Shoeless Joe Jackson, Hall of Fame Worthy?
Should they lift his ban even after his death? If so will they let him into the hall of fame? So many questions surround this possibly misunderstood baseball legend. Shoeless Joe got his name from what is believed to a blister on his feet from a new pair of cleats. So he took them off and played in his socks throughout the ball game, resulting in Shoeless Joe Jackson. A man who just wanted to play the game of baseball and was banned from it.
Shoeless Joe has some very impressive stats over his- year career. He is known for playing with the White Sox, but played with a total of 3 other teams, having played with ith the Athletics, Naps, and Indians for half a season. He posted very good standard stats that should alone be hall of fame worthy.
Some of these numbers include a .356 career batting average, 785 RBIs, and 168 career triples. The power was low, but this came in an era where lower home run totals were more commonplace.
The power is low, but this came in an era with much deeper home run fences, and just before Babe Ruth made his impact as the first major power hitter in baseball, revolutionizing the game. Players hit for average, with an emphasis on extra base hits (Jackson averaged- triples per season). A closer look at Jackson’s stats show some very impressive attributes.
9.4 walks percentage, 4.2 strikeout percentage, .423 on base percentage. 517 slugging percentage, and a .940 OPS. These are great numbers and H.O.F. numbers in fact.
So the stats look good, but how about the scandal? Did Jackson blatantly lower his level of play, throwing the series for Chicago? A look at the stats would say no. Jackson batted .375 that World Series, with a record breaking 12 hits. Unlike many of his teammates, Jackson’s fielding percentage was a perfect 1.000.
Many have accused Jackson of allowing multiple Reds triples in left field, where he played for the White Sox. However, further research of mine has shown that no triples were hit to Jackson’s part of the field in the’19 series. Jackson, however, did receive a $5,000 payment according to records.
This begs the question: does Shoeless Joe belong in the hall?
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