Kyle Tucker hits a three-run, two-out home run to give the Astros a 5-0 win over the Red Sox in eighth inning. (0:31).
As the 2021 MLB playoffs go on, the second half of the World Series has begun: Friday's win by the Houston Astros over the Boston Red Sox 5-0 was enough to secure the American League Championship Series victory and send them to their third Fall Classic in five seasons.
Houston defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers seven times in 2017. This was Houston's only championship. However, the scandal surrounding that 2017 season has made it difficult to recall. Major League Baseball had to investigate and punish the organization for stealing signage, and the team and its core members have been constantly reminded of this ever since.
Here are some key moments from the original allegations up to today, as the Astros return to the World Series.
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Nov. 12, 2019, The Athletic published an article in which former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers claimed that the team used various sign-stealing techniques during 2017. Fiers claimed that the team used a central-field camera to transmit video to a room just behind their dugout. To alert hitters of incoming pitches, players would bang on the trashcan.
The official investigation by MLB, which began with The Athletic, revealed that Carlos Beltran, an Astros outfielder, and other players had discussed ways to improve their decoding skills about two months into 2017. Alex Cora, then-Astros bench coach, installed a TV monitor in the dugout to allow players and staff to see it. They devised a code for tipping pitches using trash can banging. MLB's investigation revealed that this effort was largely player-driven.
Internet sleuths began to investigate the initial report and posted video clips to track every trash can banging.
November 22, 2019, ESPN: Sources have revealed that MLB officials asked MLB players about their knowledge of various sign-stealing techniques.
These techniques included, at the time, "buzzing" via Band-Aid-like wearable stickers; furtive earspieces; pitch-picking algorithms; as well as other possible methods.
January 13, 2020: Rob Manfred, MLB commissioner, announced the results of the investigation.
He stated that he held Jeff Luhnow, general manager, "personally responsible for the conduct of his team." The general manager's job is to monitor the activities of his players and staff, and ensure they conform to both the club rules and MLB guidelines.
According to the report, AJ Hinch was not involved in or devised the scheme. He did not stop the scheme. To show his displeasure, he twice smashed the video monitor.
It was also reported that the scheme wasn't used by the Astros when they returned to the World Series in 2018, losing to the Washington Nationals.
The Astros fired Luhnow, Hinch and other Astros players. The Astros fined the team $5 million. This is the maximum amount they could be penalized financially. Hinch was banned from managing the team for a year.
Astros fired AJ Hinch and suspended him from managing the Astros for a year as a result. AP Photo/Eric Gay
Jan. 14, 2020: Cora, who was appointed Red Sox manager in 2018, was implicated in the report. The club and Cora agreed to part ways while they waited for punishment from the league.
January 16, 2020: Beltran was named as the only player in MLB's investigation. He was fired from his position as manager of New York Mets before he had managed a single game.
This was the day that Carlos Beltran's "niece” tweets alleged that buzzers were used and that the internet went wild - though none of this was ever proven.
Jan. 28, 2020: Astros announce the hiring of Dusty Baker to be their new manager. The agreement was for one season and included a team option for 2021.
February 6, 2020: Hinch in an interview with MLB Network didn't deny that Houston's 2017 World Series title had been marred by the sign-stealing scandal.
February 13, 2020: Astros players Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve made brief statements of regret for their involvement in the sign-stealing scheme during spring training in West Palm Beach.
Carlos Correa, Houston Astros, congratulates Jose Altuve on his two-run homer in the sixth against Boston Red Sox during Game One at Minute Maid Park of the American League Championship Series. Elsa/Getty Images
Altuve stated that the Astros had a great team meeting and that the entire Astros organization is sorry for 2017's events.
He said, "[I] feel especially remorseful for the impact on our supporters and the game of Baseball."
February 13, 2020: Aroldis Chapman, a New York Yankees relief pitcher, said Altuve's actions in the 2019 ALCS finale were "a little suspect." Chapman was also part the Yankees team that lost in 2017 to the Astros.
Altuve scored a game-winning walk-off homer against Chapman in the final game of 2019 ALCS. Altuve was attempting to reach third base when he reached for his collar, shouting at his teammates to not rip off his jersey. This led to speculation that Altuve might have been wearing a device that gave him the pitch's identity. Carlos Correa, Altuve's teammate, said that Altuve did not want his jersey torn because he didn’t want to show any bad tattoos.
Carlos Correa is one the few remaining players from the Houston Astros 2017 Championship team AP Photo/Winslow townson
February 16, 2020: Manfred defends the punishments imposed in response to the scandal of sign-stealing. However, no Astros players were penalized and the team retained its 2017 World Series title.
Manfred stated that the MLB would establish new rules for technology use before 2020 in a broad interview with Karl Ravech of ESPN.
February 18, 2020: The scandal was discovered by players in the league at the beginning of spring training.
Aaron Judge, a Yankees outfielder, said that the Astros won the 2017 World Series title because they had cheated. It wasn't earned by playing the game right and fighting until the end. It's important to compete. You have to put everything on the line and see who wins. It's hard to believe that someone else had an advantage.
Sign-stealing scandal: Did the Astros get what was due? What were the perceptions of opposing players? These are the words of those who were present during the game.
MLB players and execs in scandal over sign-stealing
February 22, 2020: The Astros were cheered when they took the field against the Nationals in the 2020 spring training opener.
The team was booed immediately at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Many fans had signs with asterisks in the stands.
July 20, 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic prevented fans from attending games and fans from booing the Astros at any ballpark.
July 28, 2020: The first meeting between the Astros and Dodgers since the sign-stealing scandal broke, Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw an errant fastball behind Bregman's neck and then taunted Carlos Correa as he made his way back to the dugout. Kelly was initially suspended eight games by MLB for inciting the bench-clearing incident. The suspension was reduced to five days after an appeal.
Kelly claimed that Kelly's anger at Astros players was more about how they handled the sign theft investigation than it was the cheating itself.
Kelly, a guest on "The Big Swing," a podcast hosted and hosted by Ross Stripling, said that "the people who took the falls for what happened was nonsense." "Yes, everybody is involved. The coaching staff was not responsible for the way the sign-stealing system was implemented. They are not the head boss. They are not the boss. It's the players. Now the players have immunity. They can just go snitch like little b ----,, and they don’t have to be fined or lose games.
October 8, 2020: The Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics to reach their fourth consecutive ALCS. In seven games, they lost to the Rays.
Oct. 19, 2020: Luhnow denied once again knowing about the Astros' signing theft and claimed that individuals involved in the scandal were still working at the club.
KPRC Houston reported that Luhnow had access to 22,000 texts from Astros video staff after his firing. The messages, which were part MLB's investigation into the scandal, showed the extent of the cheating and exonerated Luhnow.
Manfred responded by disputing Luhnow's account: "It's pretty obvious from the facts, Mr. Luhnow failed that to discharge that obligation. He caused damage to the game and was therefore disciplined."
Nov. 9, 2020: Luhnow filed suit against the Astros for breaching contract. He sought more than $22,000,000 after claiming that his firing was the result of a "negotiated settlement" between Jim Crane, Manfred and which allowed the Astros to retain their 2017 World Series title.
Luhnow's lawyers wrote in the filing, that Crane and Manfred had "scapegoated Luhnow" for a sign-stealing scheme that he was unaware of and did not participate in.
April 2, 2021: The Astros played on the road for the first time since the scandal broke. Fans cheered in Oakland and chanted "Cheaters!" During the series with A's, this was a regular occurrence. "It was good to hear some boos. It wasn't enjoyable to listen to. But we played well so it didn’t matter," said Zach Greinke, Houston's pitcher after the 8-1 win. "Hopefully, we'll continue to play good and it won’t be as much of an issue."
April 6, 2021: A trash can was thrown onto the Astros' field during their away game against Los Angeles Angels.
There were also signs and chants of "Astros suckers!" "Cheaters!" "Cheaters!" and "Where's my trash can?" When Yuli Gurriel was up to bat, Altuve, Bregman and Correa also received nonstop boos.
Astros fans were not shy about criticizing the sign-stealing scandal. This sign was just one example of the constant heckling that the team received Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Baker stated after one game, "You can see the amount hostility and hatred in the stands." "How many people in the stands have never committed any crime in their lives?" It cost us dearly. I don't think there are many people who haven't cheated on some test or other occasion. It's not difficult if you live in glass homes, but I doubt anyone lives in glass homes."
July 11, 2021: Altuve and Judge faced off against the Yankees. With a walk-off homerun, the Astros shortstop won the final laugh. Altuve returned home in his shirt off
Oct. 10, 2021: White Sox reliever Ryan Tepera suggested that the Astros may have stolen signs during their division series. He said, "They've clearly had a reputation for doing some sketchy stuff," and pointed out Houston's home/road splits. Baker responded to Tepera's comments by calling them "heavy allegations" and saying, "I had never even seen his name before we played White Sox." He said, "So I don’t have any response to that other then I was listening Eric Clapton this morning and he had a song called 'Before you Accuse Me (Take A Look at Yourself)." ... Do you see what I'm referring to? This is all I have to say."
Houston defeated the White Sox to reach their fifth consecutive ALCS.
Oct. 22, 2021: The Astros defeated the Red Sox in Game 6 in the ALCS to reach their third World Series after five years.
