"Shoeless" Joe Jackson was born Joseph Jefferson Jackson on July 16, 1887 in Brandon Mills, South Carolina. At 6'1" and weighing 200 pounds, he batted with his left-hand but threw with his right. He played baseball for Philadelphia (1908-09), Cleveland (1910-15), and finally for the Chicago White Sox (1915-20) as an outfielder and first baseman. Mr. Jackson died December 5, 1951.

"He received his nickname "Shoeless," after playing a minor league game in his stockings because a new pair of spikes had given him blisters on his feet the previous day." *

Joe Jackson began his professional baseball career in 1908 with the Philadelphia Athletics organization. For his first two years Jackson was up and down between the minor and the major leagues, playing only ten games with the Athletics. Becoming increasingly unhappy Jackson was traded to the Cleveland Naps in 1911 where he played his first full season.

The Cleveland organization would eventually be called the Indians in 1915. That year Jackson compiled a .408 batting average, a record that still stands for rookie seasons. Coming into the prime of his career Jackson batted .395 and led the American League in triples in 1912. The next year Jackson led the league with 197 hits and .551 slugging average.

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