1877 Louisville Grays Scandal

1877 Louisville Grays Scandal

The Louisville Grays were a baseball team that was located in Louisville, Kentucky; this only lasted for two seasons (1876-1877), and were able to post a 65-61 record. They were owned by the publisher and owner of the Louisville Courier-Journal, Walter Newman Haldeman, who was a businessman. The Grays were forced to fold due to the first gambling scandal that baseball had ever seen.

The 1877 Louisville Grays Scandal involved players taking money and in return, they would throw games.

How it started

When baseball was first being played professionally, there was a lot of play that was considered crooked. It is believed that many players threw games in exchange for money.

Back in these days, salaries for players

Jim Devlin, the starter (and essentially their only pitcher) for the Grays had a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 12.2. They built up their roster for the second season by acquiring English born George Hall, who hit more home runs than any other player for Philadelphia the previous year. Orator Shafer, who hit three home runs (the second most in the NL, Hall's batting average was .323, and Devlin pitched every single inning. They were able to win nine of eleven games in July, and by the thirteenth of August, were four games ahead, winning 27 of their first forty

Another player, implicated by Hall (who was afraid and pressured enough gave Hulbert a full confession) gave Chase the permission to read all telegrams that he received. It was also said that this player, named Al Nichols was the contact man with the gamblers. They were eventually linked to a gambler named McLeod, who was based in New York. They agreed, at first, to throw all games, but Devlin started out throwing just the exhibition games. He would start throwing both as well. Another, named Bill Craver, was implicated and was guilty of gambling with his former team, but there was no proof to suggest he was involved in any gambling in this