Baseball's Integrity On The Line

Baseball may be America’s pastime, but its history is anything but innocent. Behind iconic stadiums and beloved legends lies a darker side filled with betrayal, bribery, addiction, and chaos. Some scandals have shaken the sport’s very foundation, and others even rewrote the rules. Ahead, we’re exploring the most shocking moments when baseball’s image cracked open to reveal payoffs, cover-ups, drama, and more. Let's dive in!

Bain News Service, publisher on Wikimedia

1. Black Sox Scandal (1919)

Eight Chicago White Sox players faced accusations of deliberately losing the World Series in exchange for money from gamblers. To preserve the integrity of baseball, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned all eight players for life, even though the players were acquitted in court.

"International", 228 William St, NY on Wikimedia

2. Pete Rose Betting Ban (1989)

As the Cincinnati Reds’ manager, Pete Rose was discovered to have bet on games involving his own team, and Major League Baseball issued him a lifetime ban. Rose denied the accusations for 15 years before finally admitting he had placed bets.

Kjunstorm from Laguna Niguel, CA, US on Wikimedia

3. Pittsburgh Drug Trials (1985)

Federal investigators uncovered drug use and distribution involving numerous Major League Baseball players. Players admitted to using during games and in the dugout tunnel. Suspensions were traded for public service, but the scandal led MLB to introduce formal drug testing programs for the first time.

The Wildest Drug Scandal In MLB History by Sportsesque

4. BALCO Steroid Spark (Late-1990s Leaks)

A Bay Area laboratory called BALCO was secretly supplying anabolic steroids to professional athletes, including baseball players. Leaks even revealed that several MLB sluggers were using performance-enhancing drugs during record-breaking seasons. This scandal planted the seeds for the explosive Mitchell Report and congressional hearings in the early 2000s.

CBS Evening News The Balco Scandal 10 23 2003 by Earl of Baltimore

5. Curt Flood Free Agency Lawsuit (1969-70)

After being traded without his consent, Curt Flood sued Major League Baseball, arguing the reserve clause was unfair. Although he lost at the Supreme Court, his challenge led directly to modern free agency. Many modern players credit him with securing their multimillion-dollar contracts.

St. Louis Cardinals / MLB on Wikimedia

6. Gaylord Perry Spitball Cheating (1962–1983)

Gaylord Perry illegally altered baseballs with substances like Vaseline to throw illegal spitballs. Though constantly accused, he managed to win over 300 games before being caught and suspended. Opponents claimed balls would drop sharply as if defying gravity, which made them nearly unhittable.

twm1340 on Wikimedia

7. Hal Chase Game-Fixing (1910s)

First baseman Hal Chase was repeatedly accused of throwing games and sabotaging his own team for gamblers. Teammates and managers testified against him, and this led to his permanent blacklisting from MLB. Despite his talent, he has never been honored in official team histories.

Charles M. Conlon on Wikimedia

8. Cobb/Speaker Fix Accusations (1926)

A letter surfaced alleging that Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker agreed to fix a game between Detroit and Cleveland. An American League hearing was held, but charges were suddenly dropped after documents disappeared. Under pressure, Cobb and Speaker both resigned their managerial jobs.

National Photo Company Collection on Wikimedia

9. 1951 Giants Sign-Stealing Scheme

The New York Giants used a telescope and buzzer system to illegally steal catchers’ signs from center field. These stolen signs helped set up Bobby Thomson’s famous “Shot Heard ’Round the World” home run. It was almost 50 years later that the truth was publicly confirmed.

Bobby Thompson Pennant Clinching Home Run (1951) by Classic Sports Pictures

10. Ray Chapman’s Death And Pitching Reforms (1920)

Cleveland’s Ray Chapman was killed when a high fastball, thrown by Carl Mays, struck his head during a game against the Yankees. Major League Baseball responded by banning the spitball and mandating cleaner baseballs to improve batter safety.

TheDeadballEra.com on Wikimedia

11. Red Sox Integration Delay (1945-1959)

The Boston Red Sox were the last team in MLB to sign a Black player. Team ownership repeatedly rejected talented Black players during tryouts, including Jackie Robinson himself. The team finally integrated only after political and public pressure became overwhelming.

Kansas City Call newspaper (first publication) on Wikimedia

12. Marge Schott Racism Suspension (1996)

Not only did Reds owner Marge Schott publicly praise Adolf Hitler, but she also used racial slurs toward Black players and staff. Major League Baseball suspended her and eventually forced her to relinquish control of the team.

Marge Schott remembered by WCPO 9

13. Steinbrenner Nixon Scandal (1974)

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was convicted of making illegal campaign donations to President Richard Nixon. Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspended him for two years, but he secretly continued to run the Yankees behind the scenes. He was later pardoned by President Ronald Reagan.

George Steinbrenner, according to Steinbrenner by What Happened to Baseball

14. Pine Tar Incident (1983)

A dramatic home run by George Brett was disallowed because umpires ruled there was too much pine tar on his bat. The Kansas City Royals appealed, and MLB ordered the game to be resumed weeks later from the exact moment of the call.

George Brett and the pine tar incident by MLB

15. Steve Howe Drug Suspensions (1984–1992)

Pitcher Steve Howe was suspended seven different times by MLB for repeated substance and alcohol abuse. He eventually received a lifetime ban for violating the league’s drug policies, which was later overturned. Howe’s unbelievable number of chances led critics to call MLB’s policy “too forgiving.”

Addiction's Grip: Steve Howe's Tragic Tale of MLB Banishment by Baseball Universe

16. Albert Belle Corked Bat Heist (1994)

Umpires confiscated Belle’s bat during a game after suspecting illegal cork was hidden inside it. MLB investigators sawed open the bat and found cork, leading to a suspension. Teammate Jason Grimsley tried to steal the bat, but the wrong bat was returned.

The most insane night in the history of major league baseball by FivePoints Vids

17. Joe Niekro Emery Board Bust (1987)

During a game, Joe Niekro was caught dropping an emery board from his pocket after umpires demanded to check him. MLB suspended him for scuffing baseballs to create illegal movement on pitches. Niekro claimed he only used the board to “file his nails.”

MIN@CAL: Joe Niekro ejected from game by MLB

18. Cap Anson And Baseball Segregation (1880s–1900)

Cap Anson campaigned to bar Black players from participating in professional baseball games. His influence helped cement the color line that kept Major League Baseball segregated for decades. Sporting newspapers of the time praised him as a “guardian of the white game.”

The New York Clipper, publisher on Wikimedia

19. Cincinnati Reds Wiretapping Scandal (1990)

Reds clubhouse staff were caught illegally taping private conversations of players and front-office executives. The FBI investigated, leading to firings and heavy fines for violating wiretapping laws. Some of the recordings reportedly included players gossiping about owner Marge Schott.

Reds sweep the Athletics to capture the 1990 World Series title by Cincinnati Reds

20. Ten-Cent Beer Night Riot (1974)

The Cleveland Indians hosted a promotion offering unlimited beer for just ten cents per cup.
A drunken riot followed, which forced the Indians to forfeit the game. After the chaos made national news, MLB banned unlimited alcohol promos.

10-Cent Beer Night: A look back by Sports & Extras Network