Why Baseball Hall Of Famer Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis Once Sentenced A Man To Jail For 1 Hour
The notoriously tough judge occasionally showed a softer side
The very first commissioner of Major League Baseball was Kenesaw Mountain Landis, a judge known for his severity and unblinking devotion to administering law and order. Prior to becoming the ultimate authoritarian for the National Pastime, he oversaw legal cases from the bench for years. Although he had the same reputation, he proved to not always be a hanging judge, as he once sentenced a man who had pleaded guilty to theft to one hour in jail so he could attend to his sick wife.
Landis, a United States District Court judge appointed by President Teddy Roosevelt, served on the bench in that capacity for nearly 15 years out of Chicago. He cemented his reputation as a no-nonsense jurist by fining Standard Oil $29 million. Such fearlessness in facing down big business brought him notoriety, even if his landmark decision was overturned later on appeal. He carried over to imposing harsh punishments on those brought before him in cases where they were accused of subverting American war efforts during World War I.
In 1920, Major League Baseball was just a year removed from the Black Sox scandal, where eight players from the Chicago White…