Sport: Scandal

Herbert ("Dutch") Leonard, one-time Detroit baseball player, recently gave or sold certain letters to Byron Bancroft Johnson, president of the American League and to Judge Landis, baseball commissioner. Last week the letters were published; scandal flared. It seems, from Leonard's "grudge" testimony and from the letters, that Tyrus Cobb, Tristram Speaker, Joseph Wood and Leonard agreed that Detroit should win the ball game of Sept. 24, 1919, from Cleveland, and that they four would bet on it. Cleveland had second place in the league clinched; Detroit could be allowed to win the game and gain third place without harm to Cleveland, did win that game, 9 to 5. Cobb and Speaker both testified last week that they had not violated baseball ethics. Wood, who is now head baseball coach at Yale, could not be reached. Meanwhile critics pointed out that Cobb, according to Leonard's own statement, had not bet any money— that if he had bet the $2,000 on Detroit he would only have been betting on his own team, not necessarily a disgraceful act. Wood was not playing in the game. He could, therefore, do nothing to influence its outcome, and he was free to bet on any side he chose. This leaves Speaker as the kingpin, he was in the conspiracy, there was none. Now Speaker is not mentioned in the letters. There is no evidence against him—merely the word of Leonard. In the game, Speaker had six fielding chances and missed none of them. He was at bat five times and made hits, of which two were three baggers. He scored two runs.