(LOT 76)
1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson PSA 3 VG
Offered here is one of the most revered baseball cards extant, a 1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson residing in a splendid PSA VG 3 holder. Whether it is his "Shoeless" or "Black Sox" legacy, every avid enthusiast yearns to own a Joe Jackson card from his playing days. Jackson's sudden departure from the game after the 1920 season limited the number of Jackson cards in the market. Save for his E90-1 rookie card, most would agree that his most desirable issue is Jackson's exalted Cracker Jack #103 subject issued in both 1914 and 1915. Joe 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 picked up on this, printed it the next day, and the "Shoeless" Joe legend was officially born. After entering the Major Leagues, Jackson's hitting dominance continued to emerge for both the Cleveland and Chicago American clubs to the tune of a .356 lifetime average. Unfortunately, this run was tragically cut short when Jackson was banned from baseball forever for, allegedly, taking part in throwing the 1919 World Series. In lieu of this, Jackson was never placed in the HOF; however, due to the "Black Sox" scandal, his popularity has increased profoundly. His remarkable hitting prowess is depicted in a classic Jackson batting image as "Shoeless Joe" follows through after hitting another scalding line drive with his famous Black Betsy. The swinging pose literally jumps off the surface, portraying near-perfect contrast and robust hues, while being affixed to a fire-engine red background. The iconic illustration favors the right edge, with no obtrusive creases situated on either side of the card.

Modest caramel corn staining near the lower right corner and some areas of scattered soling (particularly near the upper right corner and along the right and left center borders) are the primary culprits downgrading the card to its VG assessment. The even corner wear reveals VG-EX strength, and the verso likewise includes some extremely faint staining/soiling. Most significantly, both sides have eluded any obtrusive blemishes, with no evidence of unsightly caramel corn stains that typically plague so many Cracker Jack subjects. A superb 1915 Cracker Jack "Shoeless" Joe example, its imposing central batting image literally "steals the show". It is no secret that the pricing points for 1915 Cracker Jack Jackson's have soared to new heights, with several "VG" examples fetching between $24K -$30K over the past year. While we would not expect the most passionate hobbyists to clear their property to build a "Field of Dreams", if you bid strong this revered Joe Jackson Cracker Jack will come!

MIN BID $5,000
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