50 FAVORITE WHITE SOX PLAYERS

[knightni]

28. Joe Jackson

 

 

(5 of 27 lists - 83 points - highest ranking #4 BigSqwert)

 

Bio by Texsox -

 

First off, no one posting on Soxtalk (except FlaSoxxJim) ever saw him play, but we know more about legendary Shoe-less Joe Jackson than perhaps any player from the 1917 Championship Team. He only played five of his twelve seasons as a member of the White Sox, but two of those included appearances in the World Series. His career highlights include:

 

* In 1911, Jackson set the rookie batting average at .408, a record that still stands today.

* He led the American League in triples in 1912, 1916 and 1920.

* In 1913, Jackson led the league with 197 hits and .551 slugging average.

* In 1917, Jackson won the World Series with the Chicago White Sox.

* Jackson batted .351 during the regular season and .375 in the World Series to go along with a perfect 1.000 fielding average.

* Batted .340 or better for eight of his thirteen seasons.

* Ranked 3rd in All-time batting average with .356.

 

Certainly most baseball experts agree that if he had been allowed to continue his career, he could have been on a short listof players considered to be the greatest ever. He certainly is one of the greatest to lace up spikes for the Sox. Speaking of lacing up spikes, he earned the nickname when a new pair of spikes caused his feet to blister and the next day he played a minor league game in his bare feet. His glove was called “where triples go to die”. One other equipment note, his famous bat “Black Betsy” was 36” long and weighed 48 oz., huge by modern standards. It sold at auction for over $500,000. There is no better gauge as to a player's popularity and impact then sports memorabilia prices.

 

There have been many books, movies and sites that explore in detail the Black Sox and Jackson’s role, there is probably no need to rehash the circumstances except to say let the stat line from the World Series that Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis used to ban Jackson from baseball speak for itself.

 

Name 	      Pos  G  AB  H  2B 3B HR  R RBI  Avg  BB  SO  SB
Joe Jackson    OF  8  32  12  3  0  1  5  6  .375   1  2    0 

 

[ChiSox_Sonix]

I almost put Joe on my list but decided not to at the last minute.

 

Also, just wanted to point out that that stat line of his in the WS looks good on paper, but is kind of misleading to how he performed in the series. Just sayin.

[Texsox]

My first cut off was players I actually saw play. I certainly can appreciate people putting him on their list.

[YASNY]

My first cut off was players I actually saw play. I certainly can appreciate people putting him on their list.

 

That was my first cut off as well. Joe missed it by this much (think Maxwell Smart).

[Texsox]

I was close to adding Jackson based on reading stories and watching movies.