(LOT 1670)
Super Scarce 1917 World Series "Shoeless" Joe Jackson PSA Type 1 Encapsulated Charles M. Conlon Photo Measures Approx. 6-3/4" x 9-1/4"
Presented here is a magnificent PSA Type 1 "Shoeless" Joe Jackson 1917 batting photo taken by the legendary Charles M. Conlon during the 1917 World Series. Measuring approximately 6-3/4" x 9-1/4", this majestic image portrays the immortal Joe Jackson donning his classic Chicago White Sox pinstripes uniform, still at the peak of his extraordinary career and wreaking havoc on a New York Giants hurler. The White Sox would best the Giants in six games to capture their inaugural "Windy City" Championship, with Jackson stroking seven hits to the tune of a .304 Series average. Renowned for swinging his iconic "Black Betsy" bat that led to a myriad of scalding line drives, 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 "Black Sox" 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 via another .300+ batting average in 1917, leading the White Sox to their first Fall Classic and ultimately ending his exalted 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 1917 World Series Jackson image is held in the utmost esteem, with Jackson's incomparable batting swing portraying crystal-clear clarity and sensational contrast. His fiery facial expression literally transcends time as he tracks what is most likely another blistering line drive safety; another classic example of how Charles Conlon captured ballplayers at their most candid moments. Some of the negligible blemishes include a number of stray and spider-like wrinkles/creases, a few lower edge surface abrasions and typical edge trimming seen on so many vintage photos, with none of these flaws impeding the breathtaking aesthetics emanating from "Shoeless" Joe's central image. The verso reveals a significant number of Brown Brothers credit stamps, various pencil notations including a "Joe Jackson (Chicago Am.)" script most likely written in Conlon's hand, and a thin strip of masking tape running down the flip side's right edge.

Regarding the "Black Sox" scandal that would take place two years later, what prompted 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 culprit. Any Jackson White Sox image immediately conjures up memories of a young boy yelling to "Shoeless Joe" as he walked out of a court room: "Say it ain't so Joe", and although he was acquitted in a court of law, based on their alleged guilt, Judge Landis officially banned all eight players from baseball forever on August 3, 1921. In lieu of his eternal banishment from the game he loved so much, the desirability and value of Jackson's revered Chicago White Sox mementos have justifiably soared to stratospheric heights, with this Cooperstown worthy 1917 Charles Conlon treasure one of the finest known Jackson batting images extant!

MIN BID $2,500
_