Rare footage of infamous 1919 Black Sox World Series surfaces (Video)

The 1919 World Series is one of those historic sports events everyone wishes they could have been there to experience.

What was it really like watching the Chicago White Sox throw the World Series after taking money from gamblers? Could you tell from the stands that something was fishy?

For decades, all we’ve had are books, fictional movies like the John Cusack flick Eight Men Out and lots of anecdotes.

Now we have a little bit more. At last, we have some real, amazingly clear and telling footage from the World Series the White Sox threw.

The newsreel footage from British Canadian Pathe was recently uncovered after being stored in an archive for years. Before landing in the archive, the film cans were reportedly used to fill in a swimming pool that was being converted into a hockey rink.

Somehow, the film survived, though it is a little banged up. And now thanks to the efforts of archivists and the magic of the internet, we can watch this historic footage.

Included on the reel is one amazing moment where pitcher Eddie Cicotte, one of the eight players who threw the Series and later was banned from baseball for life by commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, can be seen making no effort whatsoever to field an infield grounder.

Cicotte, one of the great pitchers of that era, was totally shelled in that particular game. Even at the time, people thought they smelled a rat.

Now thanks to this film, that ratty smell can come home to us, almost one hundred years later.