This lot features an important memento from the darkest days in MLB history – an official program from the 1919 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. This ancient 48-page gem is the Reds version for games held at Redland Field in Cincinnati All pre-1920 World Series programs are extremely rare, but a 1919 example is the most prized find apart from the virtually extinct 1903 inaugural edition.

In the 1919 Fall Classic, the White Sox wasted a wonderful opportunity to showcase their immense talent and finish off a dream season in the Windy City. A stacked lineup featuring the legendary “Shoeless” Joe Jackson along with Hall of Famers Eddie Collins and Ray Schalk was backed by a stout pitching staff led by Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams. Instead, the Reds prevailed five games to three in the nine-game series, and several members of the “Black Sox” were accused of throwing the series. The notorious gambling scandal would eventually lead to Commissioner Landis giving lifetime bans to eight White Sox players including Jackson, Cicotte, Williams, Buck Weaver, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg, Happy Felsch, and ringleader Chick Gandil.

This 1919 World Series program is unscored and incredibly well-preserved. It’s hard to imagine a booklet printed 106 years ago in finer shape. There are dozens of black-and-white illustrations highlighted by a double-page team photo of the infamous Black Sox (pgs. 24-25). Also pictured are the 1882 Cincinnati Reds (champions of the American Association) and the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings (baseball's first all-professional team). How ironic that MLB’s 50^th anniversary (Golden Jubilee) was commemorated by the biggest sports scandal in our nation’s history.

"I never did anything I regretted so much in my life," recalled Eddie Cicotte later. "I would give anything in the world if I could undo my acts. I played a crooked game and I have lost."

The large-format program (9x12”) has no issues to the binding and every interior page is perfectly intact. The back and front covers display minor foxing and a few brief creases from handling. Overall condition is EX-MT. As a bonus, it comes with its original mailing envelope (PR-FR) from the Cincinnati Reds with a “Golden Jubilee Redland Field Nineteen-Nineteen” stamp.