2005 Joe Jackson Related News
Joe Jackson's Bat "Black Betsy" Fails To Sell At Auction.
Joe Jackson's "Black Betsy" baseball bat failed to sell at Sothebys auction held December 10th. The bids fell short of the minimum price required for sale, Sotheby spokeswoman Kristin Gelder said in a telephone interview. She declined to disclose how many bids were offered or what the prices were. The bat previously sold for $577,000.00 at a 2001 auction. Joe acquired the bat from fellow Bradon Mill worker Charlie Ferguson in 1908 and when Joe made it to the Majors later that year he sent the bat to the Spalding factory to have them finish the bat out for him. Spalding put their logo and trademark on the bat and Joe kept this bat his entire career and up until the sale in 2001, it had been in the Jackson family. In this same auction, some Jackson related items DID sell. A mid teens Joe Jackson decal bat sold for $3,600.00. A 1919 World Series program sold for $7,200.00 and lifetime pass from Charles Comiskey to boxer John L. Sullivan sold for $10,200.00.
| Photos of Black Betsy |
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| Full shot of Black Betsy |
| Black Betsy brand |
| Black Betsy handle |
| Multi-view image of Black Betsy (courtesy of Real Legends) |
"Flip This House" TV Episode Featuring Joe Jackson's House Delayed Until January.
The "Flip This House" episode which will feature the moving of Joe Jackson's house was not shown on December 4, 2005 as scheduled. There have been some unexpected delays in moving Joe's house and the producer of the show delayed the airing of the show until sometime in January. As soon as we know the exact date of that airing, we will post it here in the News section of the site. This is all the information we were given and we will update when we get more details.
Virtual Hall of Fame On The CBS Evening News.
On Saturday October 22, 2005 the CBS Evening News ran a piece about Joe Jackson which included Official Historian Mike Nola from the Virtual Hall of Fame's.
The news story was about our movement to have Joe's name cleared from Major League Baseball's Ineligible List. With the White Sox being in World Series this year and winning it for the first time since 1917, there
has been much talk about Joe Jackson and the injustice done to him because of the 1919 World Series.
See the video that aired that night at the link below.
"Flip This House" TV Show Has Plans For Joe Jackson's House.
By Ashley FletcherSTAFF WRITER, Greenville News Baseball player "Shoeless" Joe Jackson's west Greenville house will be moved to the city's minor league baseball stadium being built in the West End, restored to its 1940s design and converted into a museum. The move, announced today, will be aired next month on an episode of A&E Television's "Flip this House," a reality show featuring Charleston development firm Trademark Properties, which purchases homes, fixes them up and sells them for profit. Trademark Properties will absorb all the costs of moving the small brick house at 119 E. Wilburn Avenue to Field Street and restoring it, said Richard Davis, president of the development firm. Davis declined to talk about costs for the project but said they would be revealed on the show, scheduled to air Dec. 4. Jackson's home won't be sold. Instead it'll become a museum telling the story of Jackson's life and baseball career in the majors, with one room dedicated to textile league baseball in the Upstate. "We flip houses for profit," Davis said. "This one is for the right thing." A foundation headed by Arlene Marcley, assistant to Greenville Mayor Knox White, will raise money for the museum and oversee it.
Shoeless Joe House To Get New Home
By E. Richard WaltonSTAFF WRITER, Greenville News The popular cable television show "Flip This House" has its eyes set on Shoeless Joe Jackson's West End home for a preservation project, according to those involved. The show, which airs Sunday nights on A&E, is working on a project involving Jackson's former home at 119 E. Wilburn Ave., according to Corie Hipp of Trademark Properties Real Estate Services in Charleston. She declined to reveal details. The show follows Richard C. Davis, founder of Trademark Properties, as he searches for "undervalue" houses to buy and renovate in three to four weeks. "This will be a little different," said Dan Rawls of Piedmont, who has owned Jackson's home since 1998 and says he has no plans to sell. Greenville Mayor Knox White said the project will mean "a major enhancement to our baseball stadium" under construction in the West End for the Greenville Drive minor league ball team. The mayor's office along with the show's producers have scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. Friday at the house. Arlene Marcley, White's top assistant, said the city is hammering out the details. "Flip This House" has come to the Upstate before. Previous episodes have focused on several Greenville-area homes, including one at the Cliffs at Glassy.
Senator Jim DeMint and Senator Tom Harkin Win One for Shoeless Joe.
Resolution Passes U.S. Senate, Honoring the White Sox Legend and South Carolina Native
October 27th, 2005 - Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) applauded the passage of a S. Res. 289 expressing "the sense of the Senate that Joseph Jefferson 'Shoeless Joe' Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments." The resolution was sponsored by Senator DeMint and Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).
"The White Sox have won the World Series for the first time in 88 years, and I can think of no better time for us to honor one of this team's greatest players," said Senator DeMint. "The last time the White Sox won the World Series was in 1917 when Shoeless Joe helped carry the Sox to victory over the New York Giants. I'm very pleased the Senate spoke with one voice today, saying Shoeless Joe deserves to be honored for his baseball accomplishments."
After the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal, Jackson was suspended for life from the league by the commissioner of baseball. In 1919, a New York gambler allegedly bribed eight players of the Chicago White Sox, including Shoeless Joe, to throw the first and second game of the 1919 World Series. When the news came out the following year, the case was brought to criminal court. After the trial, Joe Jackson was acquitted. However, the new commissioner of baseball, Judge Kennesaw Landis, decided to ban all the players who were allegedly involved without even conducting an investigation. On his death bed, Shoeless Joe said, 'I am about to meet the biggest umpire of them all and He knows I am innocent.'
"This is a victory for the Jackson family and the people of Greenville who have worked so hard to uphold the memory and the honor of Shoeless Joe," said Senator DeMint. "Shoeless Joe was a humble man who loved the game of baseball, and I believe he was innocent of the charges against him. But we're not asking Commissioner Selig to retry the case, just to say that Shoeless Joe served his time. He was given a lifetime sentence, and he served it with honor and dignity. It's time for baseball to show Shoeless Joe the same respect."
Shoeless Joe batted .408 in his rookie year, a feat which has never been equaled. He has the third highest batting average of all time, behind only Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby. Over a 10-year period, he never hit below .300. His fielding skills in the outfield are also legendary. His glove was named "the place where triples go to die." Babe Ruth once said of Shoeless Joe, "I copied Jackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen, the greatest natural hitter I ever saw. He's the guy who made me a hitter."
Joseph Jefferson "Shoeless Joe" Jackson is a native of Greenville, S.C. where he began his career and earned his nickname while playing for the Greenville Spinners in 1908.
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Senators DeMint and Harkin Go To Bat For Joe Jackson.
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) sponsored a resolution expressing "the sense of the Senate that Joseph Jefferson 'Shoeless Joe' Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments."
"As Americans watch the start of the World Series this weekend, I hope they remember Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of the Chicago White Sox's greatest players and one of baseball's greatest legends," said Senator DeMint. "The last time the White Sox won the World Series was in 1917 with Shoeless Joe playing in right field. He helped carry the Sox to victory over the New York Giants in six games, batting .304 for the series. I hope Major League Baseball will take this important moment in baseball history to remove the taint upon the memory of Shoeless Joe and appropriately honor his outstanding baseball accomplishments."
"Baseball fans young and old all across the country know the story of Shoeless Joe and recognize him as a legend who gave his all to baseball. He was truly one of the greatest players of all time," said Senator Harkin. "Shoeless Joe's record as a star player on the baseball field is unquestionable. His efforts helped make baseball America's favorite past-time. It is long past due that Shoeless Joe be recognized for giving his all to the game."
After the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal, Jackson was suspended for life from the league by the commissioner of baseball. In 1919, a New York gambler allegedly bribed eight players of the Chicago White Sox, including Shoeless Joe, to throw the first and second game of the 1919 World Series. When the news came out the following year, the case was brought to criminal court. After the trial, Joe Jackson was acquitted. However, the new commissioner of baseball, Judge Kennesaw Landis, decided to ban all the players who were allegedly involved without even conducting an investigation.
"While I wholeheartedly believe in Shoeless Joe's innocence, even those in doubt must admit he served his lifetime sentence with dignity and honor," said Senator DeMint. "Throughout his life, he never tired of teaching children the game he loved. At a time when the game is suffering from steroid scandals, baseball should give due honor to a natural-athlete who broke records on the field and lived with humility off the field. It has been six years since Commissioner Selig told me he would investigate this matter, and I hope he will complete his inquiry soon and lift the ban on Shoeless Joe."
Joe Jackson batted .408 in his rookie year, a feat which has never been equaled. He has the third highest batting average of all time, behind only Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby. Over a 10-year period, he never hit below .300. His fielding skills in the outfield are also legendary. His glove was named "the place where triples go to die." Babe Ruth once said of Shoeless Joe, "I copied Jackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen, the greatest natural hitter I ever saw. He's the guy who made me a hitter."
Shoeless Joe is a native of Greenville, S.C. where he began his career and earned his nickname while playing for the Greenville Spinners in 1908.
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate that Joseph Jefferson ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments.
Whereas Joseph Jefferson "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, and a local legend, began his professional career and received his nickname while playing baseball for the Greenville Spinners in 1908;
Whereas "Shoeless Joe" Jackson moved to the Philadelphia Athletics for his major league debut in 1908, to the Cleveland Naps in 1910, and to the Chicago White Sox in 1915;
Whereas "Shoeless Joe" Jackson's accomplishments throughout his 13-year career in professional baseball were outstanding-he was 1 of only 7 Major League Baseball players to ever top the coveted mark of a .400 batting average for a season, and he earned a lifetime batting average of .356, the third highest of all time;
Whereas "Shoeless Joe" Jackson's career record makes him one of our Nation's top baseball players of all time;
Whereas in 1919, the infamous "Black Sox" scandal erupted when an employee of a New York gambler allegedly bribed 8 players of the Chicago White Sox, including Joseph Jefferson "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, to lose the first and second games of the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds;
Whereas in September 1920, a criminal court acquitted "Shoeless Joe" Jackson of the charge that he conspired to lose the 1919 World Series;
Whereas despite the acquittal, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, baseball's first commissioner, banned "Shoeless Joe" Jackson from playing Major League Baseball for life without conducting any investigation of Jackson's alleged activities, issuing a summary punishment that fell far short of due process standards;
Whereas the evidence shows that Jackson did not deliberately misplay during the 1919 World Series in an attempt to make his team lose the World Series;
Whereas during the 1919 World Series, Jackson's play was outstanding-his batting average was .375 (the highest of any player from either team), he set a World Series record with 12 hits, he committed no errors, and he hit the only home run of the series;
Whereas because of his lifetime ban from Major League Baseball, "Shoeless Joe" Jackson has been excluded from consideration for admission to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame;
Whereas "Shoeless Joe" Jackson died in 1951, after fully serving his lifetime ban from baseball, and 85 years have elapsed since the 1919 World Series scandal erupted;
Whereas Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig took an important first step toward restoring the reputation of "Shoeless Joe" Jackson by agreeing to investigate whether he was involved in a conspiracy to alter the outcome of the 1919 World Series and whether he should be eligible for inclusion in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame;
Whereas it has been 6 years since Commissioner Selig initiated his investigation of "Shoeless Joe", but there has been no resolution;
Whereas the Chicago White Sox are the 2005 American League Champions, and will compete in the World Series for the first time since 1959;
Whereas "Shoeless Joe" Jackson helped lead the Chicago White Sox to their last World Series Championship in 1917; and
Whereas it is appropriate for Major League Baseball to remove the taint upon the memory of "Shoeless Joe" Jackson and honor his outstanding baseball accomplishments: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that Joseph Jefferson "Shoeless Joe" Jackson should be appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball accomplishments.
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Greenville Bombers (Red Sox A) to celebrate Joe Jackson's birthday at the ball park on Saturday July 16th.
GREENVILLE, SC. -- The Greenville Bombers in association with Southeastern Products, Inc. have announced plans to celebrate Joe Jackson's birthday at Greenville Municipal Stadium on Saturday July 16th, 2005.
The plans call for Joe Jackson bobblehead dolls to be given out to the first 1,000 fans. Unlike other Joe Jackson bobblehead dolls that have been given away in the past, this one features Joe in his Brandon Mill uniform.
There will be birthday cake enough for 3,000 fans, live Dixieland music, a barbershop quartet, clowns, face painters, as well as,
special exhibits by Arlene Marcley (City of Greenville), the Virtual Hall of Fame and a book signing by author Joe Thompson ("Growing Up With Shoeless Joe"). Other events are still in the planning stage as of this update, but a
good time will be had by all. The gates will open at 6:05 PM and the first pitch slated for 7:05 PM, so come out early and help us celebrate Joe's 117th birthday.
| Joe Jackson Bobblehead Doll Photos | |
| Close-up of face | |
| View from front | |
| Back view | |
| Side view | |
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See our Frequently Asked Questions about Joe Jackson and the Virtual Hall of Fame.
Read the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Official Statement concerning Joe.
Read the The Shoeless Joe Jackson Virtual Hall of Fame's Official Statement concerning Joe.
Read Joe Jackson's Last Will and Testament