BC-BBO--Baseball Bans

Individuals given permanent bans by the commissioner of baseball:

March 12, 1921 — Chicago White Sox pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude "Lefty" Williams, first baseman Chick Gandil, shortstop Charles "Swede" Risberg, third baseman Buck Weaver, outfielders "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and Happy Felsh and infielder Fred McMullen suspended by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. (The players were suspended by the team on Sept. 28, 1920, following their indictment on charges of throwing the 1919 World Series. Gandil at that time already was already on suspension in a salary dispute). The players were acquitted on Aug. 3, 1921, but banned for life by Landis the following day. "Regardless of the verdict of juries, no player who throws a ballgame, no player that entertains proposals or promises to throw a game, no player that sits in conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing games are discussed and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball," Landis wrote.

March 24, 1921 — Philadelphia Phillies infielder Gene Paulette banned indefinitely by Landis for allegedy accepting loan from Elmer Farrar of St. Louis that was tied to gambling scheme. Paulette never was reinstated.

April 7, 1921 — New York Giants outfielder Benny Kauff suspended indefinitely by Landis following his indictment on charges auto theft and possession of a stolen car. "An indictment charging felonious misconduct by a player certainly charges conduct detrimental to the good repute of baseball." Kauff was acquitted on May 13 but Landis refused to reinstate him. A lawsuit filed by Kauff against the commissioner for reinstatement was dismissed.

Aug. 18, 1922 — New York Giants pitcher "Shufflin'" Phil Douglas banned for life by club for writing a letter to St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Leslie Mann asking him to throw a game. Mann gave letter to Branch Rickey, who sent it to Landis. The commissioner backed ban, saying Douglas' letter was "tragic and deplorable."

Oct. 1, 1924 — New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O'Connell and coach Cozy Dolan banned for life by Landis for offering $500 bribe to Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand to throw game on Sept. 27, 1924. Sand told Phillies manager Art Fletcher, who told Landis.

Nov. 23, 1943 — Philadelphia Phillies president William D. Cox banned for life by Landis for making "approximately 15 or 20 bets" of "from $25 to $100 per game on Philadelphia to win." Cox was forced to sell his share of the team to Ruly M. Carpenter Jr.

Aug. 23, 1989 — Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose agrees to lifetime ban with Commissioner A. Barlett Giammati for gambling on Reds games.

June 3, 2024 — San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano banned for life by Commissioner Rob Manfred for making 387 baseball bets, including 231 related to MLB, from Oct. 16-23, 2022, and July 12, 2023, through Nov. 1, 2023, while on the roster of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Associated Press