Sports Then and Now

With the announcement last week by Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred that time on baseball’s permanently ineligible list would end upon the death of the individual, speculation is now rampant that the two most prominent names on that list, Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, could soon be headed to Cooperstown.

For more than a century, Jackson has been one of baseball’s most captivating and controversial figures. A man whose bat spoke louder than his words, Jackson’s legacy is a blend of dazzling talent, Southern humility, and a shadow cast by one of the sport’s darkest scandals. More than 70 years after his death and 100 years after his last official game, the debate continues: should greatness on the field redeem a transgression off it?

A Natural Talent from the Cotton Mills

Joseph Jefferson Jackson was born on July 16, 1887, in Pickens County, South Carolina, and raised in the mill town of Greenville. One of eight children, Jackson began working in a textile mill as a young boy to support his family. His education ended early, but his affinity for baseball became evident almost immediately. He played for mill teams as a teenager and quickly earned a reputation as a prodigious hitter.

Jackson’s nickname, “Shoeless Joe,” came from an instance during a mill game in which he removed a pair of blister-causing spikes and played barefoot. A reporter latched onto the image, and the name stuck for life.

Rising Star in the Big Leagues

Jackson’s professional baseball journey began when he was signed by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1908. However, his introduction to Major League Baseball was rocky. Jackson, a shy and uneducated young man unaccustomed to big-city life, struggled to adjust and was traded to the Cleveland Naps (later known as the Indians). It was in Cleveland that Jackson blossomed.

By 1911, Jackson emerged as one of the league’s top hitters, batting .408 in his first full season—a mark that still stands as the highest batting average ever by a rookie. He finished second in the American League behind Ty Cobb, who hit .420 that year. Jackson’s swing was considered one of the most graceful and effective in the history of the game, inspiring future legends like Babe Ruth.

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month pitched in four decades, was a veteran of World War II and is one of only two pitchers to finish with exactly 300 career victories.

Hall of Famer Early Wynn began his career as a 19-year old in 1939 by pitching three games for the Washington Senators. After spending the 1940 season in the minors, he went 3-1 with a 1.58 ERA in a brief stint in the majors in 1941.

Minnie Minoso

The May Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is the only person in professional baseball history to appear in a game in seven different decades.

Santurnino “Minnie” Minoso made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1949 and appeared in a major or independent league professional game in each of the following six decades to establish a record that will likely never be broken. Read the rest of this entry →

Hoyt Wilhelm

The April Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month was 29-years-old when he made his major league debut, but still managed to pitch for 21 years and become the first pitcher in MLB history to appear in more than 1,000 games.

Hoyt Wilhelm made his professional baseball debut as a 19-year-old in 1942, but after serving in World War II (earning a Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge) and then spending five years in the minor leagues it wasn’t until 10 years later that he would make his major league debut. Read the rest of this entry →

Ed Herrmann

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month was an American League All-Star in 1974 and a solid catcher during his 11 year Major League career.

Ed Herrmann had baseball in his blood as his grandfather, Marty Herrmann, did not allow a run or hit during his one inning of action as a major league pitcher for the Brooklyn Robins in 1918.

Fortunately for Ed, his major league career lasted much longer than that of his grandfather.

After appearing in two major league games (and going 2 for 3) for the Chicago White Sox during the 1967 season, Herrmann returned to the majors for good in 1969 and soon was entrenched as the regular catcher for the White Sox. Read the rest of this entry →

Al Simmons

The July Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Month hit .462 while starting the first three All-Star Games during a stellar 20-year career that ended with his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

One of the premier outfielders of his generation, Al Simmons was not as well known as Babe Ruth, but he was a steady run producer who helped the Philadelphia Athletics edge the New York Yankees for three straight American League titles from 1929-1931 while claiming two World Series titles. Read the rest of this entry →