Greenville, South Carolina: Shoeless Joe Jackson Statue

This statue has recently been moved to the entrance of Fluor Field, the city's minor league ballpark.

The statue stands in front of a restaurant. There is a large plaque behind the statue now. Shoeless Joe got his name for going barefoot one time in a game. Similarly, I got the name "ant eater" in grade school after eating one ant on a dare. It was later told that I ate many of them, all the time. Funny how names get stuck to you.

Shoeless Joe got the moniker because he had some new shoes that did not fit and hurt his feet. He played that one game with no shoes: he usually wore shoes. The statue is in an area revitalized with a park, art galleries, a new minor league ball park, fancy restaurants, and upscale stores. Joe was banned by pro baseball, but he helped many textile league players. You might want to consider mentioning the museum, if you have not.

Visited on Easter afternoon, a beautiful day in Greenville. Sad story of Shoeless Joe, kicked out of baseball. One time Ty Cobb visited him in Greenville at his store. Joe didn't seem to recognize him. Ty said, "Joe don't you recognize me?" Joe said, "Yes I recognize you Ty, no one up there wants to recognize me anymore."

A life-size statue of baseball's "Shoeless Joe" Jackson is planned by the Greenville, SC City Council. Joe, though banned from the game as part of the 1919 World Series "Black Sox" scandal, has been redeemed a baseball legend by various historians, documentaries and Hollywood films....