What was the significance of the Landis decision after the Black Sox scandal?

• A. He expanded the league by adding teams.
• B. He removed all penalties for the scandal.
• C. He became MLB's first commissioner and prioritized protecting the integrity of the game.
• D. He dissolved the league.

Answer: (C)

After the Black Sox scandal, baseball needed a single, authoritative figure to restore trust and set consistent rules across the whole sport. That led to the creation of MLB’s first commissioner, a role designed to oversee all teams rather than any one club. The core significance is that the commissioner would prioritize protecting the game's integrity, using broad power to enforce uniform standards. Landis used this authority to impose landmark penalties, including lifetime bans on players implicated in the fix, signaling that corruption would face serious consequences. This centralized leadership established a precedent for how the league would be governed and trusted moving forward. The other options miss the point, as the change was about governance and integrity, not expanding teams, removing penalties, or dissolving the league.