Shoeless Joe Jackson
| Birthdate | 7/16/1887 |
| Death Date | 12/5/1951 |
| Debut Year | 1908 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Athletics, Indians, White Sox |
| Positions | Center Field, Left Field, Right Field |
Shoeless Joe Jackson holds the record for highest batting average for a rookie (.408 in 1911); his .356 lifetime average is third all time.
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Despite his hitting prowess, Shoeless Joe Jackson is best remembered for his lifetime ban
Despite his hitting prowess, Shoeless Joe Jackson is best remembered for his lifetime ban
Joe Jackson was a natural-born hitter. In his rookie year he set a still-standing record for freshmen by hitting .408. It was no fluke.
In more than 5,500 career plate appearances, Jackson hit .356 with a .423 on-base percentage and a .517 slugging percentage. Those numbers rank among the baseball elite.
Despite this, Jackson will never earn a place in Cooperstown.
That possibility was washed away by the 1919 conspiracy to fix the World Series. Eight members of Charles Comiskey‘s White Sox were either in on the fix or knew about it. All eight were banned for life by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Many have sympathy for Jackson. He hit .375 and tallied 12 hits in the eight-game tilt to tie the single-Series record. The mark stood 45 years until Bobby Richardson eclipsed it. His supporters argue that his stellar play proves he didn’t throw any games.
Jackson remains ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration today more than a century after the memorable Fall Classic.
In the collection is this government postcard from 1949. Jackson received many autograph requests in the mail from fans. Unable to read and write, Jackson has his wife sign his name. Even examples like this one hold value in the collectable market.
The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum remains in Greenville, South Carolina
The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum remains in Greenville, South Carolina
Joe Jackson was born in Pickens County, South Carolina in 1887. Soon after his birth, the Jackson family moved a half-hour away to neighboring Greenville.
When Jackson reached the big leagues, he made his off-season home in Savannah, Georgia. In retirement he eventually returned to Greenville where he remained a local hero.
Today The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library remains in the sluggers home town. Fans from across the national visit Greenville to see the artifacts of Jackson’s career.
Shown here is the reverse of the government postcard signed by Jackson’s wife. Notice the postmark from Greenville and the date of January 18, 1949.
Such specimens are coveted by collectors because the postmark places a place and date to the autograph.
Harry Hooper played from 1909-1925; he writes that Joe Jackson was "unjustly punished"
Harry Hooper played from 1909-1925; he writes that Joe Jackson was "unjustly punished"
Hall of Fame outfielder Harry Hooper witnessed some memorable baseball moments during his 17-year big league career. A four-time World Series champ with the Boston Red Sox, Hooper was part of Boston’s “Golden Outfield” along with Duffy Lewis and fellow Cooperstown man Tris Speaker.
In the collection is a four-page letter from Hooper answering questions about how he wants to be remembered, what it means to be a Hall of Famer, and the makeup of his all-time team.
Shown above is one page from Hooper’s musings. Here he gives his thoughts about the 1919 Black Sox scandal and the role that Chicago owner Charles Comiskey had in in. Responses to the other queries can be read by clicking here.
About the Chicago gambling fiasco Hooper writes, “There were some who were unjustly punished, notably – Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver.” Hooper then assigns some of responsibility to the White Sox owner. “I believe Comiskey was guilty of fomenting the deal by his refusal to pay his players in line of what other players were receiving on other teams.”
An interesting take from Hooper whose Red Sox club finished 20 1/2 games in back of Comiskey’s White Sox in 1919. Powerful content indeed from a man who was active in the big leagues at the time of one of baseball’s worst incidents.
For more on Hooper from the letter shown above, click here.
Hall of Fame umpire and former White Sox player Jocko Conlan ranks Jackson among the best
Hall of Fame umpire and former White Sox player Jocko Conlan ranks Jackson among the best
Before he was a Hall of Fame umpire, Jocko Conlan was a centerfielder and pinch hitter for the White Sox. His time in Chicago combined with his 24-year career as an umpire gave him great insight into the game’s players.
Shown here are Conlan’s choices for his personal All Time White Sox teams. He lists Shoeless Joe as one of his outfielders. Conlan includes four men enshrined in Cooperstown – pitcher Ted Lyons, catcher Ray Schalk, shortstop Luke Appling, and second baseman Eddie Collins.
In 1974 Conlan became the fourth umpire elected to the Hall of Fame, the first since Bill Klem in 1953. Conlan’s signature is at the bottom of the list.
I don’t care what anyone says, the only people Joe cheated were the gamblers. You simply cannot hit almost .400 and commit no errors in a series and ‘throw’ a series. Take back the Asstro series because they did cheat!
Do what is right! Put Joe Jackson in the Hall of fame
You sir, are correct. He had gone to the owner to speak with him of the fix and he was the one who told Joe to keep the money. After the ban, he played in Industrial Mill leagues from all the rumors. It is said that Ty Cobb actually attended a game just to watch him too. He should be in the hall. No ifs, ands. or buts!
He changed his story many times over the years. An innocent man doesn’t need to do that.
This man is one of the greatest pure hitting gems, plus outfielders to ever play! Put him in
While it’s true that Joe Jackson’s .375 batting average and HR in the 1919 World Series make it look like his suspension was unjust, a closer look justifies the lifetime ban. Jackson batted eight times with runners in scoring position and didn’t drive in a single run. In his testimony to the grand jury, he admitted to botching several defensive plays which while not officially scored an error, were intended to help the Reds score runs. And the only HR of the Series came in the final game which had long been decided. As an illiterate, it surely seems that this incredible offensive talent was taken advantage of. But, as longtime sports columnist Jerome Holtzman noted, “Jackson may not have been able to read, but he could count.” As with Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and so many other wonderful players, Jackson’s actions in taking part in the fix, even not blowing the whistle, should keep him out of Cooperstown. It’s a shame these wonderful players make such lousy decisions. Jackson did wind up his career in style – though of course he didn’t know it was ending. With his final swing, Jackson doubled in the game-winning run to make a winner out of Dickie Kerr, ironically the one White Sox pitcher who was trying to win in the 1919 Series. I write about that game in “Last Time Out” my new book of MLB finales available on Amazon.