Above is the Shoeless Joe Jackson bat card from 2001 SP Legendary Cuts. The card was a part of the Debut Game Bat set, featuring players who had yet to have a game used card produced.
The card has an interesting history. As Jackson was banned from Major League Baseball due to his alleged involvement with the 1919 Black Sox scandal, he was not able to be on any cards licensed by Major League Baseball or the Player's Union. As such, this card ended up being pulled from production, making it a difficult card to locate.
Jackson was also a very good player, and one that would have ended up in the Hall of Fame had he not be banned. He left baseball with the third highest all-time batting average at .356. He had a career total of 1772. However, he is best known for his alleged role with the Black Sox, a matter that he was found innocent after a trial in 1921. Despite this, the commissioner of baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, banned him and the other seven players, stating that baseball needed to clean up it's image.
Jackson's tale is rather tragic, and this card, and the history surrounding it, reinforces the absurdity of his suspension.
No comments:
Post a Comment