One of the most infamous scandals in baseball history, the Black Sox Scandal involved eight players from the Chicago White Sox conspiring to fix the 1919 World Series. The players, led by Shoeless Joe Jackson, were accused of accepting bribes to throw the Series to the Cincinnati Reds.
On July 24, 1983, a game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees became controversial due to the use of pine tar on a bat. Royals' player George Brett hit a go-ahead home run, but Yankees manager Billy Martin argued that Brett's bat had too much pine tar on it, violating the rules.
The "Shovel Pass" Incident (1969) In a 1969 game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs, a controversial play involving a hidden ball trick led to the Cubs losing a crucial game.
During the 1996 American League Championship Series, a young fan named Jeffrey Maier reached over the outfield fence and interfered with a fly ball hit by New York Yankees' Derek Jeter. The umpires ruled it a home run, despite protests from the Baltimore Orioles.
In the 2005 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros, a controversial call by umpire Joe West during Game 2 led to significant uproar. West made a questionable decision on a check swing, which many felt adversely affected the outcome of the game.
The spitball was a controversial pitch that involved applying saliva to the baseball to alter its trajectory. Although outlawed in 1920, players like Gaylord Perry continued to use the pitch covertly.
During the 1932 World Series, Babe Ruth’s "Called Shot" became one of baseball's most debated moments. Ruth allegedly pointed to the outfield before hitting a home run to that exact spot.