Eight Men Out is a 1988 sports drama film based on the book by Eliot Asinof. It tells the story of the infamous "Black Sox" scandal of 1919, when eight members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team were accused of conspiring with gamblers to deliberately lose the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.
The film explores the tensions within the White Sox team, particularly between the players and the team owner, Charles Comiskey. Despite being one of the best teams in the league, many of the players were paid much less than they felt they deserved, and tensions were high even before the gamblers came into the picture.
Once the gamblers make their offer, several players, including superstar Shoeless Joe Jackson, agree to take the money. However, others, including Buck Weaver, initially refuse and then try to recant their involvement. Jackson plays well in the Series, but the rest of the team performs poorly, and the Reds win the championship.
After the truth about the scandal comes out, the eight players are put on trial, and although they are found not guilty by a jury, they are banned from baseball for life by commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. The film portrays the players as complex individuals, some of whom are genuinely remorseful for their actions, while others remain defiant and unrepentant.
Overall, Eight Men Out is a powerful portrayal of one of the darkest moments in baseball history, showing how greed and corruption can undermine even the most beloved national pastime. The film features a talented cast, including John Cusack as Buck Weaver, Charlie Sheen as Hap Felsch, and D.B. Sweeney as Shoeless Joe Jackson, and was praised for its attention to historical detail and its nuanced portrayal of the players and the scandal.