If you just clicked on this article or looked for it online, you probably thought it was about Pete Rose, but it is not about that slugger. This is about another corner outfielder and another one of the greatest of all-time. This article is about "Shoeless" Joe Jackson".
As mentioned above, Jacson was one of the greatest baseball players of all-time. He carried a .356 lifetime average and was one of the 1st true 5 tool players. That .356 career batting average is good for 3rd all-time. Some even say the term was developed to exemplify a player like Jackson. Eventhough his career was cut short in his prime at age 33, he still is 105th in all-time war and near the top of many other statistical categories. There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest of all-time and was the greatest on that Black Sock team. Why does any of this matter though, he cheated right?
There is no evidence that Joe Jackson cheated or fixed the series like the other Black Sox. No evidence at all. His play would certainly indicate that he had absolutely nothing to do with the fix. Jackson hit .375 in the World Series. Hitting at a .375 clip on the biggest stage is other worldly. That was also a record at the time. This record would stand until 1964 along with his record 12 hits. Let me repeat that, he supposedly fixed games, but had a .375 average during the series which was a record that stood from 1919-1964. If Jackson really fixed games then he must have been even better than the players than we thought he was. With those numbers it is highly unlikely that he participated in the fix.
The controversy came in because he apparently signed a document that was the equivalent of a confession. This has never been completely confirmed, but most who say he did sign it, say he was manipulated into doing so. Something that was not difficult to do considering that Jackson could not read or write. One would think in that circumstance the confession would have to be verbal and there is no way to prove such a confession with Jackson. His numbers speak for themselves and seem to indicate that he had no part in the fix.
While he took no part in the fix, did he know about it? It has been said that conspiring with those that fixed the series or knowing about it, is as bad as actually throwing the games. I don't for a second perscribe to that line of thinking. This is especially true when you consider his numbers and the fact that he was clearly trying. He made no errors and had the highest batting average ever on the biggest stage. There is absolutely no way he was guilty. There is even a rumor that he tried to report those fixing the games to White Sox owner Charles Comisky, but was denied that right.
Another key fact of this case is that all of the players were acquitted of charges in 1921. Not only that, but Joe Jackson was successful on his own in court including winning a 1924 trial to recover lost wages from those seasons in which he was banned so no reinstatement.
Why is he banned then?
He was banned for life along with his teammates by the 1st commissioner of baseball. Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was brought in to make an example of this team and he went above and beyond by eliminating the trio. However, a lot of the rulings that Landis made were nonsensical and he nor his rulings should be celebrated today.
In addition to the Black Sox Scandal, Mountain Landis is famous for segregating baseball. This sport did not have a color barrier to be broken at one point. However, Landis instituted one and was well known for keeping the Major Leagues separated and segregated from the negro leagues. A negro league historian, James Banks, wrote that Landis "made little effort to disguise his racial prejudice during his 25 years in office and he remained a steadfast foe of integration." Additionally, numerous authors say that play between Major League Teams and Negro League teams were banned by Landis for fear that the white teams might lose.
That is Landis' legacy. That racism and banning the Black Sox. It was for those things and the minor league system (which had way more to do with Branch Rickey than Landis) that he is remembered. The color line in baseball was disbanded with his death. The same should be said for other tyranical rulings during his lifetime as commish. However, that is not the case, in fact it is the opposite. Landis is celebrated. The American League MVP is STILL named after Landis. He is still holding a special place in the hearts of many. How is this possible in the 21st century?
I don't know how, but I know it is wrong. If anyone should be banned from baseball it should be Kenesaw Mountain Landis and not Shoeless Joe Jackson. The trophy should be named for Jackson instead or perhaps for Larry Doby, but that's another story for another day.
We can have Alex Rodriguez leading a Yankee postseason push and Matt Williams leading a playoff push as a manager while Mark McGwire is a hitting coach for a contender, but we can't have Shoeless Joe in the Hall. We allow these cheaters in the game but not Joe. Pete Rose who admitted to gambling can broadcast games, but Shoeless Joe isn't allowed in the Hall. It is a complete travesty and one that can and should be fixed. The ball is on your field MLB, make a good decision.
-Noland
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