Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
BOY
WAS JACKSON
IN YOUNG DAYS

IIs IUUWU UnIU
TOE JACKSON. the hard-hitting
outhelder Of the Cleveland Maps,
y who led the American League in
batting for the twenty games he play
ed in his inaugural season Of 1910.
and was second only 20 Tv Cobb in
1911 and 1912 was shunted toward
professional career as player oy
burst of Southern temper when only
II years old, says harvey I. Wood
run. in the Chicago Tribune
As the story goes Jackson was
member Of the Greenyille Is. @
Changers, who Won thirty straight
games In one season. He was play
ing against a college nine i'm his nome
town, when. in sliding TO second base,
he was spiked I'm the muscles Of the
leg Just above the knee by a gentle
manly collegian. Joe thought this
act was premeditated on the part OF
the higher education fellow So he
proceeded 20 take of his shoe and
apply the spiked footwear 10 sundry
and divers portions OF his assallants
| body until the same bore a resem
| blance 10 a hamburger steak ac-
| Cording TO more or less reliable re-
| ports.
Under Bonds to Keep Peace.
This little pleasantly, however re-
| suited in Joe being put under bonds
to keep the peace, and brought I'M
! friendly criticism from friends Of the
! Collegian Therefore Joe decided 10
/ leave Greenville temporarily, at least,
| for the career Of ball player. The
! experience gained on independent
mines in 1905 and 1906 paved the way
/ for his entrance into the big leagues,
| although he returned TO the meat shop
| the latter part of 1906 and during
! 1907
This return was prompted in no
sense by lack Of interest I'm baseball
to which he was devoted. but because
| the prospects for regular payday
were less nerve raCking.
That was less than six years ago,
ard Jackson stands to-day one OF the
greatest players in the history Of the
game. But 10 take up the tale chro-
nolOgiCally, Jackson was born at
Brandon Hill, $. c., July IS. 1887, al
! though passing most OF his life at
Greenville. Of the same state. There
his father attempted to bring up
family Of nine children, seven boys
and two girls from the profits Of
| butcher shop TWO Of the younger
brothers are toutcd by Joe as likely
to uphold the family name on the
diamond
Worked in Butcher Shop.
With a family OF this size, the ell
der Jackson thought Joe Of more use
in the shop than at school So in
stead Of learning the national pas
time back OF the old schoolhOuse,
Joe picked up the rudiments in the
street in front Of the store when
there was a hull in the sale Of liver
and sausages History does not re-
cord whether customers objected to
his sudden transfers from the dust
II the road 70 the ice box and return.
JaCksOn's first serious thoughts Of
professional ball followed the earn
ing Of $3.50 for pitching a game on
| July 4. end the row with the college
| player previously referred 10 clinChed
| the decision. So in 1905 and part Of
1906 Joe was an independent player
on semi pro mines in the vicinity Of
Greenyile
After a season Of strict adherence
to the butchering business during
907 Joe was quite ready 10 listen
TO the plea Of Manager Thomas
| StouCh Of Greenville. then in the
south aroma l-taiS " t' Hi1N a
contract for the season Of 1908. Jack
son led the league in batting. with
mark Of $40
Was With the Athletics.
Connie Mack Of Philadelphia not
/ only has long legs but long ears when
| 81 comes 20 hearing Of promising
Young players. ano Joe Joined the
Athletics that fall He was given
| n trial in the outheld. A long ly.
/ lost in the sun and played poorly
struck him on the chest and he was
/ removed from the game. The gibes
Of the bleaChers and homesickness
| caused him TO desert the club. The
story always was spread that ne was
afraid Of the high buildings
At any rate. IL IS one Of the strange
l happenings Of basel ball that the team
which jackson deserted is the one
with which his present club has been
dispUting the top place in the pen
uant race for the early weeks OF the
1913 season.
When Connie Mack located the
I player who had run out" on him be
I famed him 20 Savannah and IN 1910
[ released him outright 90 New Or
Z leans When with Savannah iu the
South Atlantic League In 1903 Jack
I son topped all the siuggers with sos
With New Orleans In 1910 be led the
/ league with 354 Thus for three sue
/ cessIye seasons he led three different
minor leagues IN batting Then he
/ stepped into the majors and played
I twenty games with cleveland I'm the
I fam 81 1910 batting ESQ This was
Just two points more than Cobb and
[ Larry Lal0ie. who were concerned 10
I the batting rivalry which caused the
F scandal ar S. louis and tho ai=mis-
[ sal ~ Manager Jack pfnlrnr. who
a Few weeks agJ secured a verdict