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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 premiere pitchers in the American League.
A Detroit native, Cicotte played baseball 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, 1905See also 1904 in sports, other events of 1905, 1906 in sports and the Sports timeline. Baseball World Series: the New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Athletics four games to one. Debutes: Hal Chase ( April 14), Ty Cobb ( August 30), Eddie Cicotte (. Pitching in three games for Detroit, Cicotte compiled a 1-1 record with a 3.50 ERAIn baseball statistics, the earned run average (denoted by ERA is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by multiplying the number of earned runs allowed by nine, and dividing by the number of innings pitc.
Cicotte didn't return to the major leagues again until 1908, when he resurfaced with the Red Sox. Compiling 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 18-12 on the season with an ERA of 1.58. He went on to lead the league in winning percentage in 1916. But his best year was 1917, when he won 28 games and led the league in winIn baseball, a pitcher is credited with a win (or W ) when, in a game won by his team, he is the team's pitcher at the time that his team takes a lead that it does not relinquish for the remainder of the game. An exception to this is that a pitcher who sts, ERA, and innings pitchedIn baseball, innings pitched IP are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and runners that are put out while the pitcher is in the game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third. That year, the White Sox went to the World Series, defeating the New York GiantsThe New York Giants are a National Football League team originating in New York City, but currently based in New Jersey. For the major league baseball team once known as the New York Giants see San Francisco Giants. For the short-lived 1921 team, see Bric 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 lead 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. As the season drew to a close, owner Charles ComiskeyCharles Albert Comiskey ( August 15, 1859 October 26, 1931) was a Major League Baseball player, manager and owner. Comiskey Park, built under his guidance, was named in his honour. Comiskey entered the American Association in 1882 as a member of the St. ordered manager Kid Gleason 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 fix.
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 the confession and demanded a trial. He was found innocent by a Grand Jury but banned from baseball for life.
His baseball career over, Cicotte returned to Detroit, where he worked for the Ford Motor Company and other miscellaneous jobs until his death on May 5, 1969 in Detroit at age 84.
In the 1988 film Eight Men Out , about the Black Sox scandal, Cicotte is portrayed by actor David Strathairn.