Joseph Jefferson Jackson
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Philadelphia Athletics 1908-1909
Cleveland Naps 1910-1915
Chicago White Socks 1915-1920
Position: Left Field
Threw: Right
Batted: Left
1919 World Series Batting Average .375
Lifetime Batting Average .356
Third Highest in Baseball History
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1911 - Batted .408, Highest Batting Average Ever by a Rookie
1912 - Led American League in Triples
1913 - Led American League in Hits. Slugging Percentage .551
1917 - Led Chicago White Sox to World Series Victory Against New York Giants
Joe Jackson grew up playing textile league baseball in West Greenville, SC. By 1908, he was playing with the Greenville Spinners of the Class D Carolina League. During the first game of a doubleheader, Jackson played in new spikes that caused his feet to blister. In the 2nd game, with the Spinners at bat in the seventh inning, Jackson took off his spikes and walked to the batter's box. No one noticed he had discarded his shoes until he cracked a hit. As Jackson rounded the bases in his stocking feet, a fan of the opposing team shouted, "You shoeless son-of-a-gun!" A local sportswriter heard the remark and tagged Jackson with the nickname "Shoeless Joe".
At the peak of his career with the Chicago White Sox, Jackson and seven of his teammates were implicated in a conspiracy to lose the 1919 World series. During the Series, Jackson played flawless baseball. He had twelve hits (a World Series record); no errors; the highest batting average (.375); accounted for eleven of twenty runs by the Sox; and hit the only home run in the Series. Though tried and found innocent, all eight players were banned from baseball for life. Until Jackson's death in 1951, he steadfastly maintained his innocence. He continues to be one of the most publicized and beloved baseball players in the history of the game.
Marker is at the intersection of Augusta Street and South Main Street on Augusta Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
