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{{short description|Major League Baseball pitcher (1884–1969)}}
{{Infobox MLB player
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{pp-semi-sock|small=yes}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Eddie Cicotte |name=Eddie Cicotte
|image=EddieCicotte55.jpg |image=EddieCicotte55.jpg
|caption = Cicotte c. 1919
|position=] |position=]
|bats=Both |bats=Both
|throws=Right |throws=Right
|birthdate={{Birth date|1884|6|19}} |birth_date={{Birth date|1884|6|19}}
|birthplace={{city-state|Springwells|Michigan}} |birth_place=], U.S.
|deathdate={{death date and age|1969|5|5|1884|6|19}} |death_date={{death date and age|1969|5|5|1884|6|19}}
|deathplace={{city-state|Livonia|Michigan}} |death_place=], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 3 |debutdate=September 3
|debutyear={{By|1905}} |debutyear=1905
|debutteam=] |debutteam=Detroit Tigers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 26 |finaldate=September 26
|finalyear={{By|1920}} |finalyear=1920
|finalteam=] |finalteam=Chicago White Sox
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=]
|stat1label=]
|stat1value=208-149 |stat1value=208–149
|stat2label=] |stat2label=]
|stat2value=2.38 |stat2value=2.38
|stat3label=]s |stat3label=]s
|stat3value=1,374 |stat3value=1,374
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki> |teams=
* ] ({{By|1905}}) * ] ({{mlby|1905}})
* ] ({{By|1908}}-{{By|1912}}) * ] ({{mlby|1908}}–{{mlby|1912}})
* ] ({{By|1912}}-{{By|1920}}) * ] ({{mlby|1912}}–{{mlby|1920}})
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki> |highlights=
* ] champion (]) * ] champion (])
⚫ * 2× ] (1917, 1919)
* Led AL in wins in 1917 and 1919
* ] (1917)
* Led AL in ERA in 1917 with 1.53
* Pitched a ] on April 14, 1917
}} }}


'''Edward Victor Cicotte''' ({{pron-en|ˈsiːkɒt|}} (June 19, 1884 &ndash; May 5, 1969), nicknamed "Knuckles", was an ] right-handed ] in ] best known for his time with the ]. He was one of eight players permanently ineligible for professional baseball for his alleged participation in the ] in the ], in which the favored ] lost to the ] in eight games. '''Edward Victor Cicotte''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|iː|k|ɒ|t}};<ref></ref><ref>"Cicotte Calls Life Sentence Too Rough". ''Charleston Gazette'', p.&nbsp;13.</ref> June 19, 1884 – May 5, 1969), nicknamed "'''Knuckles'''", was an American right-handed ] in ] best known for his time with the ]. He was one of eight players permanently ineligible for professional baseball for his alleged participation in the ] in the ], in which the favored White Sox lost to the ] in eight games.<ref>Pegler, Westbrook (September 24, 1956)</ref> The "fixing" of the 1919 World Series is the only recognized gambling scandal to tarnish a World Series.<ref>Pennington, Bill (May 14, 2011) ''New York Times''. Retrieved 2011-10-14.</ref>


== Biography == ==Family==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2018}}
⚫ Cicotte was the son of Ambrose Cicotte and Archange Mary Drouillard, both of mainly French-Canadian extraction. He married Rose Ellen Freer, daughter of Russell John Freer and Annie Cecile Thornton, both of whom would later live with the Cicottes. They had two daughters, Rose and Virginia, and one son, Edward Jr.


⚫ ==Career==
⚫ Cicotte was the son of Ambrose Cicotte (1843–1894) and Archange Mary Drouillard (1843–1909), both of mainly French-Canadian extraction. His father's early death is said to have pushed Cicotte to excel and be very protective of his family. He married Rose Ellen Freer (1885–1958), daughter of Russell John Freer (1852–1932) and Annie Cecile Thornton (1863–1928), both of whom would later live with the Cicottes. They had two daughters, Rose (born 1906) and Virginia (1916–1992), and one son, Edward Jr. (1919–1992).
⚫ Cicotte was a ] and a ] specialist who won 208 games and lost 149 over the course of a 14-year career pitching for the ], ], and ]. At the time of his lifetime ban, he was considered one of the premier pitchers in the American League.


⚫ A ] native, Cicotte played ] for the ] in ] in 1905, where he was a teammate of ]. Both players were purchased by the Tigers, and Cicotte made his big-league debut on September 3, 1905. Pitching in three games for Detroit, Cicotte compiled a 1–1 record with a 3.50 ].
⚫ === Career ===


⚫ Cicotte did not return to the major leagues again until 1908, when he resurfaced with the Red Sox. After he compiled a 41–48 record in a Boston uniform, the Red Sox sold him to the White Sox on July 22, 1912.
⚫ Cicotte was a ] and a ] specialist who won 208 games and lost 149 over the course of a 14-year career pitching for the ], ], and ]. At the time of his lifetime ban, he was considered one of the premier pitchers in the American League.


⚫ Cicotte celebrated a breakout year in 1913, going 18–11 on the season with an ERA of 1.58. He led the league in ] in 1916, but his best year was 1917, when he won 28 games and led the league in wins, ERA, and ]. On April 14 he threw a ] against the ]. From September 15, 1916, to July 25, 1917, Cicotte pitched 25 straight starts in which he allowed three earned runs or less with at least six innings pitched, which retroactively became known as the ]. Cicotte's 25 game streak was the most for a half-century until ] passed him.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/29070/prospectus-feature-i-come-to-praise-quality-starts-not-to-bury-them/ | title=Prospectus Feature: I Come to Praise Quality Starts, Not to Bury Them | date=2 May 2016 }}</ref> That year, the White Sox went to the ], defeating the ] 4 games to 2. Cicotte won Game 1, lost Game 3, and pitched six innings of relief in Game 5 for a no-decision.
⚫ A ] native, Cicotte played baseball in ] in 1905, where he was a teammate of ]. Both players were purchased by the Tigers, and Cicotte made his big-league debut on September 3, 1905. Pitching in three games for Detroit, Cicotte compiled a 1-1 record with a 3.50 ].


⚫ Injuries reduced Cicotte to a 12–19 record in 1918, but in 1919, he rebounded to win 29 games and once again led the league in wins, winning percentage, and innings pitched, as well as in ]s. His 1919 salary was $6,000, but he had a provision for a $10,000 bonus if he won 30 games. Legend has it that as the season drew to a close, owner ] ordered manager ] to bench Cicotte for 5 games, denying him a chance at a 30-win season and the bonus money.
⚫ Cicotte didn't return to the major leagues again until 1908, when he resurfaced with the Red Sox. After he compiled a 41-48 record in a Boston uniform, the Red Sox sold him to the White Sox on July 22, 1912.


⚫ ==Scandal==
⚫ Cicotte celebrated a breakout year in 1913, going 18-12 on the season with an ERA of 1.58. He went on to lead the league in ] in 1916. But his best year was 1917, when he won 28 games and led the league in wins, ERA, and ]. On April 14 he threw a ] against the ]. That year, the White Sox went to the World Series, defeating the ] 4 games to 2. Cicotte won Game 1, lost Game 3, and pitched six innings of relief in Game 5 for a no-decision.
]

⚫ The book '']'' by ] and the movie based on the book does record that Cicotte, despite being grossly underpaid for a pitcher of his ability, resisted repeated attempts by ] to get him to throw the series until just days before the World Series opened when it became clear that Comiskey would never pay him even part of the promised bonus.
⚫ Injuries reduced Cicotte to a 12-19 record in 1918, but in 1919, he rebounded to win 29 games and once again lead the league in wins, winning percentage, and innings pitched, as well as in ]s. His 1919 salary was $6,000, but he had a provision for a $10,000 bonus if he won 30 games. Legend has it that as the season drew to a close, owner ] ordered manager ] to bench Cicotte, denying him a chance at a 30-win season and the bonus money. Some have speculated this was his motivation for participating in the ], although the facts do not appear to support this conclusion. (See ].)

⚫ === Scandal ===

⚫ However, the book '']'' by ] and the movie based on the book does record that Cicotte, despite being grossly underpaid for a pitcher of his ability, resisted repeated attempts by ] to get him to throw the series until just days before the World Series opened when it became clear that Comiskey would never pay him even part of the promised bonus. The fact that the offer price for the fix exactly matched the promised bonus, lends credibility to this version of events.


In the 1919 World Series against the Reds, Cicotte pitched in three games, winning one but pitching ineffectively and losing the other two. In the 1919 World Series against the Reds, Cicotte pitched in three games, winning one but pitching ineffectively and losing the other two.


Cicotte was the first of the eight players to come forward, signing a confession and a waiver of immunity. He later recanted this confession and was acquitted of all charges at trial by jury. Despite this, Cicotte and his alleged co-conspirators were subsequently made permanently ineligible for baseball by ], Major League Baseball's new commissioner, recently hired to restore the integrity of the game in the wake of the 1919 scandal. Cicotte was the first of the eight players to come forward, signing a confession and a waiver of immunity. He later recanted this confession and was acquitted of all charges at trial by jury. Despite this, Cicotte and his alleged co-conspirators were subsequently made permanently ineligible for baseball by ], Major League Baseball's new commissioner, recently hired to restore the integrity of the game in the wake of the 1919 scandal.


⚫ ==Aftermath==
His baseball career over, Cicotte returned to Livonia MI., where he worked for the ] and other miscellaneous jobs, including a berry farmer, until his death in Livonia at age 84. He also served as a ] in the ].
After being banned from playing baseball, Cicotte returned to ]. He managed a service station, served as a ] in the ], then went to work for ], where he retired in 1944. Cicotte lived to be 84 years old. He was a strawberry farmer on a {{convert|5.5|acre|adj=on}} farm near Farmington until his death at ] in Detroit on May 5, 1969.<ref>Sandoval, Jim. ''] Baseball Biography Project''. Retrieved 2011-10-16.</ref>


⚫ In the 1988 film '']'', about the Black Sox scandal, Cicotte is portrayed by actor ].
⚫ === Aftermath ===
⚫ In the ] film '']'', about the Black Sox scandal, Cicotte is portrayed by actor ].


Portrayed by actor ] in the 1989 film ]. He was portrayed by actor ] in the 1989 film '']''.


Cicotte's grandnephew ] (1929–1982) would later pitch in the major leagues, compiling a lifetime 10-13 record with six different teams, 1957-1962. Cicotte's grandnephew ] (1929–1982) later pitched in the major leagues, compiling a lifetime 10–13 record with six teams between 1957 and 1962.


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
⚫ * ]
⚫ * ]
* ] * ]
⚫ * ]


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=c/cicoted01 |fangraphs=1002236 |cube=C/eddie-cicotte}} {{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=c/cicoted01 |fangraphs=1002236 |brm=cicott001edw}}
*{{Find a Grave}}
:


{{start box}} {{s-start}}
{{succession box | title=] | before= ] | years= April 14, 1917 | after= ]}} {{succession box | title=] | before= ] | years= April 14, 1917 | after= ]}}
⚫ {{s-end}}
{{succession box | title=] | before= ] | years=1917 | after= ]}}

{{succession box
| title = ]
| years = 1917<br>1919
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{{1917 Chicago White Sox}} {{1917 Chicago White Sox}}
{{AL wins champions}}
{{AL ERA champions}}
{{Boston Red Sox Opening Day starting pitchers}} {{Boston Red Sox Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Chicago White Sox Opening Day starting pitchers}} {{Chicago White Sox Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Black Sox Scandal}} {{Black Sox Scandal}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball}}


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Latest revision as of 05:52, 31 December 2024

Major League Baseball pitcher (1884–1969)

Baseball player
Eddie Cicotte
Cicotte c. 1919
Pitcher
Born: (1884-06-19)June 19, 1884
Springwells, Michigan, U.S.
Died: May 5, 1969(1969-05-05) (aged 84)
Livonia, Michigan, U.S.
Batted: BothThrew: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 1905, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
September 26, 1920, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record208–149
Earned run average2.38
Strikeouts1,374
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Edward Victor Cicotte (/ˈsiːkɒt/; June 19, 1884 – May 5, 1969), nicknamed "Knuckles", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox. He was one of eight players permanently ineligible for professional baseball for his alleged participation in the Black Sox scandal in the 1919 World Series, in which the favored White Sox lost to the Cincinnati Reds in eight games. The "fixing" of the 1919 World Series is the only recognized gambling scandal to tarnish a World Series.

Family

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Cicotte was the son of Ambrose Cicotte and Archange Mary Drouillard, both of mainly French-Canadian extraction. He married Rose Ellen Freer, daughter of Russell John Freer and Annie Cecile Thornton, both of whom would later live with the Cicottes. They had two daughters, Rose and Virginia, and one son, Edward Jr.

Career

Cicotte was a starting pitcher and a knuckleball specialist who won 208 games and lost 149 over the course of a 14-year career pitching for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox. At the time of his lifetime ban, he was considered one of the premier pitchers in the American League.

A Detroit native, Cicotte played minor league baseball for the Augusta Tourists in Georgia in 1905, where he was a teammate of Ty Cobb. Both players were purchased by the Tigers, and Cicotte made his big-league debut on September 3, 1905. Pitching in three games for Detroit, Cicotte compiled a 1–1 record with a 3.50 earned run average.

Cicotte did not return to the major leagues again until 1908, when he resurfaced with the Red Sox. After he compiled a 41–48 record in a Boston uniform, the Red Sox sold him to the White Sox on July 22, 1912.

Cicotte celebrated a breakout year in 1913, going 18–11 on the season with an ERA of 1.58. He led the league in winning percentage in 1916, but his best year was 1917, when he won 28 games and led the league in wins, ERA, and innings pitched. On April 14 he threw a no hitter against the St. Louis Browns. From September 15, 1916, to July 25, 1917, Cicotte pitched 25 straight starts in which he allowed three earned runs or less with at least six innings pitched, which retroactively became known as the quality start. Cicotte's 25 game streak was the most for a half-century until Bob Gibson passed him. That year, the White Sox went to the World Series, defeating the New York Giants 4 games to 2. Cicotte won Game 1, lost Game 3, and pitched six innings of relief in Game 5 for a no-decision.

Injuries reduced Cicotte to a 12–19 record in 1918, but in 1919, he rebounded to win 29 games and once again led the league in wins, winning percentage, and innings pitched, as well as in complete games. His 1919 salary was $6,000, but he had a provision for a $10,000 bonus if he won 30 games. Legend has it that as the season drew to a close, owner Charles Comiskey ordered manager Kid Gleason to bench Cicotte for 5 games, denying him a chance at a 30-win season and the bonus money.

Scandal

Cicotte in 1913

The book Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof and the movie based on the book does record that Cicotte, despite being grossly underpaid for a pitcher of his ability, resisted repeated attempts by Chick Gandil to get him to throw the series until just days before the World Series opened when it became clear that Comiskey would never pay him even part of the promised bonus.

In the 1919 World Series against the Reds, Cicotte pitched in three games, winning one but pitching ineffectively and losing the other two.

Cicotte was the first of the eight players to come forward, signing a confession and a waiver of immunity. He later recanted this confession and was acquitted of all charges at trial by jury. Despite this, Cicotte and his alleged co-conspirators were subsequently made permanently ineligible for baseball by Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Major League Baseball's new commissioner, recently hired to restore the integrity of the game in the wake of the 1919 scandal.

Aftermath

After being banned from playing baseball, Cicotte returned to Livonia, Michigan. He managed a service station, served as a game warden in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, then went to work for Ford Motor Company, where he retired in 1944. Cicotte lived to be 84 years old. He was a strawberry farmer on a 5.5-acre (2.2 ha) farm near Farmington until his death at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit on May 5, 1969.

In the 1988 film Eight Men Out, about the Black Sox scandal, Cicotte is portrayed by actor David Strathairn.

He was portrayed by actor Steve Eastin in the 1989 film Field of Dreams.

Cicotte's grandnephew Al Cicotte (1929–1982) later pitched in the major leagues, compiling a lifetime 10–13 record with six teams between 1957 and 1962.

See also

References

  1. SBNation South Side Sox – Eddie Cicotte: From the Hall of Fame Library player files
  2. "Cicotte Calls Life Sentence Too Rough". Charleston Gazette, p. 13.
  3. Pegler, Westbrook (September 24, 1956)
  4. Pennington, Bill (May 14, 2011)"Whiff of Scandal Wafts Over 1918 World Series" New York Times. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
  5. "Prospectus Feature: I Come to Praise Quality Starts, Not to Bury Them". May 2, 2016.
  6. Sandoval, Jim. "Eddie Cicotte" SABR Baseball Biography Project. Retrieved 2011-10-16.

External links

Preceded byDutch Leonard No-hitter pitcher
April 14, 1917 		Succeeded byGeorge Mogridge
Chicago White Sox 1917 World Series champions
Joe Benz
Eddie Cicotte
Eddie Collins
Shano Collins
Dave Danforth
Red Faber
Happy Felsch
Chick Gandil
Joe Jackson
Joe Jenkins
Ted Jourdan
Nemo Leibold
Byrd Lynn
Fred McMullin
Eddie Murphy
Swede Risberg
Reb Russell
Ray Schalk
Jim Scott
Buck Weaver
Lefty Williams
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