Shoeless Joe Jackson (1887–1951) was an American outfielder who played Major League Baseball in the early 1900s. He is remembered for his performance on the field and for his association with the Black Sox Scandal, in which members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox participated in a conspiracy to fix the World Series. Jackson played for three Major League teams during his twelve-year career, briefly playing for the Philadelphia Athletics and the minor league New Orleans Pelicans before joining the Cleveland Naps for five years and finishing his career with the Chicago White Sox. He played left field for most of his career, and currently has the third-highest career batting average in major league history. He always denied being part of the match fixing scandal and subsequent events have cast doubts on his involvement.
This picture shows Jackson holding his baseball bat, Black Betsy, during his time with the Cleveland Naps in 1913.Photograph credit: Charles M. Conlon