(LOT 110)
Magnificent c.1919 Shoeless Joe Jackson PSA Type 1 Encapsulated Underwood & Underwood Photo – Measures Approx. 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" - PSA Type I LOA
Presented here is a magnificent "Shoeless" Joe Jackson c.1919 photo taken by the illustrious Underwood & Underwood News Service during the year when Jackson would allegedly join forces with seven other "Black Sox" players to throw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. Measuring approximately 4-1/2" x 6-1/2", this majestic PSA Type 1 image portrays the immortal Joe Jackson donning his classic Chicago White Sox uniform, still at the peak of his extraordinary career and wreaking havoc on American League hurlers. Famous for swinging his legendary "Black Betsy" bat that led to a myriad of scalding line drive safeties, this hallowed image was struck when "Shoeless Joe's" name was already etched in stone as one of baseball's three foremost players (along with Cobb and Wagner). 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.

Long before the 1919 World Series travesty would shock the baseball world, Jackson's unparalleled legacy would begin prior to playing 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 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 and topping that with a staggering .408 mark in 1911. Traded to the White Sox during the 1915 season, Jackson would continue his batting exploits for Chicago, posting a robust .351 during the renowned 1919 campaign when this photo was taken and ending his illustrious career with a remarkable .356 lifetime average (3rd highest figure behind Cobb & Hornsby). Sadly for "Shoeless" Joe, a significant portion of his legacy is tied to his banishment from baseball 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 White Sox sepia-toned image is held in the utmost esteem, with Jackson's stoic pose portraying crystal-clear clarity and stellar contrast. Jackson's facial expression literally transcends time back to that fabled 1919 campaign, with some of the negligible blemishes being stray creases/wrinkles near the upper right corner and between Jackson's left shoulder and right edge as well as some diminutive surface cracking situated near his second/third buttons. An "S838" white text is situated near the upper right edge, and the significant UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD credit stamp is affixed to the verso. Regarding the scandal itself, enthusiasts surely know that prompting some of the players to accept such a dishonest arrangement were the deep pockets of their incredibly cheap owner Charles Comiskey who actually initiated the "Black Sox" nickname in 1918 by continuously having his players wear dirty uniforms to avoid excessive laundry bills. The names of the" infamous eight" will echo for eternity, with "Shoeless Joe" obviously standing tall as the most significant player in the fix and this timeless 1919 image conjuring up memories of a young boy yelling to Shoeless Joe Jackson as he walked out of a court room: "Say it ain't so Joe." Although acquitted in a court of law, based on their alleged guilt, Judge Landis officially banned them from baseball forever on August 3, 1921, thus elevating the desirability and value of Jackson's exalted 1919 related keepsakes!

MIN BID $2,000
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