Jackson broke in with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1908 for five Games, and another five in 1909. Jackson, who grew up very poor, was by all accounts a simple man, and maybe that was part of his struggles in Philadelphia as he played poorly, and it was reported that he did not fit in. He was a throw away as the "Player to be Named Later" and sent to the Indians, and it was here where he began to flourish.
Jackson broke out in 1911, with 233 Hits, 19 Triples, and a disgusting Slash Line of .408/.468/.598, finishing fourth for the MVP. The Outfielder proceeded to lead the American League in Hits the next two seasons, as well as Triples in 1912 and Doubled in 1913. "Shoeless Joe" led the AL in OPS in 1913, and he never had an OPS under one from 1911 to 1913, and in 1913, he was second for the MVP.
In 1914, he still had a good year, but he was not the dominant player he once was, and perhaps that is why the slumping Indians felt he was expendable and traded him to Chicago, where his infamy truly began.
As an Indian, Jackson had 937 Hits with a Slash Line of .375/.441/.542. He might have been banned from the Baseball Hall of Fame, but Cleveland inducted him to their Hall in the inaugural Class of 1951.
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