Red Legs and Black Sox: Edd Roush and the Untold Story of the 1919 World Series

by Susan Dellinger

The 1919 World Series is baseball's black eye, resulting in eight members of the White Sox being banned from the game for life for intentionally losing the series. Moviegoers recognize Shoeless Joe Jackson, the slugging outfielder for the Sox, from such popular films as Eight Men Out and Field of Dreams. And most baseball aficionados have seen photos of the grim-faced baseball commissioner who banned the offending players from the game.

But there is another side to the story, revealed for the first time in Red Legs and Black Sox. Author Susan Dellinger focuses on the series from the Cincinnati Reds’ perspective, as told by her grandfather, Edd Roush, star player of the 1919 Reds. This is a story that is far more complicated than previous movies and books have alluded to, involving fixes on both teams — and corruption right down to the leagues themselves.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Chris Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a unique perspective of one of the most famous baseball legends, the 1919 World Series fix. Told from the other side, Dellinger provides new details that aren't part of the mythos that have evolved over time. Particularly intriguing is the chapter on Roush's time in the hospital in St. Louis in addition to all the Cincinnati connections to the fix. Great insight on what was going on with the Reds as well, (example, gamblers approaching Reds players as well) an often overlooked aspect to this Series. Reads very much like a novel with Dellinger (who is Roush's granddaughter) most certainly doing the family history justice. One of the best baseball books I've read this year.

[Chris Schaffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of an odd book. The first part covers Edd Roush's life up to the 1919 series. He was a notable player, a hall of famer from the "Deadball Era" who played on some good Cincinnati teams, with famous players of the time. Then it morphs into basically a book on the Black Sox scandal - good background on the key players as well as bit players in the scandal both on and off the field, as well as a game by game chronicle also covering on and off field events, of the series. Then it comes back to Roush at the end. Brings up the possibility that the Reds were on the take too. Decent, quick read once you get past the early stages.

[David Jaspers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look at the 1919 Black Sox scandal from the Cincinnati Reds' dugout. A fascinating read for Reds' fans in particular and baseball fans in general.

[Josh Avery · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 1919 World Series from the perspective of Edd Roush, hall of fame outfielder on the other, winning team in that series.

The Good: The Black Sox get all of the attention for the 1919 series, this book is from the perspective of the actual winners of that series, The Cincinnati Redlegs. A lot of those players were always defending themselves as they were referred to as "paper champions". Edd Roush was a quiet man, he has been called the greatest defensive centerfielder of all time over guys like Griffey, Mantle and Mays and had a career batting average of. 323 while swinging a 48 ounce bat, which is insane. While reading it, I wondered why Edd Roush was the focal point because he seemed like a relatively unexciting individual. It turns out that he was the authors grandfather and this book turned into a sentimental tribute, a love letter to a man that did not get the credit he deserved because of controversy. It made this story a lot more compelling.

The Bad: The Black Sox of 1919 are a black eye (pun intended) to both American and baseball history and they tend to be glorified and martyred when they truly don't deserve it. It's unfortunate that the winners, like Edd Roush, are forgotten.

B-

It started a bit slow but once you realize what it is, it makes it better.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look at a HOFer written by his granddaughter. Also its a fascinating look into the infamous Black Sox scandal from a different direction, namely from a star player from the other involved team. Well written and researched.

Highly recommended, if just for the different look at the scandal that could of destroyed baseball. Though also a good look at a fantastic player.

[Joe Santoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pretty excited to read this and get a new perspective on the Black Sox scandal... I've read a fair amount about it now, and the thought of getting first person accounts from Edd Roush though the author (his Granddaughter) was just amazing.

There's not as much material as I hoped though... the 1st half of the book is an Edd Roush biography, with a decidedly family slant (it's clear the author really loved her grandmother). It's an interesting, if clearly biased story. (Roush's many hold outs were very much glossed over as a personality quirk, for instance). IT was a bit odd to have essentially half a biography though.

The bits about the 1919 series are not as unique as I expected...it does off Roush's personal belief that two of the pitchers on his team threw games six and seven... though wether it was a counter gambling group trying to break the fix, or the owner looking to make sure he got more gate receipts isn't clear.

There's a fair bit about Hal Chase's various escapades, but nothing about his possible involvement (which I personally don't believe in)... or much about McGraw (which I REALLY want to know about).

Then there's the weird bit.. a recreation of a talk with an 'unnamed gangster' Roush claims to have had 8 years later while recovering from injury... weird because of the emphasis and effort the author put into it to reveal.. nothing new at all (except to say it was all Hal Chase's fault out of the blue).

Definitely an interesting baseball book, but a bit short of the insights one would hope for.