- More
1923 Letter to "Shoeless Joe" Jackson from His Lawyer Regarding 1919 World Series Scandal....
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.Description
"Did you make any written confession..."
1923 Letter to "Shoeless Joe" Jackson from His Lawyer Regarding 1919 World Series Scandal. The legendary outfielder was eyeing his third season of banishment from the game he loved as his lawyer sent this typed letter to Jackson's Savannah, Georgia, a message brimming with unfounded optimism. The extent of Jackson's participation in the most notorious scandal in the history of our National Pastime remains a point of debate despite his apocryphal acknowledgment of guilt to a child who plead "Say it ain't so, Joe" on the steps of the Cook County courthouse. Late in his life, Jackson appeared to contradict the tale, telling a reporter, "God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."Like most ancient mysteries, the elusiveness of a definitive truth has only heightened the intrigue, with collectors and historians still transfixed nearly a century after Eddie Cicotte crossed the Rubicon with his beanball signal. Rarely are relics directly related to the Black Sox scandal made available to the collecting community, and we're pleased to present just such a piece here. The typed and signed letter to Jackson from his Milwaukee lawyer Raymond J. Cannon reads as follows:
Dear Sir:
I am in receipt of your letter, and the facts given by you as to how you come to sign the contract, makes a very good case, and one that we will not lose. Did you make any written confession or any confession at any time, that you had anything to do with the 1919 World Series scandal?
I am going to examine Comiskey and Graebner (sic) before the Court Commissioner in Chicago, within the next week, and I may want you to be there at that time. I will let you know in advance, and as far as expenses are concerned, I will advance them for you.
We have a wonderful jury here now, and I just won my twenty-first jury case in the last forty-two days, so we will have no trouble at all with your case.
I want to trim Comiskey, if it is the last thing I do, and I am sure we will be able to do it without any troubles.
Let me hear from you immediately.
Very truly yours,
[signed] RJ Cannon.
The standard (8.5x11") letter presents wonderfully with original mailing folds but no other condition caveats, and is professionally matted and framed beside a large modern photographic print of Jackson in 1919 White Sox uniform to full dimensions of 26x31". Included is a well-worn but complete original mailing envelope. A historic and heartbreaking memento of one of an event that Connie Mack once called, "one of the real tragedies of baseball."
.
More information about "Shoeless Joe" Jackson.
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot.
This item cannot be shipped using standard methods. Please contact us for more information. Sales Tax information
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Floor auctions
Open for bidding: (View All)Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 04/15/2021
Sports Collectibles
Ends on 04/15/2021
US Coins
Ends on 04/15/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 04/16/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 04/18/2021
Currency
Ends on 04/21/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 04/21/2021
US Coins
Ends on 04/22/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 04/22/2021
US Coins
Ends on 04/22/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 04/25/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 04/27/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 04/29/2021
Currency
Ends on 04/30/2021
Illustration Art
Ends on 04/30/2021
Entertainment
Ends on 05/01/2021
Luxury Accessories
Ends on 05/02/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 05/03/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 05/05/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 05/06/2021
Sports Collectibles
Ends on 05/06/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 05/07/2021
US Coins
Ends on 05/08/2021
US Coins
Ends on 05/15/2021
Currency
Ends on 05/16/2021
Photography
Opens about 04/21/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 04/22/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/23/2021
Historical
Opens about 04/26/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 04/18/2021
Manuscripts
Opens about 04/30/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 04/28/2021
Silver
Opens about 04/29/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 04/22/2021
Space
Opens about 05/03/2021
Western & Texas Art
Opens about 04/30/2021
Historical
Opens about 05/03/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/22/2021
Currency
Opens about 04/23/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 05/04/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 05/05/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/29/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/29/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 05/03/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 05/12/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 05/14/2021
Entertainment
Opens about 05/14/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 05/21/2021
Arms & Armor
Opens about 05/18/2021
US Coins
Opens about 05/08/2021
Rare Books
Opens about 05/21/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 05/19/2021
Photography
Opens about 05/19/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 05/20/2021
Heritage membership
- Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
- Bid online
- Free Collector newsletter
- Want List with instant e-mail notifications
- Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
winnings
- Cash Advances
- More Bidders
- Trusted Experts
- Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
Learn about consigning with us
The hammer price for my Mantle card significantly exceeded my admittedly conservative estimations, and I couldn't be more pleased.View More Testimonials
Video tutorial
Getting the most out of search