Could This Ohtani Drama Ruin Baseball?

It isn't unprecedented

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I have been obsessed with the Ohtani story since it dropped on Wednesday. In large part, this is due to me craving baseball, being given two games, and then being stuck listening to people talk about 18-year-olds playing basketball for a corrupt corporation that makes billions off children. But I digress. Speaking of money and corruption, let’s discuss how this Ohtani situation could pan out.

Shohei claims he had “no idea” about Ippei’s theft of $4.5 million that went to illegal bookmakers. Remember, gambling is still illegal in California. Surprised by that fact? You are not alone.

So, Ippei was forced to use an illegal bookie to bet on “other sports.” However, the bookie was paid directly from Ohtani’s accounts, which sparked the Fed to investigate the situation further. Ippei initially stated that Ohtani knew about these payments but has since retracted that statement.

Assuming this is true, the rule below, would most likely come into effect.

Many assume that Manfred would not punish Ohtani as he is not the one making the bets. But if it comes out that he was aware of the payments going to the illegal bookie, I do not see how the league could ignore it.

Here is a quick synopsis of the ESPN article and the fallout

• Ohtani’s name comes up in a federal investigation.

• Ohtani's team says Shohei transferred the money to the bookkeeper to pay Ippei's debt.

• Ohtani team sends Ippei to ESPN. He states Ohtani NEVER gambled. Shohei felt bad for him, so he paid off the debt.

• Ohtani's team says Ippei is lying, and there has been a “massive theft.”

• Ohtani and Ippei partake in Seoul series game one this morning.

• Ippei tells ESPN that Shohei had no knowledge of his gambling debts.

• He “never bet on baseball.” (Have you ever heard that one before?)

• Ippei addresses the team in the clubhouse. Says a story will come out that is all his fault. (Remember, he was in the dugout laughing and grabbing tush an hour beforehand)

• Ippei was fired from the Dodgers.

• Chaos ensues.

• MLB says there is no investigation on Ohtani.

• It is now being reported that Ohtani learned about the $4.5 million theft AT the clubhouse when Ippei told everyone….

• MLB is now investigating Ohtani and Ippei.

• Dave Roberts says, “It will be good to see Ohtani clear everything up.”

• Ohtani has a press conference where he denies any involvement in the gambling ring.

• Ohtani reiterates he didn’t know anything until Ippei announced what was going on in the clubhouse after game one of the Seoul Series.

This situation is far from over. I hope for baseball that Shohei Ohtani had no involvement in any of this and that it will be buried and forgotten in a few weeks. However, someone needs to look into the team that controls Ohtani’s day-to-day operations.

The fact that no one gave him a heads-up prior to Ippei making the announcement to the team still makes me skeptical about everything.

Regardless of what happens. This will be one of the biggest gambling stories in baseball history. For some of the others check out the list below!

The Big Boys

1. The Black Sox Scandal (1919)

The Black Sox Scandal, one of the most infamous episodes in MLB history, involved eight members of the Chicago White Sox conspiring to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The scandal was named after the team and led to the players being forever known as the "Black Sox."

The exact amounts promised and paid to the players have been subjects of speculation and varying accounts over the years. However, it's widely reported that the players were promised a total of $100,000( around $1.7 million today) to be divided among them for conspiring to lose the Series intentionally. In terms of actual payments received, the amounts varied and were significantly less than promised, contributing to the players' dissatisfaction and eventual unraveling of the scheme.

Some accounts suggest that the players received only about $10,000 to $20,000 of the promised amount, with payments being made in installments at various points during the Series. The disparity between the promised and actual amounts was a point of contention and led to mistrust among the conspirators and with the gamblers who orchestrated the fix.

The eight players involved were:

• Eddie Cicotte

• Oscar "Happy" Felsch

• Arnold "Chick" Gandil

• "Shoeless" Joe Jackson

• Fred McMullin

• Charles "Swede" Risberg

• George "Buck" Weaver

• Claude "Lefty" Williams

Despite their acquittal in a public trial in 1921, all eight players were permanently banned from professional baseball by the newly appointed Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, as part of his efforts to restore the integrity of the game.

Arnold Rothstein, who led the conspiracy, was rumored to make around $350,000 on the series. Calculating for inflation, that is around $6,278,271 in 2024.

The scandal rocked baseball, and for a moment in time, some thought there was no coming back. And then a boy from Baltimore started swatting balls out of stadiums….

2. Pete Rose Betting Scandal (1989)

Pete Rose, one of baseball's most celebrated players and the all-time hits leader, was permanently banned from baseball by Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti for betting on baseball games, including games involving his own team, the Cincinnati Reds, while he was their manager. Rose, who was given the chance to apologize, denied it and would only admit to his folly years later.

Rose was betting somewhere between $8,000-$10,000 a game. Of course, his biggest transgression was betting on the Cincinnati Reds while he was part of the organization.

If Rose would have told the truth in the beginning there is a real chance he wouldn’t have gotten the lifetime ban. If you really want to dive deep into the Rose saga check out my review of “Charlie Hustle” by Keith O’Brien here!

Other Instances

1. Hal Chase Betting Allegations (1910s-1920s)

Hal Chase, a talented first baseman and manager, was repeatedly accused of throwing games and betting against his own teams throughout his career in the early 20th century. Despite being considered one of the best defensive first basemen of his era, Chase's alleged gambling activities and involvement in fixing games overshadowed his on-field achievements.

2. The Denny McLain Suspension (1970)

Denny McLain, the last MLB pitcher to win 30 games in a season, was suspended for the entire 1970 season due to his involvement in a bookmaking operation. McLain's off-field troubles, including gambling debts, significantly impacted his career, which sharply declined following his suspension.

3. Leo Durocher's Suspension (1947)

Leo Durocher, the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was suspended for the entire 1947 season by Commissioner Happy Chandler for "conduct detrimental to baseball." The suspension was partly due to Durocher's association with known gamblers, highlighting baseball's efforts to maintain the integrity of the game by distancing itself from gambling influences.

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