Despite its absence of a Major League ballclub, South Carolina, nicknamed the Palmetto State, has, since the inauguration of MLB, managed to field its fair share of professional ballplayers. Some, who stuck around The Show for just a cup of coffee, and others who went on to have Hall of Fame careers. Yet, when analyzing the state’s healthy mix of talent over the course of the last 130 odd years, one name in particular rises above the rest. In the history of the sport, no South Carolina-born batter has complied more triples than this big leaguer. When it comes to batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, amongst those from South Carolina with at least 1,000 plate appearances, this man ranks atop in all three major statistics. Putting his roots aside, in comparison with rest of the world, of the 20,000+ players who have stepped on a big-league field, he’s the only person in Major League Baseball history who, on three separate occasions, finished a year with at least 40 doubles, and 20 triples. A versatile hitter who could do it all, the ballplayer I’m referring to is, none other than, the legendary, Joe Jackson. A man often referred to by the public as “Shoeless Joe”.
Before the world was introduced to the country boy, Jackson was just a young ballplayer competing on a team organized by a local mill near his home in Brandon Mill. At the time in South Carolina, early-1900s, the notable textile mills in the area, with owners looking for effective, viable ways to employ and reserve their workers, engineered their own baseball squads and would compete against each other in the district. Mirroring the game that had grown at a rapid rate since its inception, those in charge engendered baseball diamonds that were often located in flood plains. For any mill worker interested in playing, they would be gifted bats, balls, gloves, and uniforms, while also receiving $3.50 per contest that they partook in. When Joe was just 13 years old, he had already put in years of gruesome work in the mill to help his family make ends meet. Due to his kin’s financial situation, Jackson was forced to spend much of his time in the fields, which left him with little to no time to focus on receiving a formal education. As a result of his hard work, he was offered a spot on the Brandon Mill ball team. Though younger than everyone, Jackson started out as a pitcher, but because of the velocity on his fastball, people feared going up to the plate to face him. In one particular practice, Jackson threw an erratic pitch that broke the batter’s arm, a play that forced him to find another spot on the field. He attempted to play catcher, but promptly stopped after a ball hit his face mask, which arched the metal bar on his protector back into his forehead. He was left with a scar that he carried with him until the very end.
After some trial and error, Jackson found a home in the outfield. By 14, enthusiasts in the area began comparing him to Champ Osteen, a mill league icon from Piedmont, an area close by. Osteen, after tearing up the mill league, made it to MLB, and played for three different organizations across four seasons. With the way Jackson was hitting, showcasing unprecedented power for a kid his age, it seemed as though he was next in line to make the jump. By 1903, the 16-year-old was a proven natural at the plate. He would regularly drive the ball into the trash dump out in center field for a home run, which locals began referring to as “Saturday Specials’, as it was quite the treat to see anyone hit a long ball at this point in time. Whenever Jackson did get a hold of one, which was often, his brothers would be in the crowd, passing a cap around to the other onlookers as a way for the family to collect some dough on behalf of the electrifying performance that Joe was putting on for everyone in attendance. It is said that the family would walk away from a game with up to $25 in donations, thanks to their star brother.
After shining on both the Piedmont and Mollahan mill teams of the Piedmont section of South Carolina, the coach for the Greenville Spinners, a minor league team competing in the Carolina Association, invited Jackson to suit up for his organization. A step-up, in both competition, and pay, from the mill league. While it was still a hefty step below the majors, the Carolina Association was respected enough for professional scouts to pop by the ballgames, in hopes of headhunting the next Ty Cobb. One scout who made an appearance, a former big leaguer himself, was a man by the name of Ossee Schrecongost. After logging 11seasons at the Major League level, Schrecongost hung around the sport and served as a scout for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics. During his athletic career, Schrecongost played a handful of seasons under Mack’s tutelage, so it made sense for him to give back to his old skipper, even after his playing days were over.
While starring for the Greenville team, Jackson caught the attention of Schrecongost. Due to his uncanny offensive abilities, the scout offered Jackson a contract with the Philadelphia Athletics. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kid from South Carolina to showcase his hitting prowess against the best of the best at the highest level. Once the logistics of the deal were worked out, Jackson was set to take a train from his home state, all the way up to Philadelphia, and launch his major league career. Though what appeared to be a dream come true for any baseball enthusiast, there was one problem that stood in the way of Jackson becoming a major leaguer. Having never been in a city of more than 50,000, it was said that Jackson retained a fear of big towns. A point of concern that would, for sure, get in the way of someone who’s been asked to report to Philadelphia. Though carrying this unease, Jackson persevered through, and hopped on the train to Philly. However, once he got up to Charlotte, N.C., Jackson decided that he already gone too far. Legend has it that Jackson, while riding with Schrecongost, orchestrated a plan to escape from the scout, and snuck off the train. The next day, Jackson was back in Piedmont County. According to a 1911 newspaper article published in The Greenville News, after seeing Jackson back home, his friends asked the crafty ballplayer, “What’s the matter, Joe, don’t you want to be a big leaguer? To which Jackson responded, “No, them big places is too big. Pelzer, Piedmont and Newberry just about suits me.” The very next afternoon, Jackson, instead of getting ready to play for the Athletics, dressed up for his hometown team of the past, and, being the blue chip prospect that he was, proceeded to bat the ball all around the field against amateurs.
Since the ballclub had invested in Jackson, they weren’t going to allow his mischievous-like behavior deter them from getting the boy to Philadelphia. Perplexed over what transpired, Schrecongost went back to South Carolina to get an explanation from Joe as to why he ran off from this wonderous chance to demonstrate his baseball knacks in front of the world. Once Jackson, in laughing fashion, explained his reasoning, Schrecongost persuaded the boy to give it another go, to which the young signee agreed. On the second time around, Jackson hung around for about 200 miles more than his previous trip. Yet, at some point in Virginia, flashes of the smokestacks, and the cotton fields back home got in the way of his decision making. Once again, Joe turned around. A mere two days later, he was back in Piedmont. Having spent an extended amount of time away on trip number two, Jackson was said to have expressed an even deeper appreciation for his home county when discussing his decision to return with his friends.
As expected, Schrecongost refused to quit on the kid he knew had immense talent and an unprecedented flair for the game. The two had a heart-to-heart conversation about the transition, and thankfully, Jackson agreed to head all the way up to Quaker City. This time, he kept his word. Though he would go on to play just a handful of games for the A’s before Connie Mack sent him over to the Cleveland Naps, once Joe Jackson arrived to the big leagues, the outfielder made his presence known. In his first full-season at the MLB-level, Jackson hit .408, and got on-base at a higher-clip than everyone in the league. As they say, the rest is history. He finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .356, which ranks 3rd all-time behind Ty Cobb (.366) and Rogers Hornsby (.358).
Though his name, due to his involvement with the matter, will forever be associated with the 1919 Black Sox scandal, Joe Jackson’s free-spirited way of operating should be glorified by all those aiming to attain a sizable dose of success in their desired discipline. A bravura at the dish, Jackson’s perspective on the game, whether deliberate or not, functions as a constitutional teaching point when it comes to one’s relationship with a particular end-goal. Jackson’s debonair approach to making his way up to the Majors, a place where he would be granted the chance to play a game he loved for good money, against premier opponents, in front of countless enthusiasts, exhibits the healthy connection he had with the aim of playing baseball for a living. Rather than biting at the opportunity of a lifetime by disregarding the inherent disdain he had for big cities, and hopping on the first train he could find, Jackson continued to live life on his own terms. This decision alone proved that he was in control over his assumed target, as opposed to the ostensible objective running circles around his mind. Instead of obsessing over making it to the next level, Jackson neglected the idea, and continued to work on his craft. Since he had already morphed himself into an undeniable talent in between the foul lines, the Athletics had no other choice but to persist in their act of getting him up to Philadelphia. When one’s mind is consumed with a specific goal, it’s easy for them to generate a disconnect from within. By fixating on reaching a certain destination point, one pulls their focus off the present moment, and, whether intentional or not, further distances themselves from where they want to be. By residing in a state where your mind is plagued by the idea of not being at the point where you aspire to be, you will continue to push yourself away from the goal. Far too often, people consume their minds with an unsound need to create a specific result, or reach a certain place, instead of utilizing their active energy to guarantee that their desired spot will be reserved for them, and them only. The easiest way to avoid falling prey to this way of existing is by miming Jackson and developing a strong affinity with your intrinsic target. This is best achieved by immersing yourself in the act that, if exceptional at, will leave the universe no other option but to hand you your dream on a golden platter. Time spent, in thought, craving for better, is time taken away from cultivating your skills. Once developed, your knacks will serve as the primary propellent to excelling in your chosen field, not your inherent thirst for a better today. Abstain from yearning for more by focusing on becoming more of what you are capable of transfiguring into. Though a subtle pointer, the breeding of a salubrious kinship with your desired mission could be the difference between reaching great heights and straying away from any level of excellence. To stay on top of this bond, routinely analyze its status, and ensure that you are not gravitating away from what’s important, which is the work. The work is what will allow you to attain the results that you long for. Monopolizing your mind with the golden destination can create serious mental tension, if the goal is not sensed in a proper light. If one obsesses over not being at a place that they aspire to be, they generate stress in both the body and mind. This kind of strain has the power to deplete one’s self-appreciation status. The more you ruminate over not being good enough in the present moment because of your perceived distance from whatever it is that you are attempting to bring forth, the harder it becomes to see yourself in a favorable glow. Stashing a lack of self-worth is an obvious detriment to all who intend to go far.
Even when he finally did arrive in Philadelphia, Jackson continued to carry his maverick-like tendencies along with him. While enduring a stretch of hazing from his new teammates for his lack of proper education, as the veterans of the ballclub would often refer to him as ‘brainless’, Jackson, more times than once, quit on the team and headed back home, It wasn’t until he arrived in Cleveland where he was able to flaunt his talent for the world to see. After his impressive first year with the team, Jackson arrived to Spring Training in 1912 and said to his teammates, “Here I am boys. Just give me a bat, and I’ll put a few over the fence.” That season, he proceeded to lead the league in hits, triples, and total bases.
Whether it was intentional or not, based on Jackson’s choices, it’s clear that the ballplayer did not sense a gap in his mind when examining his association with the career he wound up pursuing. Perceiving any level of separation from the present moment will eat you alive from within. For ambitious individuals, this piece of guidance on behalf of Jackson’s career, is vital, as the more motivated one is, the more likely they are to desire to be at the next level in their current endeavor. While the dynamic, self-seeking, traits are of great benefit for those chasing after their dreams, it is important that all go-getters reflect on their inner feeling towards their present objective. The beings that feel ‘one’ with the goal, are the ones that will remain attached to it, while those who feel decoupled from their target will continue to isolate themselves from it. Thus, it is important to remember that this referenced relationship has nothing to do with the happenings in the external world. It is a mere decision, formed from within, that should be recited on a consistent basis. In this game, every conscious individual has the choice to feel fulfilled on their path, or sense lack because of their current footing. The great ones choose the former, which impels them forward. All thoughts laced with a sense of segregation from the present serve no purpose, and must be abolished upon generation, as they can only do harm to the one’s emotional and mental scales. The longer one lets these adverse ideas linger, the harder it becomes to disentangle the mind’s eye from that poor way of perceiving the moment.
LIFE LESSON: Maintain a healthy relationship with your personal objective by perceiving it in a manner that allows you to feel linked with it. This is best achieved through an unwavering focus on cultivating your skills in the desired arena.