(LOT 123)
c.1910 "Shoeless" Joe Jackson PSA Type I Original Louis Van Oeyen Photo – Measures Approx. 4-1/2" x 5" - PSA Type I LOA
Presented here is a magnificent "Shoeless" Joe Jackson photo issued by renowned photographer Louis Van Oeyen in the circa 1910 period. Measuring approximately 4-1/2" x 5", this majestic PSA Type 1 image portrays Jackson and teammate Terry Turner sitting outside a batting cage, with Jackson holding his famous "two-toned" Black Betsy" bat that led to a seemingly infinite number of scalding line drives. Taken at a time when Jackson was embarking on a sensational career, his uniform can be traced to either 1910 or 1912, the two seasons when the Cleveland Indians wore both a solid blue cap and blue collar. Arguably standing as one of our National Pastime's greatest hitters ever, the "Shoeless" Joe Jackson's stature carries as much weight in the hobby as any prestigious baseball subject.

Jackson's legacy began way before he played in his first Major League game with the Philadelphia A's in 1908. While playing with the minor league Greenville club in the Carolina Association, Jackson developed painful blisters due to breaking in a new pair of spikes. The next game he played without shoes with only his black stockings covering his feet. During the game as he rounded third base after hitting a long home run, one fan finally noticed and shouted "you shoeless sonofagun"! A sportswriter pick up on this, printed it the next day, and the legend of "Shoeless" Joe was born. After entering the Major Leagues with Connie Mack's Athletics in 1908, it was clear to Mack that Jackson was not going to flourish in a "big city" environment, eventually trading this "country bumpkin" to Cleveland after only 41 plate appearances in his two short uneventful seasons in Philadelphia.

After being called up from the minor leagues in 1910, Jackson finally displayed his unparalleled batting skills, batting a robust .387 the remainder of the season. It all came together for "Shoeless" Joe in 1911 and 1912, when the uncanny batsman accumulated sensational averages of .408 and .395 respectively, unfortunately falling short to Ty Cobb both seasons. He continued his batting exploits the remainder of his career with Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox to the tuner of a .356 lifetime average. Unfortunately, his career was tragically cut short when Jackson was banned from baseball forever for, allegedly, taking part in throwing the 1919 World Series; however, due to the "Black Sox" scandal, his popularity has increased profoundly.

No wonder this early Jackson image is held in the utmost esteem, with its crystal-clear clarity and stellar contrast paving the way for its exalted stature. Peripheral blemishes include some light creasing, a few diminutive chips and a possible trimmed border, with the verso revealing the critical Van Oeyen's credit stamp and a vintage pencil notation that reads "_Jackson & Turner on the _ at the plate." (Both are partly obscured by affixed brown tape). A truly miraculous heirloom from Jackson's early laying days with Cleveland, it conjures up memories of when this remarkable hitter was in the midst of unleashing his iconic tobacco juice/pine-tarred covered "Black Betsy" on a myriad of overmatched hurlers! LOA – PSA/DNA Type I

MIN BID $750