(LOT 248)
"Fresh to the Hobby" c.1910's "Shoeless" Joe Jackson PSA Type I Encapsulated Paul Thompson Photo – Measures Approx. 4-3/4" x 6-5/8"
This extraordinary "Shoeless" Joe Jackson c.1910's photo issued by legendary photographer Paul Thompson is "fresh to the hobby" and reveals the iconic Cleveland Indians slugger completing his mighty swing! This majestic PSA Type 1 image literally brings the immortal Joe Jackson to life, with his classic batting pose rarely featured in any images as a member of the Cleveland Indians, the ballclub "Shoeless" Joe initiated his uncanny assault on American League hurlers. Famous for swinging his legendary "Black Betsy" bat that led to a myriad of Jackson's line drive safeties, Paul Thompson struck this hallowed image when "Shoeless Joe's" name was already etched in stone as one of baseball's three foremost players (along with Cobb and Wagner).

Unquestionably one of our National Pastime's greatest all-time hitters, Jackson's stature carries as much weight in the hobby as any prestigious baseball subject. His amazing 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 slid into third base after hitting a booming triple, a fan noticed he was not wearing spikes and shouted "you shoeless sonofagun"! A sportswriter picked up on this, printed it the next day, and the hallowed 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 with Cleveland, batting a robust .387 the remainder of the season. It all came together for "Shoeless" Joe from 1911 thru 1913, when the prolific batsman posted consecutive sensational averages of .408, ,395 and .373 respectively. Although his formidable .338 average for the 1914 campaign represented a somewhat "drop" in his previous production, Jackson would continue his batting exploits the remainder of his career with Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox to the tune of an unfathomable .356 lifetime average. Unfortunately for "Shoeless" Joe, his career was tragically cut short when he was banned from baseball forever for allegedly taking part in throwing the 1919 World Series; yet due to the infamous "Black Sox" scandal his popularity has increased profoundly. No wonder this pre-White Sox sepia-toned image is held in the utmost esteem, with Jackson's stoic pose portraying crystal-clear clarity and superb contrast that literally turn back the clock to an era when Jackson was terrorizing opposing pitchers.

Of utmost significance is the seemingly "half-grin" on Jackson's stoic facial expression as he watches another scalding line drive head towards the fences via the vibrant contact with his legendary "Black Betsy" bat. Measuring approximately 4-3/4" x 6-5/8", there are no glaring surface flaws, whatsoever, with this magnificent Jackson illustration stubbornly defying "father time" by retaining a majority of its original attributes. The verso reveals the critical violet Paul Thompson credit stamp and a "Jackson, Cleveland – Chic A" pencil notation, with a previous owner obviously crossing out Cleveland and scripting "Chic A" after Jackson was traded to Cleveland. As esteemed photo collectors are well aware of, most of Joe Jackson's classic Type 1 batting illustrations portray the slugger as a member of the Chicago White Sox, with the handful of existing Cleveland images depicting "Shoeless Joe" in either a headshot, half-body or throwing pose. A truly miraculous heirloom from Jackson's early playing days with Cleveland, this Paul Thompson photo turns back the clock to an era when this remarkable hitter was unleashing his unparalleled batting prowess that ultimately led to Jackson posting the third highest lifetime batting average in baseball history!

MIN BID $4,000
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