Shoeless Joe Jackson

Date of Birth: July 16, 1887

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: December 5, 1951

Biography

Joseph Jefferson “Shoeless Joe” Jackson was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) player who is considered one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game. Born into a poor family in South Carolina, Jackson’s natural talent for baseball became apparent at an early age. He earned his nickname “Shoeless” during a mill game where he played in his socks because his new cleats were causing blisters. Jackson’s professional career began in 1908 with the Philadelphia Athletics, but he is best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox. Over his career, he achieved a batting average of .356, the third highest in MLB history. Jackson’s career, however, was marred by his alleged involvement in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, where eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the World Series in exchange for money from gamblers. Despite his impressive performance during the Series, Jackson and the other seven players were banned from professional baseball for life. Jackson maintained his innocence until his death.

5 Interesting Facts about Shoeless Joe Jackson

1. Jackson’s career batting average of .356 is the third highest in MLB history, behind only Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby.

2. He was illiterate and often had his wife, Katie, help him read and write.

3. Jackson played for three major league teams during his career: the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps (Indians), and Chicago White Sox.

4. Despite being banned from baseball, Jackson continued to play in semi-professional and independent leagues under assumed names.

5. His alleged involvement in the Black Sox Scandal has been a subject of debate for decades, with some believing he was innocent and others convinced of his guilt.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Shoeless Joe Jackson

1. “God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise.”

2. “I’m going to play ball in South Carolina, and I don’t care who knows it.”

3. “I ain’t afraid to tell the world that it don’t take school stuff to help a fella play ball.”

4. “I never did anything I was ashamed of.”

5. “When I was a kid, I used to say, ‘Everybody’s a bum. Everybody’s a crook.’ But I couldn’t say that about myself.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Jackson’s net worth was modest by today’s standards, estimated to be around $50,000, which would be roughly equivalent to $700,000 today when adjusted for inflation.