"Shoeless" Joe Jackson
Joe was born into a life of poverty in Pickens County. He went to work sweeping cotton dust off the floors at the Pelzer Mill. In 1901, Joe and his family moved to West Greenville, SC and worked in the Brandon Mill to help his family. Joe never went to school so he didn't know how to read or write and he probably would have worked in the Mill for the rest of his life if it weren't for baseball. He showed outstanding hitting and fielding skills as a young boy and after playing with the Greenville men's team he began playing with Greenville's semi-pro team. In 1908, the Greenville semi-pro team was playing a double header and Joe was wearing new cleats. The cleats gave Joe blisters on his feet so in the second game Joe took them off. After Joe hit a triple barefooted, a fan shouted: "You shoeless son-of-a-gun!" Joe only played this one game shoeless but his nickname Shoeless Joe Jackson stuck forever. Joe went on to have a very successful Major League career, batting a record .408 as a rookie. He was initially drafted by Cleveland but was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1915. Chicago was a very talented team that won the World Series in 1917 and were heavy favorites in the 1919 Series. After losing to Cincinnati, the Black Sox were immediately accused of throwing the series because of suspicion that they were under the influence of American gamblers. Joe and seven other players were specifically blamed for this event. This matter was taken to court where all the players were found not guilty. However, the league banned all players including Shoeless Joe from major league baseball to show that they had no tolerance for gambling in baseball. Joe is reported to having said he is not guilty of throwing the World Series. This point is still under debate but Joe's stats certainly help his case. Joe hit .375, the highest on either team. He had twelve hits, (a tie for the World Series record at the time); six RBIs and was errorless in all eight games. He accounted for eleven of twenty runs by the Sox; and he hit the only home run in the Series. Even though Joe never played another Major League baseball game in his life he was still one of the most well known and beloved of all time. He had books written about him, several movies, articles and even a Broadway based on his story. All this attention really turned Shoeless Joe Jackson into an American icon.
Joe was born into a life of poverty in Pickens County. He went to work sweeping cotton dust off the floors at the Pelzer Mill. In 1901, Joe and his family moved to West Greenville, SC and worked in the Brandon Mill to help his family. Joe never went to school so he didn't know how to read or write and he probably would have worked in the Mill for the rest of his life if it weren't for baseball. He showed outstanding hitting and fielding skills as a young boy and after playing with the Greenville men's team he began playing with Greenville's semi-pro team. In 1908, the Greenville semi-pro team was playing a double header and Joe was wearing new cleats. The cleats gave Joe blisters on his feet so in the second game Joe took them off. After Joe hit a triple barefooted, a fan shouted: "You shoeless son-of-a-gun!" Joe only played this one game shoeless but his nickname Shoeless Joe Jackson stuck forever. Joe went on to have a very successful Major League career, batting a record .408 as a rookie. He was initially drafted by Cleveland but was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1915. Chicago was a very talented team that won the World Series in 1917 and were heavy favorites in the 1919 Series. After losing to Cincinnati, the Black Sox were immediately accused of throwing the series because of suspicion that they were under the influence of American gamblers. Joe and seven other players were specifically blamed for this event. This matter was taken to court where all the players were found not guilty. However, the league banned all players including Shoeless Joe from major league baseball to show that they had no tolerance for gambling in baseball. Joe is reported to having said he is not guilty of throwing the World Series. This point is still under debate but Joe's stats certainly help his case. Joe hit .375, the highest on either team. He had twelve hits, (a tie for the World Series record at the time); six RBIs and was errorless in all eight games. He accounted for eleven of twenty runs by the Sox; and he hit the only home run in the Series. Even though Joe never played another Major League baseball game in his life he was still one of the most well known and beloved of all time. He had books written about him, several movies, articles and even a Broadway based on his story. All this attention really turned Shoeless Joe Jackson into an American icon.
Babe Ruth
At 7 years old George Herman Ruth Jr. developed a love for baseball. This passion started when he was sent away to St. Mary's Industrial School for a more stricter environment. One of the monks, Brother Matthias really like George and became a role model for him while also helping him work on his baseball skills as well. George was becoming very good and attracted interest from the Baltimore Orioles' owner Jack Dunn. The Brothers from the school had invited Jack Dunn and he was so impressed with George's skills that he offered him a contract after only watching him for half an hour. At age 19 George became a Major League Baseball player. He then got the nickname "Babe" from his teammates because he was so young and considered "Jack's newest baby". After performing well with the Orioles, Babe was traded to the Boston Red Sox. Babe began as a pitcher and started every fifth game with Boston. However, his incredible hitting was too good not to be in the starting lineup every game. In 1918 Babe was transformed into an everyday player and immediately had an impact by tying the Major League leading 11 home runs. He then followed up this success by setting a new single season home run record after hitting 29 homers in 1919. In result of his great play, Babe was traded to the New York Yankees before the 1920 season. As he became an outfielder full time, he re-wrote the record books. He crushed his own home run record by slugging 54 home runs in 1920. Then again in 1921 he dominated the league and set a new record in home runs again by hitting 59. He also had 171 RBI, scored 177 runs, averaged .376, and had a slugging percentage of .846. With Babe Ruth, the Yankees became the most dominant and well known team in America. There is argument over whether Babe Ruth is the best player in the MLB, but he is undoubtedly an American icon. Babe was able to revive baseball after the Black Sox scandal and also provided hope the many Americans suffering from the Great Depression.
At 7 years old George Herman Ruth Jr. developed a love for baseball. This passion started when he was sent away to St. Mary's Industrial School for a more stricter environment. One of the monks, Brother Matthias really like George and became a role model for him while also helping him work on his baseball skills as well. George was becoming very good and attracted interest from the Baltimore Orioles' owner Jack Dunn. The Brothers from the school had invited Jack Dunn and he was so impressed with George's skills that he offered him a contract after only watching him for half an hour. At age 19 George became a Major League Baseball player. He then got the nickname "Babe" from his teammates because he was so young and considered "Jack's newest baby". After performing well with the Orioles, Babe was traded to the Boston Red Sox. Babe began as a pitcher and started every fifth game with Boston. However, his incredible hitting was too good not to be in the starting lineup every game. In 1918 Babe was transformed into an everyday player and immediately had an impact by tying the Major League leading 11 home runs. He then followed up this success by setting a new single season home run record after hitting 29 homers in 1919. In result of his great play, Babe was traded to the New York Yankees before the 1920 season. As he became an outfielder full time, he re-wrote the record books. He crushed his own home run record by slugging 54 home runs in 1920. Then again in 1921 he dominated the league and set a new record in home runs again by hitting 59. He also had 171 RBI, scored 177 runs, averaged .376, and had a slugging percentage of .846. With Babe Ruth, the Yankees became the most dominant and well known team in America. There is argument over whether Babe Ruth is the best player in the MLB, but he is undoubtedly an American icon. Babe was able to revive baseball after the Black Sox scandal and also provided hope the many Americans suffering from the Great Depression.
Lou Gehrig
Lou grew up in a household where his mom worked very hard around the house, his father had a hard time finding a job, and his health was fading as well. Lou's mother really wanted him to get a good education, so in 1921, Lou went to Columbia on football scholarship to pursue an engineering degree. Before his first semester, Lou was persuaded to play summer professional baseball under a fake name to get conditioned for football. This was an illegal action and could have really jeopardized his collegiate career. After playing just over ten games, Lou was caught and banned from intercollegiate sports for his entire freshman year. In 1922 Lou was able to return to sports and played full back his sophomore year of football. Then during the baseball season he played first base and pitched for the Columbia team. A scout noticed Gehrig when he was watching Columbia play and he was very impressed with his hitting. In fact, he was so impressed he signed Lou to the Yankees in 1923 with a bonus of $1,500. He played in the minors until 1925 when he was called up to replace Wally Pipp at first base. He remained at first base for the next 13 years. In those 13 years, Lou set a record streak of consecutive games started (2,130) and posted outrageous stats. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were a deadly combination. In 1927, they hit more homeruns combined than all but one team in the whole league. They dominated the pennant race, winning it by 19 games and then sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. This dominance continued even after Babe Ruth's career started to come to an end because Lou Gehrig stepped right into his place. The Yankees success continued until the 1933 season where they failed to make the postseason three years in a row. In 1938, Lou's stats began to drop and it was obvious something wasn't right. Lou seemed to be lacking his usual strength. On May 2, 1938, Lou's consecutive games started streak came to an end and shortly after so did his baseball career. Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with a rare form of a degenerative disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This disease is now call Lou Gehrig's disease. Lou never played baseball again and soon died from his disease but he remained a American hero of his time and is still considered one of baseball's greats.
Lou grew up in a household where his mom worked very hard around the house, his father had a hard time finding a job, and his health was fading as well. Lou's mother really wanted him to get a good education, so in 1921, Lou went to Columbia on football scholarship to pursue an engineering degree. Before his first semester, Lou was persuaded to play summer professional baseball under a fake name to get conditioned for football. This was an illegal action and could have really jeopardized his collegiate career. After playing just over ten games, Lou was caught and banned from intercollegiate sports for his entire freshman year. In 1922 Lou was able to return to sports and played full back his sophomore year of football. Then during the baseball season he played first base and pitched for the Columbia team. A scout noticed Gehrig when he was watching Columbia play and he was very impressed with his hitting. In fact, he was so impressed he signed Lou to the Yankees in 1923 with a bonus of $1,500. He played in the minors until 1925 when he was called up to replace Wally Pipp at first base. He remained at first base for the next 13 years. In those 13 years, Lou set a record streak of consecutive games started (2,130) and posted outrageous stats. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were a deadly combination. In 1927, they hit more homeruns combined than all but one team in the whole league. They dominated the pennant race, winning it by 19 games and then sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. This dominance continued even after Babe Ruth's career started to come to an end because Lou Gehrig stepped right into his place. The Yankees success continued until the 1933 season where they failed to make the postseason three years in a row. In 1938, Lou's stats began to drop and it was obvious something wasn't right. Lou seemed to be lacking his usual strength. On May 2, 1938, Lou's consecutive games started streak came to an end and shortly after so did his baseball career. Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with a rare form of a degenerative disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This disease is now call Lou Gehrig's disease. Lou never played baseball again and soon died from his disease but he remained a American hero of his time and is still considered one of baseball's greats.