attached is a dark blue ribbon with "Press" written in gold letters, some of which have faded with age. While the ribbon is very delicate and has several tears, the medallion is in good condition. It comes with a letter written by a fan who attended the Series. The letter is dated October 6, 1919 and is on the stationery of Chicago's Hotel Sherman. The envelope is also included.