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Field of Dreams Part II: Shoeless Joe Jackson |
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Inside Field of Dreams |
Born in a family of poor textile mill workers, young Shoeless Joe worked with his family long 12 hour days with little schooling and all remained illiterate. At age 13, Joe began pitching on the company's baseball team. His fastball was so forceful that he once broke a batter's arm. Joe decided that if he were that dangerous on the mound, he better play some other position. From then on, Joe was an outfielder. His torrid hitting impressed all lookers that in 1907 he signed for $75.00 a month by the Greenville Spinners, a Class D minor league team. This salary was well over twice what he was making in the textile mill. Joe Jackson was fitted with a new pair of baseball spiked shoes but these new shoes gave him painful blisters so he played in his stocking feet. In one particular game, he belted a home run and as he rounded third a fan yelled from the grandstand, "Oh you shoeless sonofab%ch!" Scoop Latimer, a sportswriter printed it and hence the name "Shoeless Joe" stuck with him. YOUNG PHENOM SIGNED BY CONNIE MACK Philadelphia Athletics owner Connie Mack signed Joe Jackson for $900.00. Left-handed hitter Joe Jackson gets one hit in his major league debut. One writer summed it up briefly: "Thus in all respects Jackson looked extremely good in his first game and as if he didn't possess a single weakness: good at bat, good on fly balls, good on the bases and fast on his feet." Joe Jackson Goes Home - 1908 Rookie wonder, Joe Jackson jumped on a train and headed back to home after his team mates made him the butt of all their yokel tricks. Jackson played only five games and was missing from further play. He played in the minors the rest of the year. |
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Shoeless Joe makes you want to run out to the local sandlot with your mitt and play catch! |
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"...anyone longing for the days when it was still "A game" will love this one." |
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Growing Up With "Shoeless Joe" is a new perspective on the life story of the world's greatest slugger and baseball's most unheralded natural talent. | |
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Re-Instate Shoeless Joe Jackson Buttons! |
Be the first of your friends to have an authentic "Re-Instate Shoeless Joe Jackson" button like the one pictured to the left. Simply click on the button below to pay safely online with PayPal. Only $3.25 USD includes postage for each button requested: |
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Baseball is supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everybody would be doing it. The hard is what makes it great. --Tom Hanks to Geena Davis, in the movie "League of Their Own" |
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