1918 Photo with Babe Ruth & Joe Jackson OR is it NOT?

[nolemmings]

Seems from the caps that this was a team photo of the Lebanon squad. As I understand it, Joe Jackson played for Wilmington in the Beth Steel Lg.

[sporteq]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Seems from the caps that this was a team photo of the Lebanon squad. As I understand it, Joe Jackson played for Wilmington in the Beth Steel Lg.

nolemmings- good observation "L" on the cap for "LEBANON."


That is NOT Shoeless Joe Jackson in that photo. That is the King of Swat!!

CASE CLOSED

[bobfreedman]

Please tell me what letter is on Ruth's hat? It is not an "L"

[sporteq]

Originally Posted by bobfreedman

Please tell me what letter is on Ruth's hat? It is not an "L"

I noticed myself.. dunno.

Albert

[irishdenny]

Is this Really True? They suited up & played for another baseball team to avoid being drafted... Why couldn't they just stay with the teams they were already signed with?

Does anyone have historical details about this subject?
I'm Very Curious...

I guess I'll go see what I can find out...

[rhettyeakley]

I don't think that is Jackson, not the best quality photo to go with which makes these types of identification very problematic. Ruth is pretty obvious in the photo, however. If Covaleski is on the team he is most likely the guy on the front row on the other side of the mascot from "Joe" (but hard to tell with the shadow across his face). That does appear to be Roger Peckinpaugh on the other side of "Joe" though. Some guys look familiar but the quality is tough to go on. Some other possibilities on this team but I can't really speak to those (Sam Jones, Steve O'Neill, etc.)

[sporteq]

Originally Posted by irishdenny

Is this Really True? They suited up & played for another baseball team to avoid being drafted... Why couldn't they just stay with the teams they were already signed with?

Does anyone have historical details about this subject?
I'm Very Curious...

I guess I'll go see what I can find out...

Makes me think, does this make them less patriotic? Ted Williams most notable suited up for war.

Albert

[spec]

Originally Posted by irishdenny

Is this Really True? They suited up & played for another baseball team to avoid being drafted... Why couldn't they just stay with the teams they were already signed with?

Does anyone have historical details about this subject?
I'm Very Curious...

I guess I'll go see what I can find out...

Technically, the ballplayers were employed by the sponsoring companies, whose employees were exempt from the draft because they were manufacturing goods considered essential to the war effort.

[pawpawdiv9]

Well, it seems Goodwin sold theirs last night 5/15/2014
and apparently mentioned JOE JACKSON & HORNSBY in it.
Sold for 3,984.12 and had 16 bids
http://goodwinandco.com/1918-Bethleh...-LOT27839.aspx

Copied text, in case link doesnt work:

Presented here is an absolutely remarkable 1918 3-1/2” x 5” black & white photo depicting the incomparable Babe Ruth, the immortal “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, legendary batsman Rogers Hornsby, and HOF hurler Stan Coveleskie posing with a group of additional Bethlehem Steel baseball players in October 1918. This incredible photograph’s roots are solely due to America’s involvement in World War I when the Charles Schwab Bethlehem Steel industrial giant started a six team league to entertain their massive employee base. Many professional baseball players were granted draft-exempt jobs with various shipyards including the distinguished Bethlehem Steel plants, and while a myriad of players spent most of their time on the plant’s assembly lines building war ships, they were also able to participate in the highly popular leagues. Due to Secretary of War Newton Baker’s renowned “work or fight” decree, professional baseball was thrown into a state of panic, with many players not risking the chance of being sent abroad to fight in Europe, but rather choosing the safe option of being highly paid for working in steel plants as well as playing baseball with their affiliated teams. The most prominent player not willing to “roll the dice” was “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and in 1918 his season was cut considerably short when the legendary slugger’s draft status was upgraded by his Greenville, South Carolina local draft board to top eligibility “1A-status”. Fearing imminent induction into the military, he left the White Sox to work in the Bethlehem Steel Wilmington plant. Later joining Jackson were the immortal Babe Ruth and Roger’s Hornsby, with the “Sultan of Swat” enlisting in the league directly after he helped Boston best the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series which, due to the war, happened to end a month early (September 11th). Although Babe Ruth only appeared in a single October game at 1st base before he went back to his home in Baltimore, MD., his brief showing with the prestigious Steel Casting Company eventually resulted in this unparalleled photo. True, Ruth and Jackson were officially listed on different clubs (e.g., Jackson with Wilmington and Ruth with Lebanon), but typical for this league were players jumping clubs on a daily basis, easily substantiating their undisputable representation on this unprecedented offering. The Cooperstown worthy black & white image depicts Babe Ruth standing in the back row 3rd from the left with “Shoeless” Joe Jackson easily identified as the front row player likewise 3rd from the left. This miraculous “Harper” photograph taken in Lebanon, Pa. reflects BOTH of these two baseball icons in a virtual “one of a kind” image, joining fellow Hall of Famers Rogers Hornsby and Stan Coveleskie. In fact, aside from this Bethlehem Steel League pose, the only other photo we have encountered depicting Ruth and Jackson portrays them examining a majestic piece of baseball lumber. The most intriguing aspect of this astonishing offering is the historical content it brings to the table, with the vague Bethlehem Steel League rarely discussed even among die-hard baseball historians. While not included in this particular photo, additional baseball legends who participated in Charles Schwab’s popular industrial league included Eddie Plank, Joe McCarthy, Dutch Leonard and “Black Sox” southpaw Lefty Williams. Regarding the aesthetics of this truly sparse offering, the central team image is absolutely superb, emanating superior contrast and crystal clear clarity. The technical issues include a series of vertical beveling lines along the bottom portion of the glossy surface, some light diagonal creases/cracks particularly near the upper and lower left quadrants, two mild horizontal creases along the back row (barely visible to the naked eye), a brown soiling “spec” near the upper right border, and a reverse side previously written “Babe Ruth” notation that has been erased. Yet, the fine perimeter including four relatively square corners and museum worthy central image are far more prevalent than the aforementioned anomalies. As is the case for any hobby rarity, the phrase “try and find another one” certainly applies here! This ultra-eclectic offering stands as the only Bethlehem Steel League photo we have ever come across portraying the unparalleled baseball stars Babe Ruth and Joe Jackson, with Rogers Hornsby and Stan Coveleskie providing fine co-star roles. After the 1918 Armistice Agreement officially ended World War I, professional baseball players returned to the Major Leagues in time to start the 1919 season, ending Major League baseball’s association with the Bethlehem Steel League. Considering this remarkable transient memento serves as a resounding reminder of a by-gone league that once boasted the iconic likes of Ruth, Jackson and Hornsby, it certainly represents one of our National Pastime’s greatest historical keepsakes and merits a final resting place in the finest vintage collection!