Oh boy, did the MLB season kick off with a bang or what? The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres threw the first pitch in Seoul, South Korea. And just like that, Shohei Ohtani, the global superstar, found himself in the spotlight. Not for his debut, though, but for a controversy. Yep, you read that right.
His longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, got the boot from the Dodgers. Why? Allegations of illegal gambling. But hold up, Mizuhara wasn’t betting on baseball. That’s a no-no in the MLB. They can bet on other sports, sure, as long as it’s legal where they are. And, uh, gambling’s a big nope in California.
So, Mizuhara allegedly placed bets with this guy, Matthew Bowyer. Accused bookmaker, central to a bigger investigation. Bowyer’s lawyer says he’s never even met Ohtani. Things get kinda fuzzy from there.
In an ESPN chat, Mizuhara first said Ohtani covered his gambling debts. Then, whoops, backtracked. Said Ohtani didn’t know a thing. Didn’t send money to any bookie’s buddy. Meanwhile, Berk Brettler’s law firm’s like, “Shohei’s been robbed big time.” They’re taking it to the authorities.
MLB’s got their eyes peeled, trying to piece it all together. They were out of the loop until the story broke. Baseball and betting, though? They go way back. And not always in a good way. CBS Sports thought, hey, let’s dive into some of that messy history.
1865: The New York City Mutuals make history
So, the Mutuals were amateurs, but they dabbled in game-fixing. Got tempted by a gambler to lose on purpose to the Eckfords of Brooklyn. Three players got the boot from the National Association of Baseball Players.
1871: Chadwick scolds league as gambling reaches the pros
Enter the National Association, the first pro baseball league. It was a hot mess. Game-fixing left and right. Henry Chadwick, the “Father of Baseball,” was not having it. He couldn’t prove it, but he knew those games weren’t on the level.
The National Association didn’t last. The National League popped up, promising to be better. They tried, but let’s just say it was complicated.
1877: Grays mess around, find out
The National League had its own drama. Al Nichols and some Louisville Grays got caught throwing games for cash. They got banned. Fast forward through loads of other scandals…
1903: Criger rejects offer to throw first World Series
The first modern World Series had its own scandal dodged. Lou Criger said no to a bribe to lose. Cy Young’s Boston Americans played it straight and won against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Integrity for the win.
1919: The Black Sox Scandal
The big one. The Chicago White Sox threw the World Series for mob money. “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s name got dragged through the mud. Eight players got banned for life, even though they were acquitted in court. This shook baseball to its core.
Fast forward again, because, oh boy, there’s more.
1947: Dodgers’ Durocher receives suspension
Leo Durocher, Dodgers manager, got benched for a season. Too cozy with gamblers. But no evidence he bet on baseball. He got back in the game the next year.
1970: McLain suspended for ties to gambling
Denny McLain, a star pitcher, got sidelined for his bookmaking past. Came back to pitch, but his career had taken a hit.
1980, 1983: Mays and Mantle suspended
Baseball legends Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle got the cold shoulder from baseball for working with casinos. They got reinstated later, but it was a whole thing.
1989: Rose banished
Pete Rose, huge name, got banned for betting on games he managed. Denied it for years, then admitted it. Still banned, but he’s inching back into baseball’s good graces.
2024: Mizuhara fired
And here we are. Mizuhara’s future is up in the air. Baseball’s relationship with gambling has evolved. It’s legal in many places now, and MLB’s even partnered with betting companies. It’s a new era, but the game’s old issues with betting linger.
So, what’s next? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure, baseball and betting will continue to cross paths, for better or worse.
