enterfielder Happy Felsch was beginning his fifth Major League season with the Chicago White Sox in 1919. Possessing an acceptionally strong throwing arm, "Hap" established himself as one of the premier defensive ballplayers in the game. He was considered by many as an equal to the great Tris Speaker when it came to playing in the outfield. Offensively, 1919 was a good year for Happy as well. In 135 games, he collected 138 hits, 86 RBI's and batted .275. His salary for the 1919 season was $4,000.

 

It was during the last week of the 1919 season that teammate Chick Gandil approached Happy and brought up the idea of fixing the World Series. "I didn't want to get in on the deal at first" Felsch would later admit. "I knew that if I stayed out of the deal and said nothing...they would go ahead without me and I'd be that much money out without accomplishing anything."

For his part in throwing the 1919 World Series, Happy Felsch received $5,000. In the Series, he batted .192 and made several defensive misques.