The FEDERAL LEAGUE

Claude Hendrix

Hendrix started his professional baseball career in 1908 with the Lincoln Western League club. He did not play much for the next two years as he played with various teams in Kansas and Nebraska. In 1910, he had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and they liked what they saw. They signed him to a contract and he pitched well for them through 1913. His best season for the Pirates was in 1912 when he won 24 games and led the National League in winning percentage.

In the Fall of 1913, Hendrix signed with the Chicago Federal League club.

On August 31st, 1920 the Hendrix was the scheduled starter for the Chicago Cubs in their game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cubs were in 6th place and the Phillies were in last. Before the game, Cubs President William Veeck, Sr. received alarming news that there was heavy betting on the Phillies to win and that the game was fixed.

The Cubs benched Hendrix and Grover Alexander was called upon to make an emergency start. Alexander pitched well but still lost 3-0. After the game Veeck, told the writers about the fix and soon there was a demand from the public to investigate this scandal but also into the 1919 World Series. There had been rumors up until this time about the White Sox throwing the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds but nothing was being done.

In the Fall, a grand jury was convened to investigate the Cubs scandal. They could not find enough evidence on Hendrix to convict but he was given his unconditional release by the Cubs after the 1920 season. Hendrix was never officially banned from baseball but he never returned to organized baseball.