(LOT 273)
Extraordinary c.1910s "Shoeless Joe" Jackson Cleveland Naps Batting Image - PSA Type 1 Encapsulated Paul Thompson Photo – Measures Approx. 4-3/4" x 6-5/8"
CLEVELAND NAPS JOE JAX!!!... Extraordinary to say the least, this c.1910s "Shoeless Joe" Jackson period batting photo was issued by legendary photographer Paul Thompson and reveals the iconic Cleveland Naps slugger completing his mighty swing! Deemed an original Type 1 image by the prestigious PSA Company, the imposing 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 Naps, the ballclub in which 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 Athletics 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 through 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 somewhat of a "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. To the utter dismay of millions of his captivated fans, 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.

Few and far between, there are only a handful of Joe Jackson batting images known to exist with this virtual "cult hero" wearing his period-style Cleveland flannels. No wonder this pre-White Sox playing days sepia-toned image is held in the utmost esteem, with Jackson's stoic pose portraying crystal-clear clarity and superb contrast that literally turns 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 horsehide sphere's 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. You can surely see Jackson's classic "Black Betsy" lumber drenched in typical pine tar; a legendary characteristic typically seen on many of his game-used bats that adds additional credence to Shoeless Joe's incomparable immortality.

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 few known existing Cleveland images portraying Shoeless Joe in either a headshot, half-body or throwing pose. Indeed, locating a Jackson batting image in his Cleveland Naps uniform is synonymous to finding a needle in a haystack, substantiating this exalted offering's unequivocal museum worthy stature. A truly miraculous heirloom from Jackson's early playing days with Cleveland, you can literally count on one hand the number of Shoeless Joe batting photos we have seen with Jackson wearing his Cleveland Naps flannels. In closing, this Paul Thompson masterpiece truly conjures up memories of Jackson unleashing his unparalleled batting prowess that ultimately led to him posting the third highest lifetime batting average in baseball history behind only Cobb and Hornsby!

MIN BID $5,000
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