Field of Dreams - Impact on value of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson cards
 

I just happened to catch a bit of "Field of Dreams" on TV the other day, and it got me thinking about the great "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and to a lesser extent, "Moonlight" Graham.

Since the film (1989), predates my involvement in the pre-war hobby by about 20 years, I was wondering if there is anyone on the board who remembers how the film (which is still one of my all-time favorite sports movies) affected the value of Jackson's cards, such as his 1914-15 CJs.

Of course Jackson is a fascinating, almost mystical-type figure with a debatable involvement in the Black Sox scandal, so the cards were always going to command relatively strong prices, but was there a definitive (or substantial) bump in prices following the movie? Anyone care to speculate as to whether that movie is responsible for the price we are seeing on this card at REA today?

YES...I believe the field of dreams...as well as 8 men out...have had a direct impact on prices of black sox cards...esp JJ!

Jackson cards have always been expensive. I don't think there was any real effect. Moonlight did have a bit of a resurgence though. There was a card issued by his historical society...I remember getting a couple which I still suspect are available... Somebody cleaned out Chisholm Mn of Moonlight Graham autographs several years ago..they sell for quite a bit though you might expect that a doctor would have signed his name a lot of times.

BTW, if you have not read the book Shoeless Joe, it's worth it. A couple of interesting differences from the movie.

I second the recommendation to read Shoeless Joe, the differences are quite interesting. I addition a little known book entitled Humor Among the Minors by Ashenback (1911) has several Graham references and a photo.

I think CJ's and Joe both have benefitted from the movie.

And as an aside: on the subject of movies v. book. I love the Natural movie, so I picked up the book. A wee bit of a difference. Whoa.

Here is a picture of the Joe Jackson/Moonlight Graham card that I bought at the Field of Dreams movie location in Dyersville Iowa. One of the old guys I play cribbage with grew up in Chisholm MN and Dr. Graham was his childhood doctor.

There
 

Most certainly was a huge increase in demand for all black sox cards at this time including Joe Jax. I was only a teenager at the time but was heavily invested in the hobby and can vividly remember prices and demand rising like crazy when the movie along with 8 men out was released.

One Can Only Imagine That The Signing (and Possibility of Him making the BiG's?) of Great, Great, Great Nephew of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson iS Gonna Help Push Shoeless Joe's Cards Even Further!

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...hlight=jackson