Joe Jackson’s Insanely Scarce Cards / Photos / Items

[brunswickreeves]

Joe, where’d you go?! Let’s see your playing days Joe Jackson cards / photos / items.

According to PSA, SGC and Beckett Grading POP Reports, Joe Jackson has some of the most scarce cards (or omitted appearances therein) for a player of his caliber or popularity during the MLB’s infancy in the early 1900’s.

Honus Wagner had 64+ playing days card issues/appearances from 1897 through 1916 (14 of which were from 1897 through 1908, leaving 50+ in the 8 years from 1909 through 1916).

Joe Jackson’s playing days card/photo issues/appearances in the 14 years of 1907 through 1920 total only….44+!

Thus, Joe Jackson was in 35%+ fewer the # of card issues/appearances compared to Wagner.

Moreover, according to Graded POP reports:

Wagner has 2,667+ graded playing days cards.
Jackson only has….1,484+ graded playing days cards, total!

Why is Jackson missing from some of the most important pre-war sets (1909 T206; 1909 E92, 95, 101, 102; 1910 E90-2, 93, 103 , 104, 105, 125, 286; 1910 PC796; 1910 W-UNC; 1911 M110, etc.)?

In 1908 and 1909, Jackson only played 5 games for the Athletics and batted .130 and .176, respectively, yet made the 1909 E90-1 American Caramel card. In 1910, Jackson joined Cleveland, played in only 20 games and batted .387 (3rd highest in his 13 years of pro ball)! Did his lackluster 1908 and 1909 seasons keep Jackson out of major sets in 1909 and 1910? During this time period, Wagner was in 28+ card issues/appearances. Jackson was in only 1! 1909 E90-1.

Then in 1911 Jackson first appeared in a Cleveland uniform in the iconic 1909-1913 M101-2 Sporting News Supplements issue (which Jackson shared with Inaugural 1st class MLB HOFers Wagner, Cobb, Mathewson and Johnson, in addition to Young and more!). Important to note is that Jackson’s M101-2 issue was distributed on March 23, 1911. This means his fielding image from that issue would have been captured at one of the 20 games he played during his 1st season with Cleveland in 1910. Following this appearance, Jackson was in 26+ card issues/appearances during the 9 years from 1912 through 1920. Of this, Jackson was in 22+ card issues/appearances during the 5 years from 1912 through 1916. Comparatively, Wagner was in 17+ card issues/appearances during this same time period.

What does this all mean?

First, when was Joe Jackson’s actual Rookie season? Was it 1908 when he played 5 games for the Athletics and landed on the 1909 E90-1 card (181 total graded)? Was it 1910 when he played 20 games for Cleveland and landed on the 1911 M101-2 March 23, 1911 issue of Sporting News Supplements (25 total graded)? Or was it 1911 when he played his first full season of 147 games?

Second, Jackson seems to have yet again been stamped out of baseball history. He was omitted from some of the most iconic and widely collected pre-war sets in 1909 and 1910, thus reducing the total POP of his cards. Yet, Jackson gained traction (and more cards in POP) with National Game, Tom Baker, Cracker Jack, Polo Grounds and 1919-21 W-514 card issues/appearances. Jackson has only 1,484+ graded playing days cards/photos across 44+ issues vs. Wagner with 2,667+ graded playing days cards across 64+ issues!

All in all, Jackson’s mystique and scarcity in both card issues/appearances and total POP continues to fascinate our hobby more than 100 years after his last day in a pro ball White Sox uniform. Was he a victim to really bad timing (card issues and proximity to the Black Sox scandal)? Or is there more to his story than we will ever know? In summary, given his undisputed contributions to baseball, positive influence on young players (e.g. Babe Ruth), and acquittal of the Black Sox scandal, I hope one day the MLB or Congress approves his overdue acceptance into the MLB Hall of Fame. For the time being, our hobby will continue to keep his legacy and memory alive through our tenacious collecting of his scarce cards/photos/items.

For a Graded POP analysis of Jackson’s playing days cards, see Excel below (see later versions for updates as more cards/photos are shared and raised-up).

[ezez420]

Not sure why this isn't on the list.

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[brunswickreeves]

Very cool! I pulled from grading co POP reports, so could be not graded or human error.

[JustinD]

Interesting thoughts as to the many sets he was omitted from.

I have always thought that much of the scarcity in the quantity of cards from the sets he was actually included in was due to them being discarded or destroyed by disappointed kids and adults after the scandal. You can quite easily imagine during the time they were seen as negative to have and also having no value.

It takes many, many years for people to be able to see past current day transgressions and look big picture. An easy comparison can be made to several players of the 80s and 90s.

[boneheadandrube]

He missed the "card boom" of 1908-1911 because he wasn't noteworthy yet, and he missed the 1920's...thats why he doesn't have many cards. There are a lot of players who missed the card production boom who suffered the same fate. Why not many 1911 cards (?), because images from his 1911 season wouldn't be used to produce things until 1912 or later probably.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by boneheadandrube

He missed the "card boom" of 1908-1911 because he wasn't noteworthy yet, and he missed the 1920's...thats why he doesn't have many cards. There are a lot of players who missed the card production boom who suffered the same fate. Why not many 1911 cards (?), because images from his 1911 season wouldn't be used to produce things until 1912 or later probably.

This.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by boneheadandrube

He missed the "card boom" of 1908-1911 because he wasn't noteworthy yet, and he missed the 1920's...thats why he doesn't have many cards. There are a lot of players who missed the card production boom who suffered the same fate. Why not many 1911 cards (?), because images from his 1911 season wouldn't be used to produce things until 1912 or later probably.

I agree. If his career had ramped up a couple of years earlier, and lasted another couple of years, he would have been in a TON of issues, probably more than Honus Wagner. His E90-1 image would have likely been included in all E92/E101/E102/E105/E106 and D303 etc. sets, and we would also seen cool different artwork for him in possibly the E93, E94, E95/E96, and E98 sets. Another couple of years at the end of his career would have undoubtedly gotten him into the E120, E121 and E122 American Caramel sets and related issues utilizing the same photos (W573, W575, W501 V61-1, V61-2 etc.), as well as E220 National Caramel and a variety of other sets (W503, W575-2, as well as a bunch of strip sets besides W514).

Brian

[mrreality68]

A few more with different ad backs

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by ezez420

Not sure why this isn't on the list.

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Wow that is a great piece.
If you ever decide to give it up.
Give me a call. Lol

Amazing piece indeed

[mrreality68]

Here is a few of mine

[invest]

Here is my only Joe Jackson card

Troy

[skelly423]

I've only got one, but it's a special one.

[theshowandme]

This thread is insane!


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[ezez420]

Thanks for comments on the w601. Right now just in PC. Here's another one that doesn't come out much. Just a little undergraded.




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[BeanTown]

Here is a type 1 photo of the 1907 Vic Mills team featuring a young Joe Jackson

[trambo]

Here are two of mine. Glad I got these when I did!!

[BeanTown]

Y’all have posted some awesome Joe Jackson items. Ive always loved Ryan’s Greenville Spinners Cabinet from 1908. Let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with any of his cards. Here is a RPPC which was made from the same photo shoot from the type 1 photo posted above.

[Rhotchkiss]

Jay, I was waiting for you to post, awesome!! Talk about rare… how about impossible

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Jay, I was waiting for you to post, awesome!! Talk about rare… how about impossible

+1 Agreed

Simply amazing and simply impossibly rare

[Alexcards]

Not a card but cool piece to go along with Joe Jackson’s 1910 T210 Old Mill New Orleans Pelicans Season
(Card is reprint, but TICKET is the real deal)*
image-2023-05-04-08:56:39-134.jpg


Alex Tymchuk
EBay ID: AlexCards
Net54: AlexCards
Cell/Text: 404-218-0311

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[Lucas00]

To me it’s not even 50% Joe. The facial structure is completely different.

[mrreality68]

Sadly I have to agree with others

It does not look like Joe jackson

Only the ears match but nothing else

[rickalaska]

Nobody ever said it was Joe Jackson - it was interesting enough to post on this thread though.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by rickalaska

Nobody ever said it was Joe Jackson - it was interesting enough to post on this thread though.

This is Net 54, don't expect people to read your actual words.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

This is Net 54, don't expect people to read your actual words.

Ya expect me to read? I cannot id myself in photos. I should be given a pass however it felt like his post was soliciting opinions, because he did not write that he himself did not think it was Jax.

Swing first, by all means!