Shoeless joe jackson biography

"Shoeless" Joe Jackson
Born July 16,
Pickens County, South Carolina

Born in a family of poor textile mill workers, young Joe and his family worked long 12 hour days with little schooling and all remained illiterate.

At age 13, Joe began pitching on the company's baseball team. His fastball was so forceful that he once broke a catchers' arm.  No one was willing to catch Joe Jackson after that and he was moved to the outfield. His torrid hitting impressed all lookers and in he was signed for $ a month by the Greenville Spinners - Class D - minor leagues.

This salary was well over twice what he was making in the textile mill.  Joe Jackson was fitted with a new pair of baseball spiked shoes but these new shoes gave him blisters so he played in his stocking feet.  In one game, he belted a long triple and as he slid into third base a opposing fan yelled "You Shoeless Scum, you!"  Hence he became known as "Shoeless Joe" Jackson.

YO