Stonewall, oops Shoeless Joe Jackson played in New Haven in 1911
“Shoeless” Joe Jackson was a rookie outfielder with the Cleveland Naps of the American League when he arrived for an exhibition game at New Haven’s Lighthouse Point Park in September 1911.
Obviously, he had a ways to go before cementing his legacy as one of baseball’s tragic yet iconic figures.
At the time, he was such a relative unknown that Harry Robinson, the Register’s assistant sports editor, butchered Jackson’s fabled nickname in print. The future legend was denoted in the game recap as “Stonewall” Joe Jackson. (Say it ain’t so, Harry!)
While “Shoeless Joe” wasn’t quite a household name yet, Robinson hardly deserves a pass for his blunder. Jackson, in his first full season, was pushing Ty Cobb for the batting title and well on his way to stardom on the day of the exhibition with the Eastern League’s New Haven Murlins. Only 18 regular season games remained and Jackson would finish the year at .408, a rookie record that stands 101 years later; likely for eternity.
Read Chip Malafronte's complete story.
Labels: 1911, Baseball, Eastern League, Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven Murlins, Shoeless Joe Jackson
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