Field of Dreams = Shoeless Joe Overrated?

[scooter729]

Do any of the old-timers recall (or maybe a price guide could help) - in the early / mid 1980s, before Field of Dreams came out - how did Jackson cards compare to Cobb or others?

A good comparison might be the CJ set - for example, a CJ Shoeless Joe might sell for 2x-3x what a CJ Cobb in the same condition would sell for now. (Of course, VCP is down right now as I try to get some evidence of that.) Was that the case in 1985? How about the E90-1? Was the Shoeless Joe rookie that superior vs. the Cobb from the same set back in the 1980s pre FOD?

[E93]

Joe Jackson was huge among collectors long before the movie.
JimB

[Leon]

Just added this 1910 Pelicans team photo (approx 11 x 15), taken from a large magazine or folio, to the collection yesterday. I agree with MattyC about Joe...he was so respected by his peers that it's hard to imagine his cards are valuable because of a movie. Maybe a little more valuable, but they would be even if no movie were ever made. He was a great player.

[ShoelessCrusader]

You guys make some good points here. I think it's a combination of factors that make Shoeless Joe so popular. Like many of you stated, there aren't many cards of his, and even less autographs as he was illiterate. Rarity=$$.

Then you have to factor in the Black Sox scandal, which I think is the biggest reason for the bump in $$$. Even average Black Sox players usually enjoy a little premium in the marketplace. If American history tells us anything, we love notoriety: Bonnie and Clyde; Al Capone; Jimmy Hoffa; "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. JFK was a beloved president, but would he have achieved the same level of esteem had Oswald(or whoever) not pulled that trigger--or if Zapruder had not been filming that day?

And then there's the case of Shoeless Joe's talent, which always helps in terms of $$$. The best players of the time and beyond thought so. Babe Ruth. Ty Cobb. Ted Williams. They all had nothing but praise for Joe's ability, and these were guys that were at the top of their profession. Why is the T206 Wagner worth so much? Because it's rare, yes, but also because he was one of the best players of the dead-ball era. Just like Shoeless Joe.

[brob28]

Fair enough question Jason. I personally just feel the movie may have brought him back into the general public's eye once again. But his status within baseball circles and the collecting hobby was already well established by his on-field abilities and connection with one of baseball's most memorable & dubious events.

[Ejm1]

He had no friggin' shoes!! Try hitting .356 with no shoes!!

[JamesGallo]

Originally Posted by brob28

Fair enough question Jason. I personally just feel the movie may have brought him back into the general public's eye once again. But his status within baseball circles and the collecting hobby was already well established by his on-field abilities and connection with one of baseball's most memorable & dubious events.

Ok but that was ages ago. I see it as out of sight out of mind, there hasn't been a movie about Jackson in what 20 years, so to say a movie is driving the prices up today I don't think is fair.

The true questions come when you ask people under 20 years old if they know who he is, they likely weren't born when Field of Dreams or Eight Men out was in the theaters, so are they aware of him and if so why? If the answer is because of one of those movies and as such they are seeking out his cards then there would be a valid point, if not I can't really see it being directly related.

James G

[t206fix]

I completely agree with the OP. He is overrated and I think every one on this board agrees. So....

I want to be generous, so out of the kindness of my heart, if you have any of his cards, I'll take them off your hands. I figure they may be worth 1/10 or even lower the vcp/cardtarget/beckett/psa value, so I am willing to pay that right now.

Any takers?

Really, I am doing you a favor...

[brob28]

Originally Posted by JamesGallo

Ok but that was ages ago. I see it as out of sight out of mind, there hasn't been a movie about Jackson in what 20 years, so to say a movie is driving the prices up today I don't think is fair.

The true questions come when you ask people under 20 years old if they know who he is, they likely weren't born when Field of Dreams or Eight Men out was in the theaters, so are they aware of him and if so why? If the answer is because of one of those movies and as such they are seeking out his cards then there would be a valid point, if not I can't really see it being directly related.

James G

I think we're making the same point James. Perhaps I should have been more clear, but the point of my last sentence in my post was: his legacy was well established within the collecting and baseball historian communities long before the movies were released. Because of this, I don't believe the prices on Jackson cards would be any different today if the movies did not exist. However, I do think there are some casual observers (general public) who are now more aware of him as a result of the movies.

Cheers,