Show me your Shoeless Joes
 

The more I read about Joe Jackson, the more I find I am fascinated by the man. He was, of course, one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game. Jackson's contemporary Ty Cobb was an admirer of the White Sox outfielder, saying "Joe's swing was purely natural, he was the perfect hitter." Then there was "The Big Train", Walter Johnson, who said "I consider Joe Jackson the greatest natural player I ever saw." Babe Ruth copied his swing. Yet nearly 62 years after his death, Jackson the man remains something of an enigma.

While the extent of Jackson's involvement in the Black Sox Scandal continues to be debated to this day, there is no denying his popularity, and the demand for his baseball cards remains high.

So, I would like to ask everybody to share their Shoeless Joe Jackson baseball cards, as well as any supplements you may have collected. Also, as somebody who would be interested in adding one of his cards to my collection at some point, I am looking for recommendations. Is his 1940 Play Ball issue going to be his most affordable? The examples I have seen that were in circulation during his career are exceedingly expensive, such as the 1908 E90-1 American Caramel and the 1915 Cracker Jack.

Thank you, and let the parade of Shoeless Joe cards begin!

One of two known Successful Farming Promo Jacksons...

Wow, how funny-- I was thinking today about a dedicated Shoeless Joe discussion!

I think Shoeless Joe, as a human story, as an important piece of baseball history, as a great and cult collectible player with tough and so very few playing-days issues-- he is just tremendous. To think his case as a HOFer is still "under review" by the commissioner's office...

I have long adored his e90-1 RC. That dapper pose is just so unique. That card has been high on my wish list for quite some time. Thanks to Sean1125 on these boards I was actually just able to acquire one this past weekend-- and it's an example that doesn't look like it was run over by a tank a few times, lol.

I find it so cool when such a legendary player has so few cards from which to choose. I am hard pressed to count many collecting subjects like Shoeless Joe, who have such a passionate, cult following.

Leon-- talk about a card with eye appeal that far exceeds the grade! Fantastic centering.

A 1915 notebook, 1917 Scorecard and a 1950 Sports Exchange. All are affordable when compared to his cards.

Here are mine

I would love to see a scan when you get it in, Matt. Jackson's rookie is, in my opinion, an iconic card, and I can't imagine how it will feel to hold it in your hands the first time. Congratulations on a magnificent addition to your collection!

I do also want to ask you and other collectors one question. When I search on Jackson's Cracker Jack issue, I find both 1914 and 1915 examples. They appear upon examination to be identical. Yet I am finding PSA slabbed examples where they are designated as 1914 or 1915. Are the backs different? If not, how can they be distinguished?

Edit for educational purposes: per Peter Spaeth, the '15 backs are upside down. Thank you, Peter.

Kenny that 1914 scan just knocked me out of my own shoes!

Wow.

Shoeless Joe
 

Great idea for a thread! I love to collect Joe Jackson items.

I was always fascinated with Shoeless Joe. I believe he is one of the best players to ever play the game. He doesn't have too many cards to choose from. I tried to focus on the toughest cards of his first.

Leon, if you ever decide to sell that Successful Farming promo card, please give me first crack at it.

Tony

That Boston Store card is a real knockout, love the uniform in that shot. Great contrast in that image, too. Always loved the composition of that photo as well, the way he's standing just right of center, and his shadow falling on the ground.

Here's a low-resolution scan of my one Shoeless Joe card; will take a better one when I have it in hand.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...joe-jackson-rc

Yes, the backs are different. 144 cards in 14 and 176 in 15. The cards themselves are different too. The 1914's are on thinner stock, which is amazing considering how thin the 15's are anyway.

Also, all 14's have some degree of staining since they were only available in boxes of Cracker Jack. The 15's could be ordered directly and many are found without staining.

Nice cards everyone..wow

I'm almost POSITIVE this card features Shoeless Joe...
http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_...0Tannehill.jpg

Joe
 

A fun one, front and back. For more of this series -- please contact me if you have others - go to http://www.sportingoregon.com/p618943251 .

Not a card but a photo from the 1910 Reach guide. Joe as a member of the Savannah, Ga minor league team (#10).

In addition to the numbers (144 v.176) the backs of the 1915 set are printed upside down. That's the easiest way to distinguish them IMO.

Matt, thank you. I was very pleased when I finally got my 1914 CJ Jackson after a number of years lusting after it. Best,

Kenny

Thank you, Tony. I just beat Matt to it. :p But, I'm right there with you. As far as the hobby is concerned, Shoeless Joe represents a perfect storm of sorts-a great baseball player, an enigmatic man, involvement in one of the most interesting moments in baseball history, and relative scarcity of pre-war collecting options.

Matt, that's a real stunner. Can't wait to see the high res scan. It appears to be one of the nicer examples I have seen.

Thank you for the information, Don. A little education along with all this eye candy is a good thing, methinks. Since there's always the chance that a non Cracker Jack enthusiast might be inspired to add some of the cards to their collection, it would be most helpful to them.

David, I'll share the link back to the epic discussion that took place on Net 54 about this very card:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=124045


Kenny, thank you for the additional information.


I am loving this thread, guys. Some amazing pieces in your collections. How inspiring, indeed!

By the way, John Thorn, who is Major League Baseball's official historian, recently showcased an article about Jackson that appeared in Baseball Magazine from March of 1916. I found the article interesting, as it was obviously published prior to the 1918 World Series. Reading about the man without any hint of the stigma that would later attach to his name provides an unadulterated look at the man, and his talents.

http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2013/08/0...r-in-the-game/

Here are 3 of "my" Shoeless Joe's

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps44f0ee86.jpg

;)

Sean-- finding that card at all in decent shape, let alone at a fair price and then how quickly you did: PROPS. Can't thank you enough for that permanent addition to the collection!

How about an ad to mail in for a Joe Jackson? Ten players for ten cents or 25 for $2.50. Sounds like a deal.

http://luckeycards.com/poadvertiseme...llmagazine.jpg

Is a playing card a card?

Enjoy!

I only have one.......

1992 Sporting News.......

And the CJ parade continues

Those are some beautiful 1915 CJ's!!!!

Great cards guys. More, more...:D

Great Jax Rookie, Matt!!!

Thanks for all the great cards shown, here is my only one-

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...kson50Both.jpg

Those look like the same images used for the 1914 WG4 "Polo Grounds" Card Game set.

Does this count?

Me back in the day when I was working at an auction house.

http://www.bmgrifles.com/photos/joejacksonzoom.jpg

http://www.bmgrifles.com/photos/joejackson.jpg

My only Shoeless Joe card. It has a 1999 copyright. I picked it up a couple years ago at the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville Iowa.
http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1478d7bf.jpg

Nice observation....

Wow, Scott. That's a marvelous card!

Keep 'em coming, guys.

Well, I have few cards anymore but I do have several original TYPE 1 photos. I hope they are ok to post on here. After all, one was used for a card.. :)

I would love to find a good example of that purple rookie(e90-1) or the 1914 crackerjack though. Any good deals out there anymore? That one below that was picked up is beautiful(e90-1 rookie).

1) Charles Conlon used for 1940 PLAYBALL

2) G.G. BAIN used for B Blanket

3) Paul Thompson- Joe holding trophies for winning in throwing and batting against the best in the league in 1917(including Cobb.. ect).

Does this count? same name and shares some DNA....Shoeless' Great Great Grand-Nephew.....5th round pick of Rangers 2013

Another Cracker Jack
 

It might not be the prettiest but is my absolute favorite card in my small collection regardless of condition.

Awesome cards. Threads like this remind me how much of a small fry I am in this hobby.

wow.a beautifull parade of CJ Jackson

Is the Cracker Jack going to be my best bet for adding one of Shoeless Joe's cards?

Bill,

Your best bet would be a Cracker Jack or a M101-5 Sporting News card. Each of these pop up a few times a year in various conditions.

Best of luck.

Tony

PM sent Bill.

I no longer own this card, but I really didn't want to miss the parade. It has recently been entombed and auctioned off, but I will give the RAW scan one last moment of glory!

I'm disappointed. None of these Joe's are shoeless.

Beauty Ted, I'm sure that it was hard to part with. Really nice ...what # did the tpg bestow upon it?

Ted-- I'd have killed to have known that card was for sale. What a beauty.

PSA 2

I don't disagree, and I was not disappointed!

Thanks, and congrats to the new owner.

I parted with a lot of cards, but I am grateful to know they have been scattered to the winds of the hobby. My new mission is to hunt for scans of them on the internet!