Shoeless Joe Jackson

Joseph Jefferson "Shoeless Joe" Jackson (July 16, 1889, in Pickens County, South Carolina – October 5, 1951, in Greenville, South Carolina) was a left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. One of the greatest hitters of his era, he was one of eight players banished for life from professional baseball for his alleged participation in the Black Sox scandal, this being the basis for his exclusion from baseball's Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
July 16 - 1889 - Pickens County - South Carolina - October 5 - 1951 - Greenville - Left fielder - Major League Baseball - Philadelphia Athletics - Cleveland Indians - Chicago White Sox - Black Sox scandal - Hall of Fame

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He is considered to be one of the most outstanding hitters in the history of the game, to the point that Babe Ruth claimed that he modeled his hitting technique after Jackson's. Jackson is the only rookie to have batted over .400; he hit .408 for Cleveland in 1911 (although he would not be considered a rookie by today's definition). His career .356 batting average is the third highest in history, after Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby.

Related Topics:
Babe Ruth - Rookie - Batted - 1911 - Ty Cobb - Rogers Hornsby

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The nickname "Shoeless" is sometimes said to have come from a minor-league game he once played when he was suffering from blisters on the feet from a new pair of spikes. He was sitting the game out, but a shortage of players obliged him to play. With no other option at one point, he played in his socked feet and hit a triple in one at bat. When he arrived at third base, a fan yelled out "You shoeless son-of-a-gun, you!" and the name stuck. However, this origin remains anecdotal.

Related Topics:
Blister - Socked - At bat

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