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”.
Baseball Icons: Joe Jackson
