Please don’t scroll past this post!!! I realize some of you may not be baseball fans, but if you’re a fan of Greenville, (and I know all of you are), this is a story you need to read. I had no idea how much of a legend Shoeless Joe Jackson was until I began my research. It amazes me that he lived RIGHT HERE in our town!
To understand the rise and fall of the infamous Shoeless Joe Jackson, I need to introduce you to Greenville in the early 1900s. Before textile mills went the way of the manual typewriter, Greenville was known as the Textile Center of the World. Neighborhoods were built around mills. Churches, schools, stores, doctors offices, dentist offices and the workplace were all a part of these tight knit communities. Brandon Mill Village is where Joseph Jefferson Wofford Jackson (try saying that five times fast) fell in love with baseball.
He began working in the mill at age six and never learned to read or write. Whenever he could, Joe would sneak out into the sunshine to play baseball, a.k.a. cow pasture ball (you’re welcome for that picture!) Mill owners encouraged family events for their employees and baseball played an important role in the communities.
At the age of thirteen, Joe began to play on the Brandon Mill’s Men’s baseball team. His skills on the field were better than the adults in the league. Jackson was a multi-talented player. His fans began calling his glove, “the place where triples die”. Joe’s home runs, inside and outside the park, were called “Saturday Specials”. His line drives were called, “Blue Darters”. Blue flames were said to shoot out from the ball on impact.
Jackson’s professional career began in 1908 in Philadelphia. The nickname, Shoeless Joe, came that same year when new shoes caused blisters on his feet. He wanted to sit out the next game, but that was impossible. There were only twelve names on the roster. Sitting out was not an option. Joe played that game in his socks.
After being traded to the Cleveland Indians, Jackson earned the title “the greatest natural hitter who ever lived” with his 1913 lifetime batting average of .394. Let that sink in… the “greatest natural hitter who ever lived,” right here in Greenville. That is HUGE!
The Chicago White Sox picked up Shoeless Joe in 1915. He batted .307 in the 1917 World Series the Sox won against the New York Giants. Things went downhill fast just weeks before the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Jackson became tangled up in a game fixing conspiracy. In that series, Joe hit 375, setting a World Series record, and played an errorless outfield.
Chicago lost to the Reds and Jackson was suspended from the team. He was later acquitted of any charges of conspiracy, but that ended Shoeless Joe’s professional career. (Insert all the tears here.)
Obviously, there is a lot more we could learn about Jackson’s time in town, but I don’t want to keep you too long. Let’s fast forward a bit…
Joe Jackson died of a heart attack on December 5, 1951 and is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park on Wade Hampton Blvd. Visitors to the cemetery can easily spot Jackson’s grave. It’s the one surrounded by all the baseball paraphernalia. If you decide to swing by, carry an old baseball or quarter to leave behind.
When visiting Fluor Field, you can’t miss the statue of Shoeless Joe that greets you at the front gate. You might remember that the memorial used to stand outside Smoke on the Water. I love its new home – makes much more sense, if you ask me. Good call, Greenville!
Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park is located on West Avenue in the Brandon Mill community. The eight acre lighted baseball complex, complete with playground and covered shelter, celebrates Greenville’s rich baseball history.
The house where Joe lived and died (directly across the street from the side entrance to Fluor Field) is now a museum and baseball library. It’s open on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. Private tours are scheduled Monday thru Friday by appointment only. In other words, you guys have some sight-seeing to do.
Every town needs a Hero and I’m thankful Shoeless Joe belongs to us!
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