gold star for USAHOF

5. Shoeless Joe Jackson

  • Published in Baseball
  • Read 50075 times
  • Rate this item
    (16 votes)
5.  Shoeless Joe Jackson
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: July 16, 1887 in Pickens County, SC USA
  • Weight: 200 lbs.
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: August 25, 1908
  • Final Game: September 27, 1920
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1911
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1911
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1912
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1912
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1913
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1913
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1914
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1914
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1916
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1916
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1919
  • MVP - 1911
  • MVP - 1912
  • MVP - 1913
  • MVP - 1914
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
9962174635441081570404 0.356
 

Did he or didn’t he conspire to fix to the 1919 World Series?  Over eighty years after the fact, there is still a sizable debate as to whether “Shoeless” Joe Jackson was involved in the “Black Sox” scandal that saw the Chicago White Sox throw the World Series for financial gain against the Cincinnati Reds.

Prior to his expulsion from baseball, Jackson had already proved himself Hall of Fame worthy.  In ten full Major League seasons, Shoeless Joe had over 1,700 hits and had a career batting average of .356.  The latter remains iconic as this puts him third All Time.  Jackson was easily amongst the hardest workers in baseball and his passion for the game was unequalled.  He was in his prime when he was suspended and he clearly had many more great seasons ahead of him.

Where it gets murky is his participation in throwing the Series.  Evidence does point that he was aware of it but after his Grand Jury Testimony where he claimed involvement he proclaimed his innocence for years thereafter.  Jackson may have been a great player, but he was not an educated man, and by many accounts naïve.  It is very possible that he was unaware of the ramifications of testifying that he received $5,000 to help throw the Series.

As he claimed his innocence, he had the stats to back up his claim.  He batted .375 in the Series and made no errors in the field.  If anything, the box scores shoes the efforts a man who played to win.  As seen with our first selection, Major League Baseball has a zero tolerance policy for gambling and there are many reasons to think that this will not change in the near or distant future.  As there are is some doubt about his guilt and considering his overall contribution to the game, we are hoping that MLB will reinstate Shoeless Joe Jackson and enshrine him in to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Sadly, he has been declared ineligible since the Hall’s inception….any real reason to think it will change now?

Should Shoeless Joe Jackson be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 86.5%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 2.9%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 1.7%
No opinion. - 1%
No way! - 7.5%

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Pickens County, South Carolina, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Wednesday, 01 January 1936
  • Position: Outfield
  • Played For: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Rings (1) (Chicago White Sox, 1917)
    Highest Offensive bWAR (1) (AL) (1913)
    Highest On Base Percentage (1) (AL) (1911)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1) (AL) (1913)
    Most Hits (2) (AL) (1913 & 1914)
    Most Total Bases (2) (AL) (1914 & 1916)
    Most Doubles (1) (AL) (1913)
    Most Triples (3) (AL) (1912, 1916 & 1920)
    Most Extra Base Hits (1) (AL) (1916)
    Highest OPS (1) (AL) (1913)
    Highest Championship Win Probability Added (1) (AL) (1917)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Leftfielder (1) (AL) (1916)
    Most Assists by a Rightfielder (2) (AL) (1912 & 1913)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Rightfielder (1) (AL) (1913)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Leftfielder (1) (AL) (1917)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Leftfielder (1) (AL) (1917)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Rightfielder (1) (AL) (1911 & 1912)
  • Other Points of Note: Top Ten MVP finishes:
    (AL: 1911, 4th), (AL: 1912, 9th), (AL: 1913, 2nd) & (AL: 1914, 5th)
    8 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Position Players)
    8 Top Ten Finishes (Offensive bWAR)
    8 Top Ten Finishes (Batting Average)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (On Base Percentage)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (Slugging Percentage)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (OPS)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (OPS+)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Hits)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Total Bases)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Doubles)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (Triples)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Home Runs)
    8 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Batted In)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Walks)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Stolen Bases)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Singles)
    8 Top Ten Finishes (Extra Base Hits)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Power-Speed #)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)
  • Notable All Time Rankings: 4.   Batting Average: .356
    12. OPS+: 170
    17. On Base Percentage: .423
    26. Triples: 168
    29. Range Factor per Game by a Leftfielder: 2.15
    33. OPS: .940
    52. Double Plays Turned by a Leftfielder: 16
    70. Assists by a Rightfielder: 94
    72. Slugging Percentage: .517
    95. Offensive bWAR: 61.2
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame: 1936:  0.9
  • Should be Inducted As A: Chicago White Sox

Should Shoeless Joe Jackson be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 86.5%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 2.9%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 1.7%
No opinion. - 1%
No way! - 7.5%

Comments powered by CComment